Justin Best Everett Herald
Seattle’s Rashard Lewis said that Luke Ridnour (8) will “be one of the best point guards in the league in the future.”
ROOKIE
continued from page 7
ready and teaching me patience and
just knowing my time will come."
In his rookie season, Ridnour is av
eraging 5.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and
2.1 assists per game. He backs up
guard Antonio Daniels off the bench.
Although Ridnour's minutes have
changed, his speed hasn't. Ridnour
says that Seattle doesn't play as fast as
the Ducks did, but his teammates be
lieve otherwise.
"I know when I'm out on the floor
with him and he gets the ball, he's al
ways pushing it," forward Rashard
Lewis said. "Once I see him catch it,
I'm running as fast as possible because
I know he's an up-tempo player."
Barry, who is currently on the in
jured list, put Ridnour's speed in
perspective.
"And guys understand, when you're
playing with Luke Ridnour, if you're
running down the court and you
don't have your hands up ... you
might end up with a broken nose or a
jammed finger. He's going to find
you," Barry said.
"He's got such great court sense and
great vision out there, that if you cut
and move and you're open, Luke is go
ing to make your job easier for you."
Ridnour is living his dream. A na
tive of Blaine, Wash., Ridnour was giv
en the opportunity to play for the lo
cal team when he was selected by
Seattle as the 14th overall pick in the
2003 NBA Draft.
After finishing as last year's Pac-10
Tournament MVR. Ridnour decided
to forego his senior season and en
ter the NBA. Entering the draft, he
was criticized on his size and his
defensive capabilities.
"Everybody talks about how he
can't defend and how he's small —
just watch Luke play and you start to
understand he knows the game of
basketball,” Barry said. "And anybody
as smart as he is is going to find a way
to get the job done."
As of late, Ridnour has helped his
team get the job done.
In Friday's game against Phoenix,
Ridnour handed out the game-win
ning assist and scored 11 points.
McMillan said that Ridnour, "was very
poised doing that."
Ridnour said he doesn't miss Eu
gene, except for all his friends, and he
has never regretted the decision of
passing up his senior season.
He had quite the fan base on Sun
day. Along with all the kids screaming
for autographs, several of the Oregon
players showed up to see if their old
teammate still had the moves.
The Duck even showed up and par
ticipated in the on-court festivities.
Ridnour has proved to his new
teammates that he is ready to com
pete in this league and on this level.
"To be a rookie and show the signs
of greatness that he's going to have, I
think he's most definitely going to be
a point guard in this league and be
one the best point guards in the
league in the future," Lewis said.
Ridnour convinced his opponents
of his abilities as well. At times, Rid
nour was matched up with Portland's
Damon Stoudamire in the fourth
quarter. More than once, Ridnour was
able to split the double-team of
Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace and
break to the hoop.
"Luke is in a tough position down
there in Seattle because they're trying
to get into the playoffs and he's
playing in a crowded backcourt,"
Stoudamire said. "He just needs to
continue to work hard, he'll improve
and I know he'll be a main-stay in
this league."
Ridnour has impressed from the
very beginning. In his first career start,
he scored a career-high 17 points
against Denver and earned 15 points,
seven assists and five rebounds
against New York.
Ridnour has scored in double fig
ures in 14 games this season and lead
his team in assists four times. He said
his most difficult transition into the
NBA hasn't been physical.
"Mentally, there's just so many
games and you got to be ready to play
every game," Ridnour said. "In college
you play two, you get a week off...
just being mentally ready all the time
(is important)."
It hasn't been the easiest adjust
ment, but he's doing what he loves.
Ridnour's days at Oregon are mere
memories and he has proved to his
teammates and opposing ones that he
is in the NBA to stay.
Ridnour has shown a strong work
ethic and consistency that has im
pressed his teammates. And he's
proved to his coach how tough of a
player he is.
But as with any rookie, Ridnour still
has plenty to learn.
"And he's cheap," Barry said. "I
don't think he understands. When we
go on road trips and stuff, rookies are
supposed to pay for meals; they're
supposed to pay for room service for
veteran players. This is something I'm
trying to instill in him before the
year's over with."
Contact the sports reporter
at lessethomas@dailyemeratd.com.
HAGER
continued from page 7
Oregon in the standings, is in the sec
ond grouping of teams to be left out.
Obviously, neither Oregon nor
California has done enough to im
press Lunardi, endangering the Pac
10's trend of getting at least three
teams into the tournament. Not
since the 1987-88 season has that
happened.
Since then, only once — the 1992
93 season — has the conference
placed three teams in the postseason
tournament.
Brace yourself: It could be another
one of those years.
It's no guarantee just yet, but six
teams, like 2002, is out the window.
Same goes for a five-team field. It
wouldn't be terribly surprising to see
the same thing happen to a four
team possibility, although Oregon,
California and Arizona could run
over the field in the second half,
which should force the tournament
to take four teams.
The Wildcats, Ducks and Bears —
the three teams in question — will
have a spotlight following them for
the rest of the season.
Not only will they be fighting for
their postseason lives, but also for the
good ofthePac-10.
It should be interesting to see what
happens.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhager@dailyemerald.com. His
opinions do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
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