Bob UJdch
Burying a case of the Kamikaze blues
When we last left the Kamikaze Kids, they had
completed a successful four-game home sweep and
were looking forward to a shot at top-ranked Indiana,
another thrashing of Providence and their second
straight Far West Classic title
But just as your expectations were dashed when
Grandma came up with a purple and green turtle
shaped cashmere key chain for Christmas instead of
the new Aretha Franklin album you wanted, so did
the Ducks meet with disappointment.
The holidays were a Kamikaze downer. If you
think it was tough listening to Aunt Milly trying to
recall how many of her great cousins were
lefthanded, consider what Oregon's basketball team
went through, the Ducks
•Lost four of seven games
•Lost two of those four games despite having ten
and nine point leads at halftime
•Lost one of those games 76-68 to Providence, a
team the Ducks beat at home 86-73 last year.
• Lost one of those games to Oregon State to
finish out of the top five in the Far West Classic.
We've been a step slow all year,” said Dick
Harter. And if he shudders at the past, he also fidgets
at the future
Of course, what coach wouldn't feel the pinch if
his team s next three opponents boasted a combined
34-2 record? That s what UCLA. USC and Washing
ton are now and all three have a good chance to be in
the AP s Top Ten this week
Meanwhile, Oregon, a team which was 9-0 at
this point last year with wins over Nevada-Las
Vegas, Villanova, Arizona State and Providence,
finds itself 7-6. With losses to Duquesne, Virginia
Tech and a service team.
A 68-51 win over San Jose State Saturday re
stored some of your faith in the Ducks but Oregon is
still not the Oregon of old Teams that miss their first
seven shots don't normally contend for Pac-8 titles.
Nor do teams that are outscored 51-18 in the second
half by Virginia Tech, outshot from the field by nine of
13 opponents and outhustled by a handful of teams
they ve played
We ve been beating ourselves,” said Harter.
"I’m sure our problems have stemmed from the dis
aster in Hawaii, but we can’t hide behind that all year.
We've gotta start playing like we can and let the wins
and losses take care of themselves."
There's little doubt that six losses, two lengthy
trips and the NCAA’s new ten-player limitation have
taken their toll on Oregon. Not only have the Ducks
been losing on the scoreboard, they've been losing in
the locker room as well.
Reports of internal team problems surfaced on
the eve of Saturday's San Jose State game.
Coaches and players refused to comment on the
nature of the problem but said things had been ironed
out at a Friday afternoon meeting.
“I think losing and traveling contributed to the
problem," said Harter. “It’s frustrating. ’
Back on the court, Oregon’s main problem, ob
viously, is the lack of a solid, consistent center. Har
ter wanted one by Christmas but the freshmen
haven t progressed as fast as he d liked.
The Ducks have missed playing more games
closer to home and having 12 players at away
games. But more than that, the Ducks have missed
Gerald Willett, the unsung hero of the three previous
years.
"I didn’t realize we d miss him so much,” said
Harter. He played good offense, good defense and
was a real emotional leader. He was the most physi
cal player we had and did a lot to bring the team
together.’
Averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game,
Greg Ballard has taken up a lot of slack left by
Willett s departure. But not many players have the
defensive solidarity of Willett.
He kept guards from driving in and was so
tough in screening out that it left me with a lot of
rebounds," said Ballard.
The freshmen that Harter has tried to plug the
gap with — Dan Hartshorne. Kelvin Small and Gary
Nelson — have all had moments to suggest the
problem was over. But not enough moments.
At this point last year, Willett was averaging 10.7
points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Hartshorne and
Small, the two who have seen the most action thus
far, simply don't have the experience. Hartshorne is
averaging five points and 3.2 rebounds a game;
Small 2.5 of each.
Willett's contributions went beyond the court,
too.
“Willett made a great leader," said Ballard.
“When we were behind, he'd always be there to get
us charged up. I think our lack of leadership is hurting
this year.”
Another thing that's hurting is Harter’s problem
of teaching both experienced and inexperienced
players. “Last year everybody had played together
and was experienced,” he said. “Now we re having
to work with players on two distinct levels."
Harter’s decision Saturday to slow down and
plot rather than run-and-gun with other teams
seemed inevitable. “We re not good enough to trade
shots with people,” he said.
If the Ducks are missing a solid center, they’re
also finding it difficult playing without a pure shooter.
Oregon’s top percentage shooter of last year —
Willett — isn’t around. Mike Drummond, the only
other Duck to hit over .500 last season, hasn't been
the stick of dynamite he was at the tail of last year.
Ernie Kent’s field goal percentage has fallen from last
year’s .497 to .435 and Ronnie Lee, who Harter
predicted would shoot at least .500 this year, is hitting
only .438.
All of which paints a pretty depressing picture,
unless you consider what went on in the Pac-8 last
year. Oregon State, you'll recall, fired back to finish
second in the Pac-8 after three early season losses
to weak teams; Washington beat UCLA one Monday
night 103-81 and Oregon, after storming to an 10-0
record, lost eight Pac-8 games by a total of 14 points
and went on to the NIT with an 18-8 record.
Anything could happen and Harter would like to
see it happen now. The potential is there; it’s just a
matter of reaching it.
“We need a breakthrough more than anything,"
Harter said. “It’s already been a long, tinng season
but I’d walk 4,000 miles to our away games if we
could win these next two."
IM entry deadline Thursday
Entnes for IM basketball, hand
ball and raquetball are due by 2
p.m. Thursday, according to John
Broachardt, IM head. Schedules
can be picked up at the IM office
(PE 171) at 3:30 on Friday and
play begins Monday, Jan. 12.
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