UCLA and Stanford were the only Pac 10 teams in the NCAA last season, as the Bruins finished 2nd in the Pac 10, 2nd in the Pac 10 tournament then beat North Carolina State in the NCAA tournament and lost to highly ranked Nebraska. Their record was 25-9 and 15-3 in conference play.
LOSSES:
Erica Tukianen was the top scorer among those who graduated, but 5th on the team. Erica averaged 8 points in 24 minutes per game. However she had more threes, 49 at 43% than the next two best on the Bruin team.
Moniquee Alexander averaged 3 points and 3 and a half rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
ADDITIONS:
Corinne Costa is a 6-4 Center from the East Bay.
Rhema Gardner is a 6-1 Forward who was all Southern Section CIF last year.
Thea Lemberger is a 5-6 Point Guard.
Atonye Nyingifa missed last season with a knee injury. She was a starter as a Frosh and was the # 19 player in the country out of High School. She will have 3 years left to play.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
San Diego State, LSU and Notre Dame represent the only potential top 25 teams. The Bruins do play at St Mary’s on Dec 12th. The Bruins should have a fine pre-season record, but not a strong Strength of Schedule.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Will UCLA play often with a Center? There personal indicates more of a two forward, 2 wing and a Point Guard type of team, which they played more often than not last season.
Christina Nzekwe is a 6-4 Sr who averaged 2 and a half points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.
Corinne Costa is a 6-4 Frosh from the East Bay who was the # 32 Post last year in High School.
POWER FORWARDS:
UCLA has three short for the post players yet they are very strong rebounders. They will play here and make up what I believe will be the Bruin front court.
Jasmine Dixon is a 6-0 Jr who was both the leading scorer and the leading rebounder for the Bruins last season. Dixon averaged 15 point and 8 rebounds a game in only 26 minutes per game. At that Dixon was second on the team in minutes per game. She shot 55% from the floor and with her rebounding ability is a very strong post player. One of the top players in the Pac 10. A McDonalds High School All American.
Markel Walker is a 6-1 Soph who averaged 11 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Great player around the hoop despite her lack of height. Walker shot 48% from the floor and was one of the top Frosh in the Pac 10 last season. Also a High School McDonalds All American.
Atonye Nyingifa is a 5-11 post/wing player who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Atonye was one of the top Frosh in the Pac 10 two years ago when she averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds per game.
A note on the type of play for Dixon, Walker and Nyingifa, they are classic 4’s who made a total of 7 threes in their last seasons of play.
Nina Earl is a 6-1 Sr who averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13 minutes of play last season. Earl averaged 7.5 points per game her first two seasons at UCLA.
Rhema Gardner is a 6-1 Frosh who’s sister Rebekah is also on the team. Gardner was the # 22 wing in High School so could play several positions for the Bruins.
WINGS:
Dorenna Campbell is a 5-10 Sr who can play the Point in addition to the 2 Guard position. Campbell started every game last season and averaged 10 points per game and was the leader in minutes played. She was 2nd on the team and the top returning three point shooter, making 26 at 41%. For her career Campbell has made 75 threes at 41%, a nice shooting percentage. I mention her three point shooting as she will be the main three point treat for the Bruins. Campbell also had a plus assist to turnover ratio.
Rebekah Gardner is a 6-1 Jr who averaged 7 points in 20 minutes per game last season. The older Gardner sister started 7 games for the Bruins.
POINT GUARDS:
Darxia Morris started most of the games at the Point last season. Morris is a 5-8 Sr. She averaged 8.6 points per game and had a 1.2 :1 assist to turnover ratio. Morris also made 20 threes at 33% improving from not even attempting many threes her first two seasons.
Mariah Williams is a 5-3 Soph who averaged just 2 points a game but did start 6 games for the Bruins.
Thea Lemberger is a 5-6 Frosh who was the # 35 Point Guard last year in High School but highly thought of by several scouts.
FORECAST:
This year and the future are very bright for the Nikki Caldwell led Bruins. While they lack a solid post, they have very good rebounding and post scoring ability. Their weakness will be three point shooting and defending skilled 6-3, 6-4 Centers. However they will also create many defensive opportunities with their very quick and aggressive defense. The Bruins could well be a Sweet 16 or better team.
October 26, 2010
October 21, 2010
Michelle becomes a Ute
Michelle Harrison graduated from Stanford and enrolled in the Masters program at the University of Utah. She’ll be playing for the Utah Utes this season while she gets her Masters degree in Education, Culture and Society.
Utah will be playing its last season in the Mountain West Conference and with Colorado will be joining the Pac 12 for next season.
