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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2000)
_ SPORTS EDITOR: JEFF SMITH Smittside@aol.com Close win leaves Ducks shaking their heads The Oregon Ducks defeated Portland Tuesday but are not at all pleased with their performance INSIDE: The Ore gon basketball players stress that they must make improve ments before Saturday’s game against U Mass. PAGE 10 By Jeff Smith Oregon Daily Emerald One after another, the players on Oregon men’s basketball team spoke with disappointment in their voices. They spoke about “not getting it done.” They spoke about “not making the right plays.” They spoke about “not being happy right now.” And this was after a game in which they extended their season-opening record to 4-0 for just the second time in 23 years and the first time since the 1996-97 team that opened at 10-0. The Ducks fought through their sluggish play and held off an improved Portland Pilots (2-2) team to capture the 66-60 win in front of 7,418 nervous fans at McArthur Court. “We didn’t do the things we’ve been doing,” said senior forward Bryan Bracey, who was held to just nine points in 23 minutes of play. “I felt we weren’t ready to play. We’re defi nitely not happy with it.” Oregon was paced by junior guard Freddie Jones’ 16 points and the 22 combined points from guards Luke Ridnour and Anthony Norwood. The Ducks continued their trend of starting out slow but picked it up toward the end of the first half to take a 37-25 lead at the break. In the past few games, the start of the second half was where Oregon usually took charge, but this time the role was reversed. Oregon appeared to come out smoking in the half after a Flo Hartenstein bucket and a Norwood three gave the Ducks a 15-point cushion, but then the Pilots made it a game. Guard Ryan Jones, who scored a team-high 15 points, helped lead the Portland attack by draining six free throws in a nine minute span in which the Pilots outscored the Ducks 17-3 to cut the lead to 45-44. “They got up by 15 points, but we kept chipping away,” Portland head coach Rob Chavez said. “I thought our guys did Turn to Basketball, page 9 Adam Amatto Emerald Luke Ridnour (13) and the Ducks had a tough time getting through Portland Tuesday night at Mac Court. ill Catharine Kendall Emerald Freshmen Alisha Stevens and Lindsay Murphy will provide the Ducks with experience and leadership as they look to improve on their 10-19 record next year. ON THE RISE ■Though disappointed with its play in the 2000 campaign, a mentally healthy Oregon volleyball team is excited to prepare for next year By Adam Jude Oregon Daily Emerald It was seen in every glare. It was heard with every chant. It was felt with every tear. For once, there is pride in an Oregon volleyball uniform. While the Oregon volleyball team could not consistently find the winning road this season, 2000 may eventually be seen as the year that a major hole was filled. First-year head coach Carl Ferreira instilled a strong mentality in a program that has endured 11 consecutive losing seasons. And despite the struggles, the Ducks — who finished 10-19 overall and 2-16 in the Pacific-10 Con ference — know there is something special in the making. “We’ve always tried to play for today and prepare for to morrow,” Ferreira said. “I am definitely not satisfied or happy with how many matches we won. But honestly, I Turn to Volleyball, page 12 rac-10 is riveting after season's end ■ Oregon is probably headed for Hawaii as the Pac-10 sees three coaching changes By Scott Pesznecker Oregon Daily Emerald What a crazy couple of weeks it's been for Pacific-10 Conference football. First, the who-goes-to-which-bowl puzzle. Second, both Arizona schools find themselves coachless. Then, Southern California fires its coach, Paul Hacked. And most recently, the Los Angeles Times reported that Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson supposedly turned down a $7.2-million offer from USC to replace Hacked, and that Erick son is now interested in the head coach opening at Arizona State. (Deep breath.) It all started when Oregon State beat Oregon in the Civil War. Had the Ducks won, there would have been no dis pute as to which team went to what bowl. However, with the Ducks being tossed back to a virtual third place in the Pac-10 due to tiebreakers, the Sun Bowl — reserved for the third-place Pac-10 team — said it would not have Oregon back for the second straight year. Sun Bowl officials offered UCLA their Pac-10 bid Monday. The Bruins accepted, which means the Ducks will probably slide all the way down to the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 25, unless Oregon State snags an at large BCS bid, which is unlikely. Bruins’ head coach Bob Toledo is thrilled about going to El Paso. Turn to Pac-10, page 9 ii For someone who has given three years of his life and for the last six months hasn't slept or eaten, I’m very dis appointed. Paul Hackett use
