Women’s NCAA Tournament Preview: Pressing on, Without Paopao

Te-Hina Paopao is the powerhouse of this Ducks team, and without her, they have an uphill climb in the NCAA Tournament.

For the last five years, Kelly Graves and a slew of generational players have taken the NCAA Tournament by storm. With multiple Elite Eights, a Final Four, and an elusive 2020 run-that-never-was, the Oregon Women’s Basketball program has seen exponential success.

But as with any great program, these last few months have been a serious challenge.

The Ducks came into through the month January undefeated at 8-0, but since then have seemingly lost every other game amidst injury, low energy play, and a handful of costly covid pauses.

Now this young team finds itself as a Six-Seed in a Tournament that they had grown accustomed to taking by storm, but without their point guard, they may find NCAA play to be an uphill climb.

Te-Hina Paopao, the phenom/workhorse of this Ducks team missed the last few games with an unspecified foot injury and isn’t expected to be back for the rest of the year.

She is the only Duck to start every game this season until she got hurt, and is second in the nation among freshmen in turnover to assist ratio. She’s also one of the only three Ducks to average double digits scoring.

It’s safe to say that losing Paopao is losing a lot.

Oregon is coming off two straight losses to a red-hot Oregon State team, and will be taking on the South Dakota Coyotes in San Antonio.

Team-by-team, the Ducks & Yotes are pretty much identical, but they have some individual scorers that our defense will have to keep up with.

Nyara and Sedona will have their hands full with 6-3 senior center, Hannah Sjerven. Sjerven averages nearly a double-double with 17.1 ppg and 9.7 rebounds. She also has 55 blocks on the year. 

Controlling the game at both rims and avoiding early foul trouble is going to be the Ducks first, second, and third priority—especially without the dynamism of Paopao’s guard play.

Beyond that, their offense will be ran by senior guard Chloe Lamb, who averages 16.2 ppg and shoots over 44% from three. Again, without Paopao’s stellar defense, someone like Maddie Scherr or Mikesell—or a combination of the two, more than likely—will have to stay close and bother Lamb throughout the game.

Senior guard Liv Korngable also averages 14.7 per game and shoots 37% beyond the arc.

It’s safe to say that South Dakota is a veteran team with serious scorers up and down the court. Defense is the name of the game for Oregon, along with avoiding a cold shooting spurt at any point. Climbing out of a hole against a team that can shoot the three ball like SD would be a tall task without Te-Hina.

I’m not sure how far this Oregon team can go, I’ll be honest with you. They’re young for sure, and they’re playing shorthanded, to boot.

I still believe, but that’s because I’m not capable of not believing.

As you’re filling out your Ditch Rich WBB brackets, I’ll give you a free dark horse pick: The South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

I don’t just say that because my cousin, Sydney Stapleton, plays for them, but rather because all they’ve done all year is beat ranked teams. It’s the thing they’re best at. Find them in your Sweet Sixteen and beyond if you have any real interest in grabbing the top prize of a $50 Visa Gift Card.

Challenge Rules:

• One (1) bracket entry per person

• Bracket must be submitted through ESPN at this link (you will need to make an ESPN account): SUBMISSION LINK

• Brackets will be locked and must be submitted BEFORE the First Tip-off of Round of 64 on Sunday.

• If Covid ends up cancelling the whole tournament somehow, I’ll find some other way to give away a $50 Visa gift card.

Big prize, so let’s get lots of submissions in there.

I’ll be updating the Men’s and Women’s Challenge standings after each weekend of the tourneys, so if you’ve ever wanted to be casually referred to in a Ditch Rich*, here’s your chance.

*Like my cousin Andy, who always reminds me that “Johnny Johnson Doesn’t Catch That Ball Last Year” (Or JJDCTBLY).

My bracket is called “Sedona Stankface” and my Final Four is: Oregon, South Dakota State, Oregon State, Arizona.

Yeah, maybe this one is a bit biased.

Either way, Go Jacks & Go Ducks.