Last year Utah was 23-12, and 10-6 in the conference. They advanced to the Finals of the Mountain West tournament and played two games, losing their second to Cal in the WNIT. The Utes played three Pac 10 teams, losing to Cal and Stanford and beating Oregon.
LOSSES:
Kalee Whipple averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds while playing 37 minutes per game. She made 64 three’s more than the next two players combined, although at only 31%.
Halie Sawyer averaged 7 points and 8 rebounds and 32 minutes per game. She led the team in blocks, twice as many as the next player.
ADDITIONS:
Michelle Harrison, and we all know her.
Ciera Dunbar has missed most of her past two seasons, her Jr and Sr year in High School, so hard to count on her, but she does have promise.
Allison Gida is a 5-11 frosh guard who was all state in Oregon averaging 18 points, 9rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists per game.
Brittany Knighton was all state in Oregon as a Soph, but then had a knee injury as a Jr, and recovered as a Sr. Still averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds as a Sr while playing for the fabled Oregon City program.
Amy Krommenhoek is a 3 time all state player in Utah, hitting 2 threes per game last season. Her sister was an All American at Utah in the 90’s.
6-4 Michelle Plouffe is a Canadian who average 14 points and 9 rebounds this past year on the Canadian U18 National team. Her twin plays at Marquette and you may remember her sister, Andrea at Washington.
A good recruiting class, plus Michelle.
Anthony Levrets moves from Assistant to Interim Head Coach for this season as long time Head Coach Elaine Elliot takes a leave of absence.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
I would guess that San Diego State is the toughest team in their Conference, so when Utah joins the Pac 12 they will be moving up. The Utes play Stanford, Penn State, Arkansas and Mississippi State in the pre-season.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Utah doesn’t list a Center on the roster but Coach Levrets calls 6-3 Soph Taryn Wicijowski “a beast around the basket”. Last season Taryn averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds a game shooting a great 58% from the floor. She was the Mountain West Frosh of the Year. Also she was the team Capitan for the Canadian 19U National team after her Sr year in High School. You may remember her last season at Stanford when she scored 15 points.
Frosh Andrea Plouffe at 6-4 gives the Utes two Canadian post players.
POWER FORWARDS:
Well we would all think Michelle starts here, so we’ll pencil her in as a 4. Still she needs to roam some and hit threes. It’ll be interesting to see how she is positioned.
Diana Rolniak is a 6-4 Soph who very athletic and was second on the team in blocks. As a Frosh last season she averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes a game. Was the # 83 player in the country out of High School
WINGS:
Rachel Messer is a 5-9 Soph who averaged 3.5 points in 20 minutes per game. She also had an assist to turnover ratio of almost 2:1. Messer was 2nd on the team in threes, shooting 36%.
Iwalani Rodriques is a 5-9 3rd year Soph who averaged 3.5 points in 18 minutes per game as a Frosh. Big things are expect of her from three and on drives to the rim.
Allison Gida a 5-11 Frosh should step up and get minutes. As should 6-0 Frosh Brittany Knighton.
Rita Sitvi is a 5-9 Soph who didn’t get much time last year but will be in the mix for playing time this season.
POINT GUARDS:
Janita Badon is a 5-7 Jr who started every game last season at the Point. Badon averaged 9 points and 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with a positive assist to turnover ratio. She led the team in steals with 79 and was 3rd in threes but at a good 37%. Loved the Oregon game where she scored 29 points.
Hennasea Tokumura is a 5-4 5th year player. She played only 2 games the past two seasons, but if healthy she could be a valuable back up as she was her Frosh and Soph seasons.
FORECAST:
Utah is picked for 4th in the pre season Mountain West poll. A young team with 2 Srs and a Jr in their top 10. They should do fine in their league but struggle with some their pre season games, still they could win 20 if all are healthy.
Utah will be playing its last season in the Mountain West Conference and with Colorado will be joining the Pac 12 for next season.
Last year Utah was 23-12, and 10-6 in the conference. They advanced to the Finals of the Mountain West tournament and played two games, losing their second to Cal in the WNIT. The Utes played three Pac 10 teams, losing to Cal and Stanford and beating Oregon.
LOSSES:
Kalee Whipple averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds while playing 37 minutes per game. She made 64 three’s more than the next two players combined, although at only 31%.
Halie Sawyer averaged 7 points and 8 rebounds and 32 minutes per game. She led the team in blocks, twice as many as the next player.
ADDITIONS:
Michelle Harrison, and we all know her.
