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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2000)
Once again, Pac-10 season will be a wacky, wild ride ■ Oregon, UCLA, Arizona and Stanford should fight it out for the Pac-10 title By Scott Pesznecker Oregon Daily Emerald Oregon finishing third in the conference? It could happen. Also, UCLA could finish third. Stanford could finish third. On the same note, each of those teams could finish on top. The race for the conference title is an encore of last season’s finish that left the Ducks and Bruins tied for the honor. There isn’t much difference in the amount of talent on each team between the No. 1 and No. 3 spots, either. But don’t let the following rank ings be deceiving. Two of the top three teams, Oregon and UCLA, could easily switch spots within the first few games of the season. Meanwhile, count on Stanford being a steady competitor throughout, finishing the season in first — runner-up, that is. 1. No. 17 UCLA Bruins (64) Head Coach: Kathy Oliver Player to watch: Erica Gomez, G Outlook: If UCLA were facing any other Pacific-10 Conference opponents to start its season, it probably wouldn’t be picked by the coaches and media polls to finish on top. The Bruins do have a great shot to win the conference title, but they have no chance if they don’t start playing as a team. Newly re turned captain Erica Gomez pub licly blasted her teammates after their 106-64 loss to No. 1 Con necticut: “I’m looking for intensi ty from our players, and it looks to me like we don’t have any.” But the Bruins’ first Pac-10 op ponent is Washington, followed by Washington State and South ern California — those three con tests should provide enough time for UCLA to regroup before facing Arizona on Jan. 20. Everyone from last season’s starting five is back. Gomez is re covered from injury. Senior May lana Martin is playing great. 2. Stanford Cardi nal (7-3) Head Coach: Tara Vanderveer Player to Watch: Milena Flores, G Stanford returns all but one starter from last sea son’s second-in-the-conference finish, and Lindsey Yamasaki has rejoined the team following the volleyball season. The Cardinal has held oppo nents under 50 points in consecu tive games for the first time in three years. Stanford also boasts a potent shooting game and is No. 2 in conference three-point shoot ing, hitting 6.5 per game. Senior guard Milena Flores has became the fourth player in Stan ford history to record 500 career assists, a mark that puts her eighth in the Pac-10 record books. For ward Bethany Donaphin is averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. 3. No. 24 Ore Stanford forward Bethany Donaphim, averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds a game this season, will try to help Stanford regain dominance inthePac-10. gon Ducks (9-3) Head Coach: Jody Runge Player to Watch: Shaquala Williams, G Oregon has earned the right to say it owns everything inside of McArthur Court, including its op position. The beatings were abun dant during the first half of the nonconference schedule — 77-42 over Howard, 73-53 over Virginia Tech and 90-58 over Colorado tops the list of point spreads. The Ducks earned their first top-10 ranking since the 1981-82 season, but Oregon saw its rank ing slip away once it hit the road. When it comes to women’s hoops, Oregon has one of the best home-court advantages in the conference. On the road, head coach Jody Runge knows the Ducks must learn to create their own energy. She’d like to see her team get rnean, if that’s what it takes. Unfortunately, Oregon must play Stanford on the road before going back to The Pit. But if Ore gon can play better on the road, it can beat anyone anywhere. In cluding Stanford in Palo Alto. 4. No. 15 Ari zona Wildcats (11-1) Head Coach: Joan Bonvicini Player to watch: Tatum Brown, F The Wildcats join Oregon and Arizona State as the only Pac-10 teams undefeated at home through the preseason. Arizona has been solid thus far. capturing the conference’s best record at 11-1. Forward Tatum Brown leads the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (.661) and is fourth in scoring with 16.3 points per game. She’s also pulled down a second-place 8.9 boards per game. Guard Felecity Willis tops the conference in assists (5.42 per game), and guard Lisa Griffith is the league’s top three-point shoot er with an accuracy mark of .448 percent. 5. Arizona State Sun Devils (7-3) Head Coach: Charii Turner Thorne Player to watch: Leah Combs, F The Sun Dev ils are off to their best start since the 1991-92 season, losing just three games to ranked opponents — including a near upset of North Carolina. Now Arizona State faces the impossible task of beating Stan ford in its conference opener. The last time Arizona State beat Stan ford was also in the 1991-92 season. Kitch Kitchen leads the Sun Devil offense. The senior guard ranks second in the Pac-10 in steals (2.6) and assists (4.4). Four starters return from last season, and with forwards Leah Combs and Theresa Jantzen healthy, the Devils’ post offense should be more producfive. 6. Washington Huskies (4-8) Head Coach: June Daugher ty Player to watch: Megan Franza, G Unlike many other conference Turn to Women’s Pac-10, page 8B 95 Centennial Loop (2 Blocks west of Autzen) call 345-0825 or e-mail: Eastside@juno.com _ _/ Sundtuf &ele&uzti6*t Senvicet 9:00 a.m and 10:30 a.m 007005 Got money? Plasma donations earn around $160 every month. $15 on 1st donation - $30 on 2nd donation! $5 extra for first-time donors if you bring in this ad! We need your help! ramed Biocenter—Eugene 1 Block east of 8th and Garfield " 1901 West 8th Ave., Eugene 683-9430 also at 225 B Main St. in Springfield A Bed & Breakfast Inn Ten delightful garden-theme rooms await you. $' % 1910 University Street, Eugene, Oregon 97403 541-484-6753 • fax: 541-43 l-l 699 • 1-888-484-6755 Toll free 5 www.secretgardenbbinn.com 8___ ODE ifcoriei ore archived on-line at www.dailyemerald.com
