Womens Basketball: Ducks Picked SECOND in Pac-12 Preseason Poll behind WHO?

[Charles Fischer]

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics)  (Bolding/Formatting from Mr. FishDuck)

 

SAN FRANCISCO – Oregon was picked second in the Pac-12 preseason coaches’ poll which was announced on Tuesday at the conference’s annual media day, coming in behind only defending national champion Stanford.

 

Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Stanford (11) - 121

2. Oregon (1) - 108

3. UCLA - 101

4. Oregon State - 86

5. Arizona - 83

6. Washington State - 70

7. Colorado - 65

8. Arizona State - 47

9. USC - 45

T10. Utah - 25

T10. Washington - 25

12. California - 16

 

The Ducks are coming off of a Sweet Sixteen run in 2020-21 when they finished 15-9 and 10-7 in Pac-12 play, coming in fourth in the league. Oregon returns its leading scorer and rebounder from a year ago in Nyara Sabally (12.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and assists leader Te-Hina Paopao (4.4 APG). Sedona Prince gives the Ducks another talented star in the frontcourt after averaging 10.4 points and 1.5 blocks per game while Sydney Parrish, Maddie Scherr and Kylee Watson all return after playing significant roles in their first collegiate seasons.

 

Oregon also welcomes in a talented group of newcomers made up of five transfers and two true freshmen. Endyia Rogers arrives in Eugene from USC, where she was an all-conference performer a year ago after averaging 14.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. The Ducks also bring in graduate transfers Shannon Dufficy and Ahlise Hurst Georgia State transfer Taylor Hosendove and junior college All-American Chanaya Pinto.

 

True freshman Taylor Bigby comes in as the No. 29 player in the Class of 2021 according to espnW in addition to being a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year in Nevada as a junior and senior. Phillipina Kyei rounds out the group of newcomers and is the tallest player in program history at 6-foot-8.

 

The Ducks are the only team in the Pac-12 to have three 2021 all-conference performers on the roster in Paopao, Rogers and Sabally, while the four transfers who came from other Division I schools have a combined 331 career starts under their belts.

 

Oregon will host exhibition games against Saint Martin’s (Oct. 28, 6 p.m.) and Westmont (Nov. 6, TBA) before opening the regular season against Idaho State on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Matthew Knight Arena.