Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
12/12/20 | Women's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon's veterans and coaches have spent this week letting newcomers know what to expect when the Ducks face the Beavers on Sunday (4 p.m., Pac-12).
When Kelly Graves first arrived at Oregon, he took a "faceless opponent" approach to facing Oregon State.
Back then, the Beavers were just another foe for the rebuilding Ducks. They weren't to be treated with any more or less respect than anyone else.
Things changed after only a couple of years. Scores like 70-37 and 77-48 and 60-33 will do that.
Those were the results of Oregon's first three matchups with OSU under Graves. The Ducks were on the wrong side of them all.
"Now, I'm playing it as if it's obviously a rivalry game, and really, really important," Graves said this week. "High intensity."
The Ducks finally broke through for a win over OSU under Graves in January 2018. Oregon has won four of the last five over the Beavers since then, and looks to make it five out of six when the No. 8 UO women play at No. 15 OSU on Sunday (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
It'll be incumbent on newcomers like Taylor Mikesell and Te-Hina Paopao to pick up the baton from names like Hebard, Ionescu and Sabally, and continue Oregon's recent track record of success in the rivalry. The returning veterans on the UO roster have made clear this week what the rivalry means to them.
"For this team, we've definitely had conversations — important conversations — about coming in really focused and ready to play, and having a lot of energy," UO senior Erin Boley said. "Because this game is a big deal to us."
Another potential newcomer to the rivalry Sunday is Oregon post Sedona Prince, though her status for the game was unclear entering the weekend. Prince injured her ankle in last week's win over Colorado, and didn't play in the Ducks' 85-43 win over Utah this past Sunday.
Prince hadn't practiced as of Friday morning, though the Ducks hoped she could participate in drills later that day. Prior to that workout, when Graves met with media to preview the OSU game, he said Prince was "still going to be a question mark" for Sunday's game.
"She's doing what she's supposed to be doing off the court, getting it rehabbed and those things," Graves said.
Having Prince available would provide just one more option for Graves, who continues to assess Oregon's depth with the bulk of Pac-12 play still to come. Of the 13 players on the roster, 11 have played in all four games so far, and 12 are averaging at least 10 minutes per game; Paopao leads the teams in minutes at 23 per game.
That kind of balance remains the plan for Sunday too, Graves said.
"I think we'll play a deep bench again," he said. "I just don't know in what order (players will appear), and for how long. But I think at least through Christmas we're going to try everybody out and see what's working best, and go from there."
Back then, the Beavers were just another foe for the rebuilding Ducks. They weren't to be treated with any more or less respect than anyone else.
Things changed after only a couple of years. Scores like 70-37 and 77-48 and 60-33 will do that.
Those were the results of Oregon's first three matchups with OSU under Graves. The Ducks were on the wrong side of them all.
"Now, I'm playing it as if it's obviously a rivalry game, and really, really important," Graves said this week. "High intensity."
The Ducks finally broke through for a win over OSU under Graves in January 2018. Oregon has won four of the last five over the Beavers since then, and looks to make it five out of six when the No. 8 UO women play at No. 15 OSU on Sunday (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
It'll be incumbent on newcomers like Taylor Mikesell and Te-Hina Paopao to pick up the baton from names like Hebard, Ionescu and Sabally, and continue Oregon's recent track record of success in the rivalry. The returning veterans on the UO roster have made clear this week what the rivalry means to them.
"For this team, we've definitely had conversations — important conversations — about coming in really focused and ready to play, and having a lot of energy," UO senior Erin Boley said. "Because this game is a big deal to us."
Another potential newcomer to the rivalry Sunday is Oregon post Sedona Prince, though her status for the game was unclear entering the weekend. Prince injured her ankle in last week's win over Colorado, and didn't play in the Ducks' 85-43 win over Utah this past Sunday.
Prince hadn't practiced as of Friday morning, though the Ducks hoped she could participate in drills later that day. Prior to that workout, when Graves met with media to preview the OSU game, he said Prince was "still going to be a question mark" for Sunday's game.
"She's doing what she's supposed to be doing off the court, getting it rehabbed and those things," Graves said.
Having Prince available would provide just one more option for Graves, who continues to assess Oregon's depth with the bulk of Pac-12 play still to come. Of the 13 players on the roster, 11 have played in all four games so far, and 12 are averaging at least 10 minutes per game; Paopao leads the teams in minutes at 23 per game.
That kind of balance remains the plan for Sunday too, Graves said.
"I think we'll play a deep bench again," he said. "I just don't know in what order (players will appear), and for how long. But I think at least through Christmas we're going to try everybody out and see what's working best, and go from there."
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballWednesday, October 21
Wednesday, October 21
Friday, October 16
Friday, October 16
