Oregon Men and Women's 2009-10 Basketball Season Brings Hope and Optimism... Maybe Even a Little Change

by dvieira on Oct 13, 2009 10:00 AM PDT in Oregon Ducks Basketball Comment 7 comments

A little less than 3 weeks left. That's how much longer we have to endure football season before we can finally get to some real college sports discussions around here. We can stop talking about Jeremiah Masoli's knee or whether or not LeGarrette Blount is coming back or how Chip Kelly gives funny answers to the media. After all of this time, we can finally get back to talking about our true love...college basketball.

Maybe not the one true love, but maybe a tempting mistress we don't tell the misses about.

While most fans focus on football, the men's and women's basketball teams are both in training camp, getting ready for the season and both teams are looking towards the 2009-10 campaign with questions looming over them. Bev Smith is out as Oregon Women's coach. Enter Paul Westhead who, after swapping stories with Joe Pa and Andy Rooney about the "good old days", is looking to put in his own high-tempo offense that should make the Lady Ducks run like the wind. You like the football high tempo offense? Wait until you see Westhead's team. A new offensive mindset, new expectations and hope for moving the Oregon Women's Basketball Team into the upper tier of the conference. If you haven't seen Paul Westhead's style of run and gun, you should be in for quite the show. We all should be in for quite the show.

For Ernie Kent and the Men's Team, expectations couldn't be higher. Most everyone thought we would be looking at a new coach this season after a dismal display in 2009. Enter Mike Dunlap from Arizona who has said to have been "challenging things" for the team with a renewed emphasis on fundamentals. They're still young and mistakes will happen but the opportunity for success is there to be had. The Pac-10 is relatively down this year with many of the stars of last year heading out into the NBA Draft. If Ernie can't get the young Ducks into the post season this year, Mike Bellotti may start asking Chip if he can be quarterbacks coach again.

Will Tajuan Porter step up in a similar vein to Aaron Brooks? How will Paul Westhead's system translate to the Oregon Women's Team? Will Mike Dunlap go from Associate Head Coach to just straight up Head Coach?

So go ahead, enjoy your football but just remember to get your popcorn ready for November.

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Yaaaawwwwwnnnn.

Sorry, Dom. You know I love you like the ATQ brother that you are, but I’m just not ready to start thinking about Joevan Catron yet. Soon, but not yet.

By the grace of Juju, we all are day-to-day.

by JConant on Oct 13, 2009 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

I'm ready! I'm ready!

I think our non-conference schedule sets up well for a season filled with wins and built confidence. By that same token, I don’t think Tajuan Porter is the answer. He was a perfect spark on that Elite Eight team, but he’s had an inconsistent two years as the focal point of the offense. This year should be spent letting players like Humphrey, Dunigan, and Sim know it’s their team. It’s for figuring out what Jermy Jacob and Malcolm Armstead can bring to the team, and for letting Jamil Wilson and EJ Singler get their feet wet.

On the women’s side, I don’t think we’ll see the benefits of Westhead until he can bring in recruits that fit his system. Because our team is not fast. And our team doesn’t shoot the ball very well. I don’t see Ellie Manou and Elyce Ironmonger running up and down the court for 40 minutes a night. I’d get behind the volleyball team and let Westhead use his championships and a new arena to recruit us a winner.

It's spelled "T-A-K-O-T-U-E-S-D-A-Y-S-!-!-!."

I support inroywetrust in his support of The VD Special in his support of me supporting Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Oct 13, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm ready too

"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin

by haveasoda on Oct 13, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Who cares?

College basketball exists to give athletic departments nationwide a reason to remain in business between football season and spring football season.

by benzduck on Oct 13, 2009 6:45 PM PDT reply actions

endure?

Yeah, Im so weary of it all. 13th in the country, atop the pac 10, a defense that has
allowed a whopping 17 points in the last 3 games. And all this discussion about
it! By all means, in a little less than 3 weeks, hell with that USC dealie, I wanna hear
what tales of the good ’ole days that andy rooney and joe pa shared with Westhead.

by ochocokid on Oct 13, 2009 9:44 PM PDT reply actions