Smiling at adversity.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

U O b a s k e t b a l l

Smiles were pervasive as the Oregon women's basketball team took to McArthur Court for media day activities Tuesday.

A group of players casually stretched and chatted at midcourt. Peals of laughter occasionally were overheard.

There was no apparent pessimism from a team that went just 14-15 last season and is projected to finish eighth in the Pac-10 Conference. Optimism was in abundance, despite the Ducks having lost two of last season's top four scorers to graduation and a third - Gabe Richards, the team leader last year - for personal reasons.

"I think our attitude is really great going into the season," said junior Kaela Chapdelaine, last year's starting point guard who will move to the wing this season. "We have faced some challenges along the way, with Gabe being gone, but so many people are excited and ready to step up that I think we have a lot more confidence on the team this year, and we're a very bonded team as well. It's just a lot of good stuff going on."

Practice began Saturday in advance of Oregon's exhibition opener Nov. 3, when the Ducks will debut a new uptempo offensive style that coach Bev Smith hopes will complement their typically tenacious defense.

Last year the Ducks led the Pac-10 in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense. If things go well this season, Oregon will again be among the league leaders in those categories, and the Ducks will do a better job of converting steals and defensive rebounds into points.

Also last season, the Ducks were first in the conference in free-throw shooting percentage, but they were last in free-throw attempts. Smith wants a more aggressive team this year that will attack the basket for layups and more free-throw chances.

"It's a new system, although some of us played it in high school or with club teams, so we're clicking pretty good," Chapdelaine said. "And I think the most important thing is, we're excited about the way we're playing, so we're definitely open-minded to it and it's coming a lot quicker than maybe what's expected."

Offensively, the question in light of all the absent players from a year ago is, where do the Ducks look for points? Eleanor Haring is the top returner after averaging 7.6 points per game last season, and she is one of just three returners who scored more than four points per game.

This season, the Ducks will look to guards Tamika Nurse and Cicely Oaks for penetration, Chapdelaine, Kristen Forristall and Taylor Lilley on the perimeter, and Haring, Jessie Shetters and Jamie Hawkins to pick up the leftovers in the post.

"We're going to have to spread the wealth," Smith said. "I'm not sure there's going to be one person that's going to be a 20-point scorer on our team. I think we're going to have to have three or four young women every night score 8-12 points."

A grinding defensive style might not seem to match an uptempo offensive approach, but the Ducks say the combination can work.

"The thing they have in common is aggressiveness," Chapdelaine said. "That's the focus this year, on both ends of the floor. We want to keep the defense on their heels, and we want to keep the offense on their heels."

Ducks snag Australian

With Richards having departed and four frontcourt players among Oregon's five seniors, forwards are a priority in the Ducks' recruiting this year. Tuesday, they apparently got a player who can help fill that void, as Ellie Manou of Sydney, Australia, said she gave a verbal commitment to Smith and the Ducks.

Manou, a 6-foot-2 forward, picked the Ducks over Utah and Saint Mary's. She currently plays with the Australian Institute of Sports, where UO assistant Phil Brown coached for 20 years before coming to Eugene.

Considering Oregon's needs on the front line, Manou said she hopes to contribute immediately as a freshman in 2007.

"That was one of the reasons why I picked Oregon," she said. "I'm a quick learner and I work hard. I think under the guidance of (Brown) and Bev Smith, I'll be able to improve and do well in my freshman year."

Manou grew up playing netball, a game similar to basketball, but switched to basketball when she was 15. She missed much of last season with a stress fracture in her right foot but returned to the court in the spring.

"I'd like to say that I'm a hard worker," she said. "I can come up with some big boards. And I'm starting to work on my offense more, some back to the basket moves. I've been working hard this last year to become more of a complete player."

Manou will make her McArthur Court debut as an Oregon opponent, as the Australian Institute of Sport will be the Ducks' adversary in their first exhibition game.

Rankings response

A day after being picked to finish eighth in the Pac-10 in a poll of conference coaches, the Ducks said they took note of the ranking and then put it in perspective.

"We don't really pay attention," Shetters said. "It's something to look at, but it's just a number. To me it's a blessing, because then we don't have expectations to live up to."

Added Chapdelaine: "I think it definitely gives us a little bit of fire to improve on that number. But it's just a number. We're going to focus on our improvement, make sure we're ready for the Pac-10, and things will take care of themselves."

Ducks in good health

The Ducks enter the season relatively healthy, Smith said, although forward Carolyn Ganes is still regaining strength in her legs after offseason ankle surgery.

Smith said Chapdelaine, who played last season while dealing with plantar fasciitis in her right foot, is at full speed.

Three-point threat

In early workouts this fall, Lilley has proved to be as advertised after making her name as a top three-point shooter in high school.

The 5-6 freshman said she is prepared to contribute in her first season with the Ducks as a key outside threat.

"That's my role, and I'm really comfortable with it," Lilley said.

Smith said coaches are also working to make Lilley a more versatile scoring threat, able to fake the three-pointer and drive past defenders.