Oregon women’s basketball was on the cusp of an NCAA Tournament berth entering its road trip last week. However, a season-ending injury to Jillian Alleyne and two consecutive losses has changed the outlook for this team as the postseason gets set. Emerald staff reporters Jonathan Hawthorne and Christopher Keizur analyze the position the Ducks are in currently and provide predictions before the Pac-12 tournament begins.
Oregon was swept on the road in the final weekend of regular season after it won five of six games. How does that change the mentality of the team this week heading into the Pac-12 Tournament?
Hawthorne: I think the losses of Jillian Alleyne and Jordan Loera had a profound impact on the team. They were out of rhythm and out of sorts. The preparation this week will likely focus on getting back into mental shape ahead of the Pac-12 Tournament, where every team is hungry to advance.
Keizur: The mentality should be to leave everything on the court. There are young players on this roster, like freshman point guard Maite Cazorla, who can use this opportunity to grab the reins and take control of a group that will be looking for a new leader. Three freshmen combined for 30 points in the loss against Stanford, so look for the youth movement to continue.
Who will step up in place of the injured Jillian Alleyne?
Hawthorne: Oregon’s three post players were 3-for-21 from the field against Stanford on Sunday. Without Alleyne in the post, the Ducks are going to have difficulty creating enough space to get quality 3-point attempts up. I can see Jacinta Vandenberg having a standout game for the Ducks on Thursday. Though she’s said she doesn’t particularly look to score, she needs to at least be an offensive presence to give Oregon’s shooters space to shoot. She must also have a strong opening quarter so defenses focus some attention on her.
Keizur: None of the post players on the current roster have the ability to replace what Alleyne provided, as all were complimentary defense and hustle specialists. Thus I think the answer for the Ducks is to focus on small ball lineups that can get out and run on opponents. I think Lexi Petersen has the ability to excel in the role of a small-ball four. She has the length and speed to disrupt traditional posts on defense and her outside shooting would make for a nightmare matchup. Against California last weekend she scored 20 points and collected seven rebounds, so there is some precedent for the position switch.
How far will Oregon advance in the Pac-12 Tournament? Could they still sneak into the NCAA Tournament?
Hawthorne: The first time Oregon played Arizona, freshman guard Maite Cazorla had 23 points and Kat Cooper added 18. If the Ducks receive similar efforts and Vandenberg works the high-low threat, the Ducks should beat Arizona in the first round. UCLA, though, looks like a much taller task in the second round. Head coach Kelly Graves says the Ducks must win two games to make it to the NCAA Tournament, but in the latest projections, the Ducks are nowhere to be found.
Keizur: It’s unfortunate to say after the team was able to build so much momentum in the second half of conference play, but Oregon isn’t going to be making a postseason run. The Ducks aren’t going to win a game in the Pac-12 Tournament — they just don’t have the firepower anymore to beat Arizona. I think the Wildcats will see an opportunity to snag a win while Oregon will be looking to put this year in the rearview mirror.
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