Ciera Dunbar has missed most of her past two seasons, her Jr and Sr year in High School, so hard to count on her, but she does have promise.
Allison Gida is a 5-11 frosh guard who was all state in Oregon averaging 18 points, 9rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists per game.
Brittany Knighton was all state in Oregon as a Soph, but then had a knee injury as a Jr, and recovered as a Sr. Still averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds as a Sr while playing for the fabled Oregon City program.
Amy Krommenhoek is a 3 time all state player in Utah, hitting 2 threes per game last season. Her sister was an All American at Utah in the 90’s.
6-4 Michelle Plouffe is a Canadian who average 14 points and 9 rebounds this past year on the Canadian U18 National team. Her twin plays at Marquette and you may remember her sister, Andrea at Washington.
A good recruiting class, plus Michelle.
Anthony Levrets moves from Assistant to Interim Head Coach for this season as long time Head Coach Elaine Elliot takes a leave of absence.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
I would guess that San Diego State is the toughest team in their Conference, so when Utah joins the Pac 12 they will be moving up. The Utes play Stanford, Penn State, Arkansas and Mississippi State in the pre-season.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Utah doesn’t list a Center on the roster but Coach Levrets calls 6-3 Soph Taryn Wicijowski “a beast around the basket”. Last season Taryn averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds a game shooting a great 58% from the floor. She was the Mountain West Frosh of the Year. Also she was the team Capitan for the Canadian 19U National team after her Sr year in High School. You may remember her last season at Stanford when she scored 15 points.
Frosh Andrea Plouffe at 6-4 gives the Utes two Canadian post players.
POWER FORWARDS:
Well we would all think Michelle starts here, so we’ll pencil her in as a 4. Still she needs to roam some and hit threes. It’ll be interesting to see how she is positioned.
Diana Rolniak is a 6-4 Soph who very athletic and was second on the team in blocks. As a Frosh last season she averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes a game. Was the # 83 player in the country out of High School
WINGS:
Rachel Messer is a 5-9 Soph who averaged 3.5 points in 20 minutes per game. She also had an assist to turnover ratio of almost 2:1. Messer was 2nd on the team in threes, shooting 36%.
Iwalani Rodriques is a 5-9 3rd year Soph who averaged 3.5 points in 18 minutes per game as a Frosh. Big things are expect of her from three and on drives to the rim.
Allison Gida a 5-11 Frosh should step up and get minutes. As should 6-0 Frosh Brittany Knighton.
Rita Sitvi is a 5-9 Soph who didn’t get much time last year but will be in the mix for playing time this season.
POINT GUARDS:
Janita Badon is a 5-7 Jr who started every game last season at the Point. Badon averaged 9 points and 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with a positive assist to turnover ratio. She led the team in steals with 79 and was 3rd in threes but at a good 37%. Loved the Oregon game where she scored 29 points.
Hennasea Tokumura is a 5-4 5th year player. She played only 2 games the past two seasons, but if healthy she could be a valuable back up as she was her Frosh and Soph seasons.
FORECAST:
Utah is picked for 4th in the pre season Mountain West poll. A young team with 2 Srs and a Jr in their top 10. They should do fine in their league but struggle with some their pre season games, still they could win 20 if all are healthy.
October 17, 2010
Trojans goal is injury free
If USC is healthy, this will be a very strong team. Last year they were 19-12 and 12-6 in Pac 10 play. They missed the NCAAs as they were 3-5 in their tough non league games, and while better that the majority of Pac 10 teams in this regards, that hurt them in league play, as the Pac 10 was not deemed a strong league. The Trojans, like the Bruins, don’t do WNITs.
LOSSES:
Well USC let go the two main coaches who ran the program from April to September of last season, and seemed to run the team during games. Hard to figure, so I won’t dwell on it.
Four players graduated, Aarika Hughes, Heather Oliver, Hailey Dunham and Daniella Roark.
Hughes was the 4th leading scorer, averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds in 26 minutes. She started all but one game. Oliver averaged 7 points and was 2nd on the team with 43 threes at 38%. Oliver averaged 19 minutes a game. Dunham averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. Dunham started most games. Roark played almost all the games and was 4th on the team with 16 threes at 38%. Roark averaged 2points per game.
ADDITIONS:
The biggest name and best addition is Sr Stephanie Gilbreath who has missed the past 3 seasons with ACL injuries. Stephanie was a McDonald’s All American and will start her college playing career close to a degree and 21 ½ years of age. All indications are that she is healthy.
Cassie Harberts is an incoming frosh and was ranked the # 11 player and # 2 Power Forward. She averaged 25 points per game as a Sr.
