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Ruthy Hebard And Sabrina Ionescu Have Oregon Ducks Playing With Experience

By Justin Phillips

Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of the women's Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of the women's Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oregon Ducks are playing with experience from a different level entering the Sweet 16 vs Maryland on Saturday.

Head Coach Kelly Graves recruits well. He looks for champions. High School Champions, McDonald’s All American’s, even players with some National experience. Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard have that experience from before they even set foot in Eugene at the University of Oregon.

Add to that an overseas trip before the start of the season and both Ionescu and Hebard have become household names in Eugene for the Oregon Women’s Basketball team. Ionescu is a floor general while Hebard is the inside presence that should scare everyone. Right now, there is no ceiling for the Oregon Ducks with these two players in the lineup.

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Both Ionescu and Hebard know no different than playing at a high level and so far it has gotten them two games into the NCAA Tournament with Hebard averaging a double double in her first NCAA Tourney. She has also been a consistent rebounder all season for the Oregon Ducks netting 11 double doubles on the year.

Ionescu has been a trailblazer with multiple double double and even triiple doubles in her Freshman campaign for the Oregon Ducks. The Freshman Phenom is living up to her recruitment as one of the top players in the Nation. She was named the ESPNW Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

The Sweet 16 run the Oregon Ducks are on are not a fluke. Kelly Graves has coached in the post season, and had success there. This Women’s team may have new faces this season, but just as they have done in High School the players don’t know losing. They know how to win.

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The Sweet 16 for the Oregon Ducks brings them to a place where not many have won, Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Ducks meet 3 Seed Maryland on Saturday morning at 8:30am Pacific Time on ESPN.