Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Bring Momentum To Vegas
03/01/23 | Women's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Consistency has been hard to come by this season for Oregon, but the Ducks were in a good place entering the Pac-12 Tournament.
LAS VEGAS — If you're a potential opponent of the Oregon women's basketball team at this week's Pac-12 Tournament, good luck trying to anticipate just what you'll see from the Ducks.
Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Ducks rarely have presented the same challenge for very long. They've seen the roster fluctuate, from two early season departures of potential mainstays to injuries taking their toll in recent weeks. They've had individuals enjoy hot streaks, and endure slumps.
Some of those questions linger as the UO women (16-13) prepare to face Washington (15-13) in a first-round tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay on Wednesday (2:30 p.m., Pac-12). But after wrapping up the regular season with a sweep of the Arizona schools at home last week, the Ducks took some positive momentum with them to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
"We're all excited about what, in essence, is a new chapter," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "We're able to turn the page and move on to a new endeavor, a fresh start. I think we're in a great headspace right now."
As recently as a week ago, the Ducks were doing all they could to remain positive through a seven-game losing streak. That stretch ruined their hopes of a conference regular-season title, but they remain in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid thanks to a rigorous nonleague schedule in November and December.
And of course, they could clinch the Pac-12's automatic bid to March Madness by winning four games this week to claim the conference tournament title.
"I think we've found a really good groove," senior Taya Hanson said. "We're playing so well as a team. We're moving the ball, we're getting rebounds, playing good 'D' … so we're excited about this tournament."
The Ducks will face the Huskies for the third time this season. Oregon won the first matchup, on Jan. 13 in Eugene, getting 16 points from Te-Hina Paopao, 15 from Hanson and 13 from Grace VanSlooten. To that point in the year VanSlooten largely had been Oregon's top offensive threat; soon after, Paopao went into an extended slump and Endyia Rogers did all she could to fill the void, leading the Ducks in scoring eight of 13 games between Dec. 30 and Feb. 12.
Oregon faced UW again less than two weeks ago, on Feb. 19. Paopao finally broke out of her slump that day, setting a career high of six three-pointers that she proceeded to break with seven this past Saturday against ASU. But VanSlooten didn't play in that game, and she remains doubtful entering Wednesday's Pac-12 Tournament opener with a foot injury.
Roster fluctuation is nothing new to these Ducks. Returning all-conference forward Sedona Prince was lost to a season-ending injury before this campaign ever started. Freshman post Kennedy Basham suffered a knee injury in the season opener that sidelined her for two months, and a few weeks later freshman Jennah Isai left the program.
Not only is VanSlooten currently sidelined, but both Paopao and freshman guard Chance Gray missed some practice time this week with issues that cropped up against ASU. Like VanSlooten, Gray might be unable to go Wednesday, Graves said.
At least the Ducks now have some practice time under their belt without VanSlooten, who on Tuesday earned honorable mention all-Pac-12 honors. She was hurt at WSU, two days before the Ducks played at Washington, little time to adjust to her absence. Now, Oregon has had time to adapt.
"Last week our practices were really productive, knowing that she wasn't going to be there," Graves said. "So we're able to really focus in on playing that small ball. And then we proved to play it pretty well (against Arizona and ASU). So I think we'll be a little better prepared against Washington."
Paopao's breakout the last three games certainly eased the pain of VanSlooten's absence. After making 19 three-pointers in the first 15 conference games of the season, Paopao made 18 threes over the final three — a timely return to form.
"Now you've got that backcourt with her and Endyia that we thought we might have — veteran guards who are both capable of having big nights," Graves said. "And now they've done it in a couple of games together."
There were times in late January and early February when it felt like, if Oregon needed a bucket, it would have to come from Rogers, who was named to the all-conference first team Tuesday. But even with VanSlooten out last weekend, Paopao's three-point shooting and an efficient 7-of-10 shooting weekend by post Phillipina Kyei allowed Rogers to shine as a facilitator as well as a scorer.
"She is a really intelligent player," Graves said. "Endyia's going to make the right play most of the time, and she's such a willing passer."
If not Wednesday, the Ducks do hope VanSlooten might be able to play at some point this week, assuming they can stick around long enough in the Pac-12 Tournament. That will mean changing up what has worked well the last few games — which is a challenge Graves and his staff eagerly anticipate tackling.
"That's gonna be the puzzle; we're in a pretty nice rhythm, but obviously if you can have Grace on the floor, you're gonna have her on the floor," Graves said. "She changes the game in different ways."
It's been a season of adjusting to who's available and who's playing well for the Ducks. With some luck, everything will come together this week — and what better place to get lucky than Las Vegas.
Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Ducks rarely have presented the same challenge for very long. They've seen the roster fluctuate, from two early season departures of potential mainstays to injuries taking their toll in recent weeks. They've had individuals enjoy hot streaks, and endure slumps.
Some of those questions linger as the UO women (16-13) prepare to face Washington (15-13) in a first-round tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay on Wednesday (2:30 p.m., Pac-12). But after wrapping up the regular season with a sweep of the Arizona schools at home last week, the Ducks took some positive momentum with them to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
"We're all excited about what, in essence, is a new chapter," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "We're able to turn the page and move on to a new endeavor, a fresh start. I think we're in a great headspace right now."
As recently as a week ago, the Ducks were doing all they could to remain positive through a seven-game losing streak. That stretch ruined their hopes of a conference regular-season title, but they remain in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid thanks to a rigorous nonleague schedule in November and December.
And of course, they could clinch the Pac-12's automatic bid to March Madness by winning four games this week to claim the conference tournament title.
"I think we've found a really good groove," senior Taya Hanson said. "We're playing so well as a team. We're moving the ball, we're getting rebounds, playing good 'D' … so we're excited about this tournament."
The Ducks will face the Huskies for the third time this season. Oregon won the first matchup, on Jan. 13 in Eugene, getting 16 points from Te-Hina Paopao, 15 from Hanson and 13 from Grace VanSlooten. To that point in the year VanSlooten largely had been Oregon's top offensive threat; soon after, Paopao went into an extended slump and Endyia Rogers did all she could to fill the void, leading the Ducks in scoring eight of 13 games between Dec. 30 and Feb. 12.
Oregon faced UW again less than two weeks ago, on Feb. 19. Paopao finally broke out of her slump that day, setting a career high of six three-pointers that she proceeded to break with seven this past Saturday against ASU. But VanSlooten didn't play in that game, and she remains doubtful entering Wednesday's Pac-12 Tournament opener with a foot injury.
Roster fluctuation is nothing new to these Ducks. Returning all-conference forward Sedona Prince was lost to a season-ending injury before this campaign ever started. Freshman post Kennedy Basham suffered a knee injury in the season opener that sidelined her for two months, and a few weeks later freshman Jennah Isai left the program.
Not only is VanSlooten currently sidelined, but both Paopao and freshman guard Chance Gray missed some practice time this week with issues that cropped up against ASU. Like VanSlooten, Gray might be unable to go Wednesday, Graves said.
At least the Ducks now have some practice time under their belt without VanSlooten, who on Tuesday earned honorable mention all-Pac-12 honors. She was hurt at WSU, two days before the Ducks played at Washington, little time to adjust to her absence. Now, Oregon has had time to adapt.
"Last week our practices were really productive, knowing that she wasn't going to be there," Graves said. "So we're able to really focus in on playing that small ball. And then we proved to play it pretty well (against Arizona and ASU). So I think we'll be a little better prepared against Washington."
Paopao's breakout the last three games certainly eased the pain of VanSlooten's absence. After making 19 three-pointers in the first 15 conference games of the season, Paopao made 18 threes over the final three — a timely return to form.
"Now you've got that backcourt with her and Endyia that we thought we might have — veteran guards who are both capable of having big nights," Graves said. "And now they've done it in a couple of games together."
There were times in late January and early February when it felt like, if Oregon needed a bucket, it would have to come from Rogers, who was named to the all-conference first team Tuesday. But even with VanSlooten out last weekend, Paopao's three-point shooting and an efficient 7-of-10 shooting weekend by post Phillipina Kyei allowed Rogers to shine as a facilitator as well as a scorer.
"She is a really intelligent player," Graves said. "Endyia's going to make the right play most of the time, and she's such a willing passer."
If not Wednesday, the Ducks do hope VanSlooten might be able to play at some point this week, assuming they can stick around long enough in the Pac-12 Tournament. That will mean changing up what has worked well the last few games — which is a challenge Graves and his staff eagerly anticipate tackling.
"That's gonna be the puzzle; we're in a pretty nice rhythm, but obviously if you can have Grace on the floor, you're gonna have her on the floor," Graves said. "She changes the game in different ways."
It's been a season of adjusting to who's available and who's playing well for the Ducks. With some luck, everything will come together this week — and what better place to get lucky than Las Vegas.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballKelly Graves | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
Deja Kelly, Peyton Scott & Phillipina Kyei | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
Peyton Scott & Ari Long: "A good, competitive basketball game."
Thursday, February 27
Kelly Graves: "We've played really well."
Thursday, February 27