Desiree Bradley is a frosh and ranked the # 35 player and the # 8 Small Forward in the country.
Thaddesia Southall is a frosh and was the # 99 recruit and # 20 Power Forward in the Country.
Len'nique Brown is another frosh and was the # 54 Point Guard in the country.
Lauren White is the 5th frosh in this excellent class and was the # 61 Center in the Country.
A really outstanding group of newcomers being added to an already strong Trojan team.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Gonzaga, Duke, Georgia, Xavier, San Diego State, Fresno State. A solid schedule. If USC can go 5-1 against these teams the Pac 10 RPI increases quite a bit. 4-2 also probably helps quite a bit.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Kari LaPlante is a 6-5 Sr who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds a game last season. LePlante was both all defensive and all academic all Pac 10 honorable mention. She has really improved on Defense and averaged 26 minutes a game for the Trojans.
Michelle Jenkins is a 6-3 3rd year Soph who played only 3 games last season as a knee injury ended her year. She played almost all the games as a Frosh 2 years ago as the back up Post player.
Lauren White is a 6-4 Frosh who was the # 61 Center in the country last year.
POWER FORWARDS:
Cassie Harberts is a 6-2 Frosh and was the # 11 player and # 2 Power Forward last year. She is a relentless player, every rebound belongs to her, and she is going to be a scoring treat to 15’ but especially on the offensive boards.
Stephanie Gilbreath is finally able to play in her Sr year after missing three years with knee injuries. Stephanie is a 6-1 more power than finesse player, so I suspect she will debut at this position. That and the great wing depth USC has. She was as high as the # 11 player out of High School.
Thaddesia Southall is a 6-4 Frosh and was the # 99 player and # 20 Power Foward out of High School.
WINGS:
Brianna Gilbreath, Stephanie’s sister, is a 6-1 Jr. Last season Brianna averaged 13points and 6 rebounds per game, 2nd on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. She was all Pac 10 and the co Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Like her sister she was a McDonald’s All American in High School.
Jackie Gemelos is a 5th year player who played for the first time this past season after 4 ACL’s. A tremendously inspirational story for this one time top 1-2 recruit in the country. Gemelos averaged 39 points and 9 assists per game as a High School Sr. Last season she played 11 games and averaged 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Christina Marinacci is a 6-1 Soph who last season averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes per game. Marinacci was a McDonalds All American and scored 43 points to lead her team to a CIF title as a High School Sr.
Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 Frosh who was the # 35 player and # 8 wing in High School this past season. Desiree is said to be a good 3 point shooter, something UCSC sorely needs.
POINT GUARDS:
Ashley Corral is a 5-9 Jr who was USC’s leading scoring last season at 15 points per game. Corral also averaged 5 assists per game and was All Pac 10. A McDonald’s All American in High School. She made 85 three points, the only returning player with more than 8. She hit 36% of her three point attempts. On top of all that she averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.
Vicky Tagalicod is a 5-9 2nd year Frosh who missed last season with a knee injury.
Len’Nique Brown is a 5-5 Frosh Guard who was ranked as the # 54 Point Guard last season in High School.
FORECAST:
If healthy, the same words used now for the 5th year in a row, USC will be very formidable. They have in essence 9 new players of their 13 scholarship players as 5are Frosh and 4 played a total of 11 games due to knee injuries. A great deal of meshing must occur and that will test 2nd year Coach Michael Cooper. In Corral they have one of the League’s best and then that big “IF”, if healthy and Stephanie Gilbreath and Jackie Gemelos can play near their former form, the Trojans will be very good.
LOSSES:
Well USC let go the two main coaches who ran the program from April to September of last season, and seemed to run the team during games. Hard to figure, so I won’t dwell on it.
Four players graduated, Aarika Hughes, Heather Oliver, Hailey Dunham and Daniella Roark.
Hughes was the 4th leading scorer, averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds in 26 minutes. She started all but one game. Oliver averaged 7 points and was 2nd on the team with 43 threes at 38%. Oliver averaged 19 minutes a game. Dunham averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. Dunham started most games. Roark played almost all the games and was 4th on the team with 16 threes at 38%. Roark averaged 2points per game.
ADDITIONS:
The biggest name and best addition is Sr Stephanie Gilbreath who has missed the past 3 seasons with ACL injuries. Stephanie was a McDonald’s All American and will start her college playing career close to a degree and 21 ½ years of age. All indications are that she is healthy.
Cassie Harberts is an incoming frosh and was ranked the # 11 player and # 2 Power Forward. She averaged 25 points per game as a Sr.
Desiree Bradley is a frosh and ranked the # 35 player and the # 8 Small Forward in the country.
Thaddesia Southall is a frosh and was the # 99 recruit and # 20 Power Forward in the Country.
Len'nique Brown is another frosh and was the # 54 Point Guard in the country.
Lauren White is the 5th frosh in this excellent class and was the # 61 Center in the Country.
A really outstanding group of newcomers being added to an already strong Trojan team.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Gonzaga, Duke, Georgia, Xavier, San Diego State, Fresno State. A solid schedule. If USC can go 5-1 against these teams the Pac 10 RPI increases quite a bit. 4-2 also probably helps quite a bit.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Kari LaPlante is a 6-5 Sr who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds a game last season. LePlante was both all defensive and all academic all Pac 10 honorable mention. She has really improved on Defense and averaged 26 minutes a game for the Trojans.
Michelle Jenkins is a 6-3 3rd year Soph who played only 3 games last season as a knee injury ended her year. She played almost all the games as a Frosh 2 years ago as the back up Post player.
Lauren White is a 6-4 Frosh who was the # 61 Center in the country last year.
POWER FORWARDS:
Cassie Harberts is a 6-2 Frosh and was the # 11 player and # 2 Power Forward last year. She is a relentless player, every rebound belongs to her, and she is going to be a scoring treat to 15’ but especially on the offensive boards.
Stephanie Gilbreath is finally able to play in her Sr year after missing three years with knee injuries. Stephanie is a 6-1 more power than finesse player, so I suspect she will debut at this position. That and the great wing depth USC has. She was as high as the # 11 player out of High School.
Thaddesia Southall is a 6-4 Frosh and was the # 99 player and # 20 Power Foward out of High School.
WINGS:
Brianna Gilbreath, Stephanie’s sister, is a 6-1 Jr. Last season Brianna averaged 13points and 6 rebounds per game, 2nd on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. She was all Pac 10 and the co Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Like her sister she was a McDonald’s All American in High School.
Jackie Gemelos is a 5th year player who played for the first time this past season after 4 ACL’s. A tremendously inspirational story for this one time top 1-2 recruit in the country. Gemelos averaged 39 points and 9 assists per game as a High School Sr. Last season she played 11 games and averaged 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Christina Marinacci is a 6-1 Soph who last season averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes per game. Marinacci was a McDonalds All American and scored 43 points to lead her team to a CIF title as a High School Sr.
Desiree Bradley is a 6-1 Frosh who was the # 35 player and # 8 wing in High School this past season. Desiree is said to be a good 3 point shooter, something UCSC sorely needs.
POINT GUARDS:
Ashley Corral is a 5-9 Jr who was USC’s leading scoring last season at 15 points per game. Corral also averaged 5 assists per game and was All Pac 10. A McDonald’s All American in High School. She made 85 three points, the only returning player with more than 8. She hit 36% of her three point attempts. On top of all that she averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.
Vicky Tagalicod is a 5-9 2nd year Frosh who missed last season with a knee injury.
Len’Nique Brown is a 5-5 Frosh Guard who was ranked as the # 54 Point Guard last season in High School.
FORECAST:
If healthy, the same words used now for the 5th year in a row, USC will be very formidable. They have in essence 9 new players of their 13 scholarship players as 5are Frosh and 4 played a total of 11 games due to knee injuries. A great deal of meshing must occur and that will test 2nd year Coach Michael Cooper. In Corral they have one of the League’s best and then that big “IF”, if healthy and Stephanie Gilbreath and Jackie Gemelos can play near their former form, the Trojans will be very good.
October 13, 2010
Players needed at Oregon State
Last year the Beavers were 11-20 with a win in the Pac 10 tournament. However that was helped immensely by their very weak non conference schedule where they went
9-4. In Pac 10 play the Beavers were 2-16.
LOSSES:
Oh boy, well the losses are well documented but here goes. Last year Oregon State had 14 players.
Lost to graduation: 3
Choose not to return: 9
No use detailing all this, their coach and AD and the lack of oversight and caring cost them 9 players. Oregon State will have a very hard time winning a game this season due to the unspeakable situation that has existed in Corvallis. So we speak of it no more.
ADDITIONS:
Starting with the new Head Coach, Scott Rueck. Rueck came from Division III George Fox University just south of Portland where he won 77% of his games over 14 seasons. He has been the DIII Western Regional Coach of the year the past 3 years and was the National Coach of the year this past season when George Fox won the DIII National Championship.
