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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1997)
rj Stanford, Starbird tops in balanced Pac-10 Stanford is the cream of the crop in the Pac-10 Conference, but Oregon will attempt to challenge the powerhouse Arizona Wildcats ■ Head Coach: Joan Bonvicini (6th year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 22-8 overall , 10-8 Pac 10 (tied 3rd) ■ Key Returnees: Adia Barnes, F, 5-11, Jr., 20.8 ppg., 10.4 rpg. ■ Outlook: The Wildcats are off to a fast start at 11-1, but a look at their schedule tells why. In 10 non-conference wins against the likes of Monmouth and Harvard, Arizona won by an average margin of 27 points. However, the Wildcats did play at current No. 4 Louisiana Tech, losing by 13 points. Look for forward Adia Barnes to put the Wildcats in the hunt for a trip to the NCAA Tournament. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: “Arizona is quick and gets after you very rugged and pnysicai. rasi oreaKs an me imh plays four or five players out and make you defend the drive." Arizona State Sun Devils ■ Head Coach: Charli Turner Thorne (1st year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 8-19, 4-14 (9th) ■ Key Returnees: Molly Tuter, F, 6-0, Sr., 12.6 ppg., 4.8 rpg.; Marci Stilson, F, 6-2, Sr., 10.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg. ■ Outlook: First year coach i.narn 1 urner Thorne’s streak of two straight win ning seasons could be in jeopardy. The Sun Devils fin ished their 1995-96 Pac-10 campaign ninth in scoring offense and defense on their way to an b-iu overall record. However, Arizona State does return three starters and 72 percent of the team's scoring from a year ago. ■ )oay Kungc s comments: 1 know Molly Tuter is a very good basketball player and they have to be fired up with a new coach. They will give anyone a run to make sure they don't finish in the basement." California Golden Bears ■ Head Coach: Marianne Stanley (1st year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 7-20, 3-15 (10th) ■ Key Returnees: Patrycja Czepiec, F, 6-0, Sr., 16.9 ppg., 5.7 rpg.; Jennie Leander, C, 6 3, So., 14.1 ppg., 10.4 rpg. ■ Outlook: After a dismal 3-15 Pac-10 record and a last-place finish in 1995-96, the Golden Bears hired three-time national title winner Marianne Stanley in the offseason as their new head coach. Stanley will be trying to reverse California’s streak of three straight losing seasons. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: "Cal I think will obviously be very much improved. They have a few senior players who have im proved their capabilities and obviously great coaching." Oregon State Beavers ■ Head Coach: Judy Spoelstra (2nd year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 19-9,11-7 (2nd) ■ Key Returnees: Tina Lelas, C, 6-5, Sr., 17.2 ppg., 10.4 rpg.; Kris Walsh, C, 6-4, Jr.,14.6 ppg., 7.7 rpg.; Monica Watts, G, 5-9, Jr., 14.4 ppg., 6.3 rpg. ■ Outlook: Iina Lelas and Kris Walsh are exceptional at center and power forward. But other than that, second-year head coach Judy Spoelstra doesn’t have much to work with. If the Beavers can crack the top five in the conference, expect Spoelstra to receive the Pac 10 Coach of the Year award. ■ Jody Runge’s com ments: “Theirguards are just very young and es fpecially Vanessa [Mor ris] handling the point as a freshman is a tough deal." Stanford Cardinal ■ Head Coach: Tara Van Derveer (11th year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 29-3, 18-0 (1st) ■ Key Returnees: Kate Starbird, F, 6-2, Sr., 17.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg.; Vanessa Nygaard, F, 6-1, Jr., 13.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg.; Jamila Wideman, G, 5-6, Sr., 6.8 PPg-. 4.9 apg.; Naomi Mulitauaopele, F/C, 6-4, Jr., 11.2 ppg., 6.4 rpg.; Olympia Scott, F, 6-2, Jr., UCLA Bruins ■ Head Coach: Kathy Oliver (4th year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 13-14, 8 10 (tied 6th) ■ Key Returnees: Tawana Grimes, G, 5 9, Jr., 8.8 ppg., 5.2 apg ■ Outlook: The loss of point guard Erica Gomez, last season’s Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, to a season ending knee injury most likely dashes any hopes the Bruins had for their first trip the NCAA Tour nament since 1991-92. Gomez's absence leaves guard Tawana Grimes as the Bruins’ only returning starter to mesh with eight newcomers, including sev en freshmen. Forward/ center Maylana Martin should be Pac-10 Fresh man of the Year. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: “ UCLA and USC are play ing outstanding basket ball considering they lost their starting point guard. Sometimes that adversity makes a team stronger and more focused. ” USC Trojans ■ Head Coach: Fred Williams (2nd year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 13-14, 8-10 (tied 6th) ■ Key Returnees: Tina Thompson, F/C, 6-3, Sr., 23.1 ppg., 10.6 rpg.; Michelle Campbell, C, 6-5, Sr., 11.1 ppg., 8.4 rpg.; Kristin Clark, G, 5-7, So., 11.0 ppg., 3.8 apg. ■ Outlook: Pac-10 Player of the Year candi date Tina Thompson should have the Tro jans fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth this season. However, like UCLA, the Trojans will suffer from the loss of point guard Erica Mashia who will likely redshirt the 1996-97 season because of a hip injury. