At 6-6 in conference play following last week’s two-game sweep of the Buffaloes, Utah sits tied with Oregon for what would be the sixth spot in the Pac-12 standings had the Ducks not stolen a game from the Utes in the Huntsman Center. Friday night’s game against Oregon is a big one for conference seeding as the postseason looms ever closer, and the Utes are taking this one personally.
When asked what the team saw in Friday’s matchup with Oregon, freshman guard Erika Bean answered with one word.
“Redemption. We didn’t play our best basketball against Oregon [in the last matchup]. I think we’ll come out with more fire,” Bean said.
In the teams’ last meeting, Oregon controlled the game behind senior forward Jillian Alleyne, the Pac-12 all-time leading rebounder. Alleyne finished the contest with 26 points and 12 rebounds, demoralizing Utah’s defense by scoring with her back to the basket, on pick and rolls and spotting up in the mid-range.
But this time around, the Utes feel more prepared. Head coach Lynne Roberts had cited the team’s effort against Oregon as disappointing, considering the Ducks an equal to Utah in terms of talent. After losing to Oregon, Utah floundered through the rest of what would become a five-game losing streak. But after sweeping Colorado last week, the Utes feel revitalized in their effort to pursue a postseason berth.
“I’m excited about that game,” Roberts said. “They’re 6-6, so are we, they’ve beat the same teams we have and lost to the same teams we have. They beat us fair and square in our place, so I’m excited. Right now, we’re playing for position in the Pac-12 [standings].”
To come out on top, Utah will need big play from its star, Emily Potter, who put up big numbers last time around against Oregon, totalling 22 points and 10 rebounds. But foul trouble has plagued Potter of late, picking up at least four personal fouls in three of Utah’s last four games. Alleyne is a physical force in the painted area and Potter will have a difficult task matching her physicality while remaining disciplined and not fouling.
Oregon has won six of its last seven games and is rolling behind Alleyne and the creative sets run by head coach Kelly Graves. But the Utes look poised to make a run at finishing the regular season in the top half of the Pac-12 standings, and Friday’s matchup against Oregon will be a tell-tale of whether or not that happens.
@westinjay