Mark Campbell was an Assistant and St Mary’s for the Men’s team, and was the first Assistant hired. Campbell also coached men at Pepperdine. You know that saying behind every great Man there is a great Woman, well Campbell is married to one of the greatest Oregon High School players ever, Ashley Campbell (formally Smith). Ashley was an All American at Oregon City High School, Lindsey Yamasaki’s High School, and became at All American at Vanderbilt.
Eric Ely is one of two Assistants thus far, as the Beavers were left without a Staff. Ely has been a Women’s Basketball Assistant for 12 seasons with two stints at Oral Roberts and another at Missouri.
Oregon State has four scholarship players who are new on campus to go with the two who returned. I’ll review them below.
The Beavers plan to add 4-6 walkons, from their try outs. Four have been added thus far. While they will have to play, it would be hard to expect much from them except desire.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Well it’s not the worst in the league. Highlights are Long Beach State, Hawaii and Pepperdine. However the big one could be Rutgers in Las Vegas, but that one is iffy in the Lady Rebel Round Up. The other seven would be gimmes for the other Pac 10 teams.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
El Sara Greer is a 6-2 Sr who averaged 4.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while playing 26 minutes per game. Greer is a strong rebounder but hasn’t been too much of a scorer in the past.
POWER FORWARDS:
Angela Misa is a 6-1 Soph who only played 4 minutes a game last year, playing in all but 4 games. Ironically Misa was the first player I heard about leaving but she ended up staying.
WINGS:
Anna Marchbanks is a 5-11 Jr and a JC transfer, who averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds this past season at her JC.
Alyssa Martin is a 6-0 recruit from the Portland area. Martin was first team all Portland Metro and honorable mention All State. Martin averaged 15 points and shot 41% from three in High School last season.
Classye James is a 5-8 recruit from Mitty High School. She averaged 7 points for Mitty, and is a strong defensive player who had 3 steals a game last year.
Jenna Dixon is one of the four Walkons. She played High School in Portland and was 2nd team all Metro area two years ago.
Katie Schrock was honorable mention All State last season at Corvallis High School.
POINT GUARDS:
Alexis Bostic is a Frosh recruit from Oakland, at 5-9.
Sage Idendi actually was an All American at George Fox with Coach Rueck two years ago and transferred to Oregon State but did not play last year. Idendi averaged
12.8 points, 3.6 assists and shot 36% from 3 at George Fox. She is one of the four walkons. Idendi is a 5-8 Soph.
FORECAST:
One returning starter and she was a role player and one other who barely played return. This was not a good recruiting class, but the four recruits will certainly get a chance to prove themselves. It will be a very long season.
9-4. In Pac 10 play the Beavers were 2-16.
LOSSES:
Oh boy, well the losses are well documented but here goes. Last year Oregon State had 14 players.
Lost to graduation: 3
Choose not to return: 9
No use detailing all this, their coach and AD and the lack of oversight and caring cost them 9 players. Oregon State will have a very hard time winning a game this season due to the unspeakable situation that has existed in Corvallis. So we speak of it no more.
ADDITIONS:
Starting with the new Head Coach, Scott Rueck. Rueck came from Division III George Fox University just south of Portland where he won 77% of his games over 14 seasons. He has been the DIII Western Regional Coach of the year the past 3 years and was the National Coach of the year this past season when George Fox won the DIII National Championship.
Mark Campbell was an Assistant and St Mary’s for the Men’s team, and was the first Assistant hired. Campbell also coached men at Pepperdine. You know that saying behind every great Man there is a great Woman, well Campbell is married to one of the greatest Oregon High School players ever, Ashley Campbell (formally Smith). Ashley was an All American at Oregon City High School, Lindsey Yamasaki’s High School, and became at All American at Vanderbilt.
Eric Ely is one of two Assistants thus far, as the Beavers were left without a Staff. Ely has been a Women’s Basketball Assistant for 12 seasons with two stints at Oral Roberts and another at Missouri.
Oregon State has four scholarship players who are new on campus to go with the two who returned. I’ll review them below.
The Beavers plan to add 4-6 walkons, from their try outs. Four have been added thus far. While they will have to play, it would be hard to expect much from them except desire.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Well it’s not the worst in the league. Highlights are Long Beach State, Hawaii and Pepperdine. However the big one could be Rutgers in Las Vegas, but that one is iffy in the Lady Rebel Round Up. The other seven would be gimmes for the other Pac 10 teams.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
El Sara Greer is a 6-2 Sr who averaged 4.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while playing 26 minutes per game. Greer is a strong rebounder but hasn’t been too much of a scorer in the past.