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: “UCLA and USC are playing outstanding basketball considering they lost their starting point guard. Sometimes that adversity makes a team stronger and more focused." Washington Huskies ■ Head Coach: June Daugherty (1st year) 11995-96 Record: 16-13,10-8 (tied 3rd) I Key Returnees: Jamie Redd, G, 5-10, So., 22.2 ppg., 5.1 rpg.; Amber Hall, F, 6-1, So., 12.4 ppg., 10.6 rpg. ■ Outlook: The Huskies early 5-5 record is deceiving. Washington played the toughest non-conference schedule in the Pac-10, which includ ed four top 25 teams. The Huskies lost to current No. 4 Louisiana Tech by only three points and took former No. 22 Penn St. into overtime before los ing by three. Their difficult non-con ference schedule will pay off later this season. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: "I think Washington is playing very well. I think they are still relying on the fact that for years Washington has been touted as ka great defensive team. And I think offensively that they will have im proved under coach Daughtery. ” Washington State ■ Head Coach: Harold Rhodes (15 th year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 17-12, 8-10 (tied 6th) ■ 1995-96 Conference Record (Place): ■ Key Returnees: Yvonne Kunze, C, 6-4, Jr., 13.5 ppg., 6.4 rpg.; Kristin Erickson, C, 6-2, Sr., 12.3 ppg., 3.0 rpg. ■ Outlook: 1 he loss of Jenni Ruff to gradua tion will force the Cougars to use a more bal anced attack this year, head coach Harold Rhodes said. Early this season, it has been the Cougars’ centers (Kristin Erickson, Yvonne Kunze and Amy Saneholtz) picking up the scoring load where Ruff left off. But come tournament time, the Cougars most likely won’t be around. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: “ Washington State I think is going to be a strong, always competitive team that works very hard and very, very aggressive. You have to play well to beat them." Emerald sports reporter Ryan Frank com piled and wrote this year’s Pac-10 Pre view. Runge and company look to go deep into NCAA tournament ■ WOMEN: A trip to the first round of the tournament will not be enough for Oregon By Ryan Frank Sports Reporter ■ Head Coach: Jody Runge (4th year) ■ 1995-96 Record: 18-11, 10-8 (Tied for 3rd) ■ 1996-97 Record: 8-2,1-0 ■ Outlook: Despite losing its first four games of the Pacific-10 Conference season in 1995-96, the Oregon women's basketball team recovered to earn a berth to its third straight NCAA Tournament. But the Ducks’ season ended there as they suffered a first-round loss to Wisconsin. Fast-forward to 1997. The Ducks did not lose one im pact player from last year’s team, and this season, Oregon has added Parade Magazine second-team All-American selection Jenny Mowe at center and Arizona Com munity College Athletic Confer ence Player of the Year Natalie Hughes at guard. The new recruits join a line-up that already includ ed two first-team all-Pac-10 selec tions from a year ago in center Re nae Fegent and forward Arianne Boyer. While the Ducks aren’t about to complain about their three straight trips to the tournament, they won’t be satisfied with merely a date in the Big Dance in 1997. After finishing no worse than fourth in the Pac-10 the last three seasons, Oregon has lost in the first round in each of their three trips to the tournament. “We don’t want to just get there. That is not good enough any more,” Fegent said. One thing the Ducks had work ing against them in their last three tournament appearances was playing away from home. Howev er, if Oregon is able to finish the season as one of the top 16 teams in the country, it will have the op portunity to play its first two games of the tournament at home. “We would like to play well enough to be able to play at home, but we’re really going to have to improve to be there,” head coach Jody Runge said. Ten games into the season, Runge said she has seen an im provement in her reserves. “From an overall standpoint, we’re getting better play off our bench especially with our young players,” Runge said. Oregon’s bench is averaging 14.9 points per game, and eight Oregon players are averaging more than five points per game. In addition to better bench play, the Ducks have recently seen more scoring from the outside. Prior to the Oregon State game on Jan. 4, Oregon’s scoring punch was packed inside with Fegent and Boyer, but against the Beavers, Hughes and fellow point guard Cindie Edamura combined for 25 points. Fegent said the Ducks’ outside scoring is here to stay. “I think the outside players now have the confidence and realize Turn to WOMEN, Page 4B 17.4 ppg.,8.1 rpg. ■ Outlook: The Cardinal has been to the Fi nal Four two straight seasons, and with all five starters returning from last year’s team, expect Stanford to end up right back where they finished last season — at the top of the conference. ■ Jody Runge’s comments: “Stanford is very, very talented, and they are playing a much faster paced game than played before. Tara wants them to play at the pace of the international game to [such an] extent that they are turning the ball over and not shoot ing it as well."
