Arizona women's basketball at Oregon: Scouting report, trip to Nike, final Oregon matchup

Arizona (10-6, 2-2) at Oregon (10-7, 1-3) | Matthew Knight Arena; Eugene, Oregon | 1 p.m. Sunday | Pac-12 Oregon | 1290-AM

She said it

Arizona coach Adia Barnes on Oregon: “Oregon (uses) a lot of pick-and-rolls. We’re going to face a lot of zone. Oregon’s a little bit younger, but they’re hard to guard. They play a matchup zone. It’s funky, and it’s hard to play against. They have some really talented young players. We know that Oregon is a lot better than the record. We know Oregon is a good team, but like us, very similar situations. We’re playing our young players and we’re taking some losses because we’re building for the future. Because both of our programs have lost a lot of people — that’s kind of the how it how it goes. It’s just how programs go. But we know they’re a good team that’s going to play really good at home.”

On the sidelines

The 3: In honor of the last go-round of the Pac-12, here’s three questions with a league coach. This week: Oregon coach Kelly Graves.

Q: Who is the engine that makes your team run this season?

A: “Chance Gray is our motor. We ask her to do a lot on both ends of the floor. She was forced into being our primary ball-handler after our starting point guard Peyton Scott went down with a season-ending injury five minutes into the season, but she hasn’t blinked. She’s really stepped into a leadership role this season.”

Q: As you won’t be playing in McKale Center this season or for the foreseeable future, what will you remember about the games Oregon has played there during Adia Barnes coaching era, as well as the atmosphere of the arena?

A: “McKale was always a fun place to play with great crowds and great energy. It’s too bad we won’t play there this season, or in upcoming seasons with conference realignment. We had some really good battles in Tucson.”

Q: Down to only seven/eight players, what do you think was the key to Arizona’s performances against Utah and Colorado — two Top 25 teams — last weekend?

A: “That was a heck of an effort against two really, really good teams. (Kailyn) Gilbert and (Helena) Pueyo logged a lot of minutes but made some big-time plays in clutch moments. Despite being out-rebounded by a decent margin, they were a hair away from two top-15 wins. The Pac-12 is a gauntlet and there are no gimmes or layups. You’ve got to bring it every night.”

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We’re going to Nike: Arizona practiced on the “Coach K Court” at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon, Thursday afternoon, ahead of the Wildcats’ Friday matchup with Oregon State.

Barnes set this up as part of her membership of a Nike “think tank” that consists of current and former women athletes. Nike is investing in Barnes and young women by bringing the Adia Barnes Academy Sports and Leadership to the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.

In addition, David Schecter, a VP at Nike and a UA alumnus, gave a tour and the Wildcats saw some prototypes of new products that are in the works. It was so secret that no photos or videos were allowed on the tour.

“It was an amazing tour,” Barnes said, “I have a great relationship with Nike being part of the think tank and doing some really amazing things with Nike in partnership. They wanted to do something special for us and arrange something that people don’t get to do. It was cool for them to see and have a private personal tour. I’m just trying to expose them to different things, make connections. I have a lot of really good friends there that will help us get internships. I think these relationships and connections are valuable.”

The current Wildcats also met former Wildcat standout and McKale Center Ring of Honor member Ify Ibekwe (2007-11) on campus. She talked to the Wildcats about her experiences in the professional ranks. Ibekwe retired from playing basketball this past year and is now in the broadcast booth for Nike and FIBA women’s basketball.

By the numbers

2: Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer is two wins away from collecting the most (1,203) for any male or female coach in college basketball. She will surpass former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

4: Barnes has only beaten Oregon four times during her tenure as coach at Arizona. Only one of those wins came in Eugene. It was on Feb. 28, 2021, when the Wildcats dominated the Ducks 79-59 behind 25 points from Cate Reese.

5: In last season’s game at McKale Center — with Arizona winning 79-71 — Helena Pueyo had five steals, one block, four assists and no turnovers. Friday night against Oregon State, Pueyo had four steals, three assists and one turnover.

1: The Ducks picked up their first win of the Pac-12 season Friday night, beating Arizona State 65-53. Three players — Chance Gray, Grace VanSlooten and Phillipina Kyei — scored more than the entire Sun Devil team with a combined 55 points.

PJ Brown