_ 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