POWER FORWARDS:
Angela Misa is a 6-1 Soph who only played 4 minutes a game last year, playing in all but 4 games. Ironically Misa was the first player I heard about leaving but she ended up staying.
WINGS:
Anna Marchbanks is a 5-11 Jr and a JC transfer, who averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds this past season at her JC.
Alyssa Martin is a 6-0 recruit from the Portland area. Martin was first team all Portland Metro and honorable mention All State. Martin averaged 15 points and shot 41% from three in High School last season.
Classye James is a 5-8 recruit from Mitty High School. She averaged 7 points for Mitty, and is a strong defensive player who had 3 steals a game last year.
Jenna Dixon is one of the four Walkons. She played High School in Portland and was 2nd team all Metro area two years ago.
Katie Schrock was honorable mention All State last season at Corvallis High School.
POINT GUARDS:
Alexis Bostic is a Frosh recruit from Oakland, at 5-9.
Sage Idendi actually was an All American at George Fox with Coach Rueck two years ago and transferred to Oregon State but did not play last year. Idendi averaged
12.8 points, 3.6 assists and shot 36% from 3 at George Fox. She is one of the four walkons. Idendi is a 5-8 Soph.
FORECAST:
One returning starter and she was a role player and one other who barely played return. This was not a good recruiting class, but the four recruits will certainly get a chance to prove themselves. It will be a very long season.
October 5, 2010
The Ducks will Run and Gun
Oregon was 18-16 last season and 7-11 in Pac 10 play. The Ducks were 14-6 at home, partly due to a weak non conference schedule, and played before an average of 2,250 fans. However in Coach Paul Westhead’s first season it was the best Duck record since 2005. Hopes are high for the team that will move into their new arena about Christmas Time.
LOSSES:
Not only did the Ducks lose their top two scorers in Taylor Lilley and Micaela Cocks, but together they scored just under 1,100 points, 40% of all the Duck points this past season. Lilley averaged almost 18 points per game and Cocks just over 14 per game. Lilley also averaged 2 steals and 3 assists per game. Lilley made an amazing 124 threes drilling them at 40%. Also graduated is Lindsey Stafford who averaged 2.5 points per game. Allyah Green, a frosh who didn’t play last season, is no longer on the team.
ADDITIONS:
Ashley Buis is a 5-11 JR, JC transfer from the Midwest. Last season, as a JC player, she averaged 14 points per game which included 69 threes.
Danielle Love is a 6-1 Frosh from the Seattle area. She was HoopGurlz # 61 Forward. As a Sr in High School Love averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Chynna Miley is a 6-2 Frosh from Georgia. Miley once had 14 blocks in a game.
Ariel Thomas is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Sacramento. She was HoopGurlz # 31 Point Guard. Thomas averaged 26 points and 4.6 assists in her Sr year of High School. Played Travel ball with Stanford’s Sara James.
Deanna Weaver is a 5-11 Frosh Guard or Forward from local Wilcox High School. Averaged 18 points per game in High School and also played Travel ball with Sara James. Was HoopGurlz # 23 Wing.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
When the top opponent is St Mary’s, who may not be in the Top 100, all we can say is so weak.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Nicole Canepa is a 6-5 Sr from San Francisco. Last season Canepa averaged 9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, 4th and 3rd on the team respectively. She started only one game, but did play 20 minutes per game. Oregon doesn’t always play with a true Center, and that may or may not be true this season. The loss of Lilley and Cocks may change that a bit. Canepa had a high game of 38 points last season. Favorite athlete in another sport, Buster Posey.
Ellyce Ironmonger is a 6-4 Sr and the back up Center. She played only 20 games last season and only 4.5 minutes per game. As a frosh she started 17 games.
POWER FORWARDS:
Amanda Johnson is a 6-2 Jr who last season was the 3rd leading scorer, 12.7 and leading rebounder, 8.5. She played the post on defense maybe 20 minutes per game. Johnson also hit 42 threes on the year. She is rugged inside and skilled outside.
6-2 Frosh Chynna Miley would be the back up Power Forward, although chances are three Wings would play for Oregon.
WINGS:
Victoria Kenyon is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game, starting all the Oregon games. Kenyon also made 37 threes at a team high 43%.
Jasmin Holliday is a 6-0 Jr who played every game and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
5-11 Jr and JC transfer Ashley Buis should see a lot of action as a three point shooter, helping to replace Lilley and Cocks. If she can hit threes, and the Ducks are counting on her, she will see quite a bit of playing time.
Deanna Weaver is a 5-11 Frosh who brings some quickness to the Wing position.
