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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2003)
* . I Sports Editor: Hank Hager hankhager@dailyemerald.com -Oregon Daily Emerald SPORTS Best bet NCAA football: TCU at Southern Mississippi 4:30 p.m., ESPN Thursday, November 20, 2003 Sandoval, Oregon men head to NCAA Champs The Oregon men are going to the NCAA Championships, while Magdalena Sandoval will represent the women By Scott Archer Freelance Reporter Magdalena Sandoval will be the only repre sentative for the Oregon women's cross country team in the 2003 NCAA Championships in Wa terloo, Iowa, starting Monday. Sandoval took ninth in last week's 2003 NCAA Western Regional held in Portland. The senior also finished the Pacific-10 Conference fifth individually. Sandoval, a senior, finished among the top four Oregon harriers. She had a distinct game plan in mind during last week's Western Regional. "The last 2,000 kilo meters I was battling, and trying not to go backwards and lose to many places," Sandoval said. "The whole time I was thinking about my position individual-wise." Sandoval's efforts paid off, especially in the mind of her running mentor. "You have to hand it to Magdalena," head coach Marnie Mason said. "She didn't feel her best coming in, but she gave a gutty effort and was right in the hunt the whole way." DUCK CROSSCOUNTRY The last lone Oregon representative at the NCAA Championships was Carrie Zografos, who finished 33rd overall after placing sixth in the Western Regionals and eighth in the Pac-10 one year ago. Men Make Finals The Oregon men's team was awarded an at large bid to the 2003 NCAA Championship after the team finished fifth at the NCAA Western Regional. While the fifth-place finish isn't the reason Oregon is going to Waterloo, Iowa, it certainly helped bolster the team's at large points. At-large points are what race officials look at when deciding which teams that didn't finish in the regionals top-two spots are awarded with na tional invites. Oregon received those points despite a team that has had individuals run well, but not the team as a whole. The regional race "was kind of indicative of the season in that we all haven't been on at the same time," junior Ryan Andrus said. Twenty-seventh ranked Arizona, No. 20 Washington and No. 36 Portland will join No. 12 Oregon as at-large teams selected from the West Regional. Top-ranked Stanford and No. 15 Cal Poly qualified automatically. From the Northwest It was two Oregon natives who helped Stan ford win the Pac-10 title in Portland for the team's second consecutive Pac-10 crown. Turn to HARRIERS, page 14 Ducks still perfecting team chemistry Uregon has worked on building its chemistry during its first two games; the Ducks hope to have it against Fresno State By Jesse Thomas Sports Reporter It's coming together — gradually. The team chemistry on the Oregon men's basketball team has been established in the first two exhibition games. "1 am (happy) right now," head coach Ernie Kent said. "But they have a long way to go until they can get comfortable. For where we are right now and what we've accomplished, I'm pleased." The Ducks have passed the first test by winning both exhibition games, includ ing the buzzer shot on Monday night to beat the EA Sports All-Stars. Oregon has stayed with the starting lineup of guards Aaron Brooks and Andre Joseph, forwards Ian Crosswhite and Luke Jackson, and center Mitch Platt. "It's coming together really well," Crosswhite said. "Guys are getting into their roles and understanding where their roles are going to be this year. There still probably room where there might be some changes. Within the team everyone is getting along great and working together really well." Brooks and Platt, both freshmen, are the new additions to the starting lineup. Platt, a native of Henderson, Nev„ com bined for 11 points and 16 rebounds in the exhibitions. Brooks, a Seattle native, has made his presence strongly known in Oregon's run-and-gun offense. Brooks had 11 points and three steals in Oregon's exhibition on Monday night. In the Ducks' first exhibition on Nov. 9, Brooks had 14 points and four assists. "We're vibing pretty well," Brooks said. "We got some kinks still, but we re going to work them out and the guys are cool, everybody's cool. We're going to get these kinks worked out and get ready for the first game." Oregon's first game is Friday night against Fresno State. The Ducks will likely come with the same lineup and they will be tested again. Now the games count. Turn to BASKETBALL, page 16 m, m BASKETBALL Mark McCambridge Photographer Oregon forward Ian Crosswhite has combined to score 27 points in the Ducks’ exhibition games. Ducks end season against top 10 teams Danielle Hickey Senior Photographer k Freshman Sarah Mason (l/J.has excelled onjthe_court recently.^ Oregon battles seventh-ranked Stanford tonight before ending its season on Friday against No. 9 California By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter The Oregon volleyball team enters Maples Pavilion tonight to take on No. 7 Stanford during the team's final road trip of the season. __ The Ducks are in the midst of a 17-match losing streak and haven't won since defeating Villanova, 3-0, on _Sept. 13._ _ VOLLEYBALL Oregon's search for a win won't be any easier tonight as it faces a Stanford team that stands second in the Pacific-10 Conference and holds a 9-2 overall record at home. Junior libero Katie O'Neil said Ore gon (3-22 overall, 0-16 Pac-10) knows it is up against one of the nation's top teams, but the Ducks are looking to im prove in any way possible. "I think we're going into it pretty open, like every other match," O'Neil said of tonight's contest against Stan ford. "Just staying consistent with our small improvements every time." The Cardinal (19-6, 12-4) are led by outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani. The junior is third in the Pac-10 in kills (486), fourth in kills per game (5.28) -Turn to V0U.EYBALJ-, page 14._ Oregon receives top 25 ranking The Ducks are ranked No. 24 in the latest Associated | Press poll after a strong weekend at McArthur Court By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter The Oregon women's basketball team cracked the Associated Press top 25 this week. After victories against Valparaiso and No. 9 LSU in the Women's Sports Foun dation Classic last weekend, the Ducks sit at No. 24 in the latest poll and are one WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 25. Oregon likely elite after defeating LSU, which was the highest-ranked non-conference oppo nent the Ducks have defeated since join ing the Pac-10 in 1986. Oregon knows a top 25 ranking equals respect, but also means it will be the focus of many upset-minded teams. "It certainly puts a target on your back, but moving targets are hard to hit," head coach Bev Smith said. "If we keep improv ing and are happy but not satisfied with the result on the weekend, then we'll keep getting better, and we'll be a little bit hard er to hit as a target." Sophomore forward Carolyn Ganes said Oregon deserved its addition to the latest AP poll and the respect gained will eventually improve the Ducks on the court. "We all knew coming into this season that we had the potential to be a force to be reckoned with," Ganes said. "Now I think we're just getting some respect from other people. In the end it will only make us better because other teams are going to feel that they have to bring their 'A' game." It's just a number While Oregon is happy with its No. 24 ranking, it realizes that it shouldn't be an area of focus. Only two games into the sea son, many things are bound to change. -- . Turn to WOMEN, page 14 of three — No. 6 Stanford and No. 22 Arizona are the others — Pacific 10 Conference teams in the top joined the nation's
