Oregon daily emerald., March 09, 2000, Image 7

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Emerald
After breaking his cheekbone, senior A.D. Smith is back on the attack for his final home game against the Beavers Saturday.
Despite a
series of
injuries,
junior
co-captain
Lindsey Dion
remains one
of Oregon’s
most
effective,
dependable
players
By Mirjam Swanson
Oregon Daily Emerald
It was going to take a hell of a
lot more than a prize-winning
Gatorade cap to cheer up Lind
sey Dion.
The Oregon women’s basket
ball team had just finished its
first practice since upending
then-No. 10 UCLA in Los Ange
les on Jan. 29. Everyone at Mac
Court was in high spirits.
Players had some extra
bounce, smiled when they an
swered questions about their
previously inconceivable split
in L.A., about Alyssa Fredrick’s
breakout performance, about
the upcoming Arizona game.
All good for the Ducks on this
particular Monday.
For all of them, that is, be
sides Dion, who had traveled
but wasn’t allowed to get out
there herself. Who had to sit be
cause of the post-concussion
syndrome she was experiencing
after sustaining a first concus
sion at California on Jan. 13 and
then, when she was on her way
to recovery, had her head
bounced off the floor again in a
game on Jan 22.
So as her teammates lifted
weights and cooled down from
Monday’s practice, Dion leaned
against the edge of a trainer’s
table down in die catacombs of
McArthur Court and stared off
into space, furious.
She’d only been allowed in
on two measly drills.
Turn to Dion, page 9A
Thursday
March 9,2000
Volume 101, Issue 114
Emerald
■ witn ms last nome
game against Oregon
State, A.D. Smith reflects
on an outstanding career
By Brett Williams
Oregon Daily Emerald
He’s now the man behind
the mask, but still no Oregon
basketball player is more rec
ognizable than A.D. Smith.
Smith’s impressive play has
Oregon (21-7 overall, 12-5 Pa
cific-10 Conference) heading
to the NCAA Tournament for
the first time since 1995. The
Ducks have some unfinished
business before they pack up
for the Big Dance Saturday,
when they take on the Beavers
at McArthur Court for Smith’s
last home game.
Smith’s contributions to the
Oregon program are incredi
ble. On the school career
charts, Smith is currently
fourth in steals, 11th in career
scoring, 12th in three-pointers
and sixth in rebounding.
Who would have thought
that could come from a player
with few scholarship offers af
ter his senior season at Eu
gene’s Churchill High?
Not many. Coaches told
Smith he was better-suited for
the West Coast Conference
and that he would have limit
ed success in a conference as
strong as the Pac-10.
“Some people just looked at
my size, but it’s not like I had a
problem with them thinking I
Junior co-captain Lindsey Dion is averaging more than seven points per game despite dealing with injuries.
couian t play mere, said
Smith, who has led the Ducks
in scoring ten times and re
bounding 11 times this season.
“Coaches in the West Coast
Conference were trying to get
me to go there, they said I
would have more success there.
“But it’s something I never
bought. Even if they were right,
I wouldn’t have bought it.”
Obviously, A.D.’s
done a very good job
representing the Uni
versity on and off the
court.
Ernie Kent
head coach
11
Oregon head coach Ernie
Kent said Smith has proved
his critics wrong.
“It’s been documented so
much about what he went
through as far as scholarships
and how he ended up at Ore
gon,” Kent said. “Obviously,
A.D.’s done a very good job at
Oregon and representing the
University, not only on the
floor but off it as well.”
The Ducks definitely
bought into Smith’s talent. De
spite referring to Eugene as his
“hometown,” Smith grew up
in Albany until he was 10
years old, and he was an avid
Turn to A.D. Smith, page 12A