There is no question that Sabrina Ionescu and the Ducks’ can score at a Final Four level, but can renewed defense from Minyon Moore take them to the top?
The Ducks made their magical run to the Final Four last season largely due to their otherworldly offensive production. With the G.O.A.T. leading the way, they ranked 3rd in the nation in scoring offense. But they struggled on the other half of the court, and didn’t even crack the top 50 in scoring defense.
What’s that old adage? Defense wins championships?
To put that into perspective, the team that the Ducks eventually lost to in the Final Four, and the eventual National Champion Baylor Lady Bears, ranked in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive categories in 2018-19. Kim Mulkey’s squad also had the top rebound margin in the country.
The Ducks were 23rd in rebound margin.
They know where they have to improve:
"“We have to get better on defense.” – Kelly Graves"
"“Defensively we have to buckle down.” – Sabrina Ionescu"
Graves has certainly added a landmark recruiting class coming into the year, and thanks to Ruthy and Sabrina deciding to return for their senior seasons, the only two players that Oregon is losing this year are Oti Gildon and Maite Cazorla. But those two names are a bigger loss than one would think.
Maite was a two-time All-Pac-12 player, as well as a Pac-12 all-defensive team honorable mention in her junior season. Her and Gildon played a special scrappy brand of team defense that kept the Ducks alive in so many close games throughout both of their storied careers.
Enter senior transfer guard from USC, Minyon Moore.
There’s been a lot of talk about Moore since she announced her arrival in Eugene, and for good reason. She averaged 5.5 rebounds per game last year, was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team, and has notched over 200 career steals (2.5 per game).
Kelly Graves refers to Moore as a, “one-person wrecking crew defensively,” and has been adamant throughout this preseason that she has, “completely changed the tempo,” of this team. I think it would be fair to expect Minyon to make an impact in Eugene immediately.
On top of everything Minyon Moore brings to the Ducks individually, she also played club ball with Sabrina in the summers. One might be afraid that a transfer from within the conference could be a growing pain for an already extremely tight knit Oregon team, but I am getting the feeling that the former Trojan is fitting in just fine.
The Ducks can score against elite teams, but can they stop those same teams from scoring? Minyon Moore will have something to say about that.
Go Ducks.