Sports Editor:
Hank Hager
hankhager@dailyemerald.com
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Oregon Daily Emerald
SPORTS
Best bet
NCAA Basketball:
Washington at Arizona
6 p.m., FSN
Kedzie Gunderson
had to put her
desire to score on
hold after realizing
she was best
suited as a
defensive player in
the Pacific-10
Conference.
Adam Amato
Senior photographer
Getting defensive
Kedzie Gunderson has successfully moved from scorer to defensive-minded player
By Jon Roetman
Sports Reporter
Kedzie Gunderson had decisions to make. When the Seattle
area native arrived at Oregon as a freshman in 2001, she
found herself in a situation different from what she envi
sioned when she signed a letter of intent before her senior year at
Bellevue High School.
Jody Runge, the former Oregon head coach who recruited Gun
derson, had resigned in the spring after months of
turmoil surrounded the program. Bev Smith was named head coach
of the Ducks during the summer, leaving Gunderson unsure of what
her role would be on the team.
But the decision to stay at Oregon, despite having to build a
bond with a different head coach, was an easy one for Gunderson,
who was too fond of Eugene to consider transferring.
Her decision became even easier after she discovered the talent
level of the Pacific-10 Conference players.
Turn to DEFENSIVE, page 14
Tennis learns
from on-court
experiences
The Oregon men’s tennis team sorts out
individual differences that stem from
variations in culture and personality
By Alex Tam
Freelance Reporter
DUCK
TENNIS
Despite jumping out to a great start, the Oregon men
not only face a difficult schedule ahead, but also have
dealt with some off-court issues recently.
The mixing of different personalities and cultural back
grounds on a squad featuring five Europeans and three
Americans is becoming a learning experience for each player.
Oregon men's head coach Chris
Russell said players are becoming
more accepting of who they are and
are now bonding well together.
"They're definitely more of a
team than we ever had," he said.
"They really seem to like each other.
"I think they've had to learn and respect individual dif
ferences of each guy on the team because we're not all the
same and we all come from different places. So that's
been a challenge. We got a great understanding of team
mates and coaches in general."
Russell said he is encouraged by the cohesiveness that
his team is demonstrating off the court and hopes it trans
lates back to the court.
On the court, the coaching staff has encouraged its play
ers all year to develop a style of play that best suits their re
spective games and utilize a game plan for every match.
"We've got a long ways to go," Russell said. "I think
you're seeing some of the guys having some of the best
results consequently having probably made the most
progress of their game styles and their belief in their
game styles. *
Those players include juniors Manuel Kost and Sven
Swinnen. Combined, the duo has only lost one singles
match. Swinnen holds a 6-1 dual singles record and Kost
is still undefeated at 6-0.
Throughout the year, the trio of Kost, Swinnen and
sophomore Thomas Bieri has shifted between the top
three positions in the lineup. That element has allowed
each to have an opportunity to earn success by playing his
opponents' top players. The three are a combined 16-4 in
Turn to ON-COURT, page 14
Oregon aims to improve its California success rate
The Ducks head to the Bay Area
where they have had little
success in recent seasons
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
Someday, the Ducks are going to have to
figure out a way to beat those guys.
If Oregon wants to get a top 5 seed in
the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament —
and it does — today would be a good
game to start.
Oregon heads to California for a 7:30
in Berkeley since the 1999-2000 season.
There's just something about playing
the Golden Bears in California that gives
the Ducks fits.
"They're hostile environments, Cal and
Stanford," Oregon forward Ian Crosswhite
said. "The crowds are loud there and in a
way, they are similar to us because they
play well at home. The last two years I've
tip tonight in
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
hopes of ending a
three-game losing
streak at Haas
Pavilion. The
Ducks haven't won
been here, we've been beaten pretty well
down there, except in one case. We'll have
to be ready to go."
Crosswhite mentioned Oregon's game
against Stanford on Saturday in Palo Alto,
but team members say need to take each
game one at a time — yes, that's a cliche.
But it's a cliche that stands true if Oregon
wants to get a postseason bid to the
NCAA Tournament.
"If we go in there with
the mindset we're going to
defend people, everything
else will take care of itself
in these ball games."
Ernie Kent
Oregon Head Coach
Aside from a 107-103 overtime loss in
2002, the Ducks have given in to the
Golden Bears, and in a big way. The
Ducks lost by 16 in each of the other two
losses. Oregon's last win came by four
points in 2000.
The game could be a preview of things
to come in the Pac-10 Tournament. Both
teams sport 7-7 records in conference
play, placing them in the No. 4 and 5
seeds for the tournament if it started to
day. Technically, Oregon would be the
fourth seed by virtue of defeating the
Bears in February at McArthur Court.
Not as though that would matter.
"If we go in there with the mindset
we're going to defend people, everything
else will take care of itself in these ball
games," Oregon head coach Ernie Kent
said. "We are a team, I feel, that can play
with anybody in the conference. We've
shown that. We just haven't been able to
sustain that."
The Ducks and Golden Bears match up
well. California's Amit Tamir is a lesser
known version of Oregon forward Luke
Jackson. California's Leon Powe and Oregon
forward Mitch Platt are two of the league's
more high-profile freshmen.
The Ducks (12-9 overall) will be
buoyed Aaron Brooks's return to the line
up. Oregon was without the point guard
earlier in the season when the teams met.
He will be a key component in stopping a
Golden Bear (11-12) offense that averages
Turn to AIMS, page 14
Adam Amato Senior Photographer
Forward Ian Crosswhite said the Ducks will face tough crowds and facilities
at California’s Haas Pavilion and at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion.