Oregon doesn’t want to be in the WNIT. Five straight NCAA Tournament appearances with three Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights and a Final Four were built up to become the program’s new standard.
But the Ducks (17-14) fell short, among the first four teams on the outside looking in at the 68-team field, and are instead among the top seeds in the consolation tournament.
“It was disappointing; I could tell the team was really down,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. “But at the same time I’m smart enough and been around the game enough to realize we didn’t do enough. We had a chance; we had our chances if we would’ve just pulled out probably one more win somewhere along the way we probably would’ve been in, but we didn’t.”
But the message from Graves to the players since Selection Sunday has been one of appreciation and looking for achievement for as long as Oregon keeps winning in the WNIT, starting tonight (7 p.m.) against North Dakota State (18-11) at Matthew Knight Arena.
Graves doesn’t want the Ducks to play angry because he doesn’t think there’s really anything to be angry about. Oregon went 5-12 against teams in the NCAA Tournament but three of those wins were against teams outside the NET top 100 that won automatic bids.
“I was really honest with the team; we didn’t do enough and we had our chances,” Graves said. “It could have been a different outcome and it just wasn’t. Fresh start. Do over. Let’s go out and see what we can do.”
Provided they keep winning, the Ducks will be able to host several rounds of the WNIT. The winner of tonight’s game advances to face the winner of BYU and Rice, most likely on Monday.
“We get to play in front of the home crowd, my favorite fans ever,” guard Te-Hina Paopao said. “It’s a great opportunity. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited to play at Matthew Knight again. … A lot of teams don’t have the opportunity like we do to keep playing in March. We’re really blessed and excited to play in another tournament, keep our heads up and keep focused on Friday.”
Though at least three seniors will be completing their eligibility and Endyia Rogers still has to decide whether to return or enter the WNBA draft, Oregon has sophomore Phillipina Kyei and freshmen Chance Gray, Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Basham who can all benefit from postseason experience. Basham is not expected to be available tonight but could return later in the postseason.
“Twenty wins is still a magical number in terms of wins; we’re three away from that, we can still get a 20-win season,” Graves said. “We can play at home, which is a positive. We can play in a one-and-done, win-or-go-home kind of atmosphere and tournament so that it can help us in future years like it did back in 2016.”