5-11 Sr Tatianna Thomas and 5-10 Sr Kristi Fallin both averaged about 6 minutes per game for the Ducks last year.
POINT GUARDS:
Nia Jackson returns to run the Point. The 5-7 4th year Jr was 4th on the team in scoring, 10.5, and first in assists, 3.7 per game. Jackson added a lot of quickness this past season and that was only a year after tearing her ACL. She could be one the Pac 10’s better players this season.
5-7 Frosh Ariel Thomas will be the back up here.
FORECAST:
Huge losses in Lilley and Cocks and a pretty average recruiting year for Oregon. This is Westhead’s second year so his unique system is now firmly in place. The question is does Oregon have the skill to make threes and force turnovers? Something to consider, they could be undefeated entering conference play, and that will give the Duck players all the confidence in the world.
LOSSES:
Not only did the Ducks lose their top two scorers in Taylor Lilley and Micaela Cocks, but together they scored just under 1,100 points, 40% of all the Duck points this past season. Lilley averaged almost 18 points per game and Cocks just over 14 per game. Lilley also averaged 2 steals and 3 assists per game. Lilley made an amazing 124 threes drilling them at 40%. Also graduated is Lindsey Stafford who averaged 2.5 points per game. Allyah Green, a frosh who didn’t play last season, is no longer on the team.
ADDITIONS:
Ashley Buis is a 5-11 JR, JC transfer from the Midwest. Last season, as a JC player, she averaged 14 points per game which included 69 threes.
Danielle Love is a 6-1 Frosh from the Seattle area. She was HoopGurlz # 61 Forward. As a Sr in High School Love averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Chynna Miley is a 6-2 Frosh from Georgia. Miley once had 14 blocks in a game.
Ariel Thomas is a 5-7 Frosh Guard from Sacramento. She was HoopGurlz # 31 Point Guard. Thomas averaged 26 points and 4.6 assists in her Sr year of High School. Played Travel ball with Stanford’s Sara James.
Deanna Weaver is a 5-11 Frosh Guard or Forward from local Wilcox High School. Averaged 18 points per game in High School and also played Travel ball with Sara James. Was HoopGurlz # 23 Wing.
NON CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
When the top opponent is St Mary’s, who may not be in the Top 100, all we can say is so weak.
BY POSITION:
POSTS:
Nicole Canepa is a 6-5 Sr from San Francisco. Last season Canepa averaged 9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, 4th and 3rd on the team respectively. She started only one game, but did play 20 minutes per game. Oregon doesn’t always play with a true Center, and that may or may not be true this season. The loss of Lilley and Cocks may change that a bit. Canepa had a high game of 38 points last season. Favorite athlete in another sport, Buster Posey.
Ellyce Ironmonger is a 6-4 Sr and the back up Center. She played only 20 games last season and only 4.5 minutes per game. As a frosh she started 17 games.
POWER FORWARDS:
Amanda Johnson is a 6-2 Jr who last season was the 3rd leading scorer, 12.7 and leading rebounder, 8.5. She played the post on defense maybe 20 minutes per game. Johnson also hit 42 threes on the year. She is rugged inside and skilled outside.
6-2 Frosh Chynna Miley would be the back up Power Forward, although chances are three Wings would play for Oregon.
WINGS:
Victoria Kenyon is a 6-2 5th year Sr who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game, starting all the Oregon games. Kenyon also made 37 threes at a team high 43%.
Jasmin Holliday is a 6-0 Jr who played every game and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
5-11 Jr and JC transfer Ashley Buis should see a lot of action as a three point shooter, helping to replace Lilley and Cocks. If she can hit threes, and the Ducks are counting on her, she will see quite a bit of playing time.
Deanna Weaver is a 5-11 Frosh who brings some quickness to the Wing position.
5-11 Sr Tatianna Thomas and 5-10 Sr Kristi Fallin both averaged about 6 minutes per game for the Ducks last year.
POINT GUARDS:
Nia Jackson returns to run the Point. The 5-7 4th year Jr was 4th on the team in scoring, 10.5, and first in assists, 3.7 per game. Jackson added a lot of quickness this past season and that was only a year after tearing her ACL. She could be one the Pac 10’s better players this season.
5-7 Frosh Ariel Thomas will be the back up here.
FORECAST:
Huge losses in Lilley and Cocks and a pretty average recruiting year for Oregon. This is Westhead’s second year so his unique system is now firmly in place. The question is does Oregon have the skill to make threes and force turnovers? Something to consider, they could be undefeated entering conference play, and that will give the Duck players all the confidence in the world.
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