{"id":54459,"date":"2017-12-13T06:45:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-13T06:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=54459"},"modified":"2017-12-13T06:45:10","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T06:45:10","slug":"tennessee-staying-near-top-of-womens-basketball-thanks-to-oregon-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/tennessee-staying-near-top-of-womens-basketball-thanks-to-oregon-connection.html","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee staying near top of women’s basketball thanks to Oregon connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tennessee staying near top of women’s basketball thanks to Oregon connection<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Tennessee women\u2019s basketball coach Holly Warlick likes to say that back in the late 1980s, the Lady Vols \u201cwere wearing out the state of Michigan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Back then, when UT was beginning what would be a dominant stretch in women\u2019s college basketball, the Lady Vols loved to recruit from the Great Lakes, bringing in players like Tonya Edwards (Flint, Mich., native), Daedra Charles (Detroit), Regina Clark (Saginaw, Mich.) and Peggy Evans (Detroit). It was a pipeline that treated Tennessee well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, they\u2019ve found another pipeline far to the west of Knoxville.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lady Vols, who jumped six spots this week to No 7. in the USA TODAY Coaches\u2019 Poll after beating previously undefeated Texas, start three Oregonians this season. That\u2019s more Oregon natives than Oregon and Oregon State combined, two schools who have also been top 25 regulars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaime Nared, Mercedes Russell and Evina Westbrook make up almost 50% of the scoring for Tennessee (10-0) this season. That alone is a crazy stat. Here\u2019s another: Until those three came along, there had only been one player in the history of Tennessee\u2019s storied program who hailed from Oregon. That would be Tigard, Ore., native Laurie Milligan (1994-98), who went down in the record books as the first player, man or woman, to appear in four consecutive NCAA title games. Now, three-fifths of UT\u2019s starting lineup is from the West Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be hard, because being in the South you don\u2019t see Northwest kids as much, but Oregon has proven to be really good to us lately,\u201d Warlick said. \u201cWe\u2019re always looking for kids who are a great fit for us and for the last few years, it just happened to be out there. The biggest thing about them is that they\u2019re all really smart players, from really good high school programs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Said Nared, a 6-foot-2 senior averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds this season: \u201cIt\u2019s just cool that we\u2019re all from the same place, all from the same AAU program. I don\u2019t think we notice it as much (as other people) but the connection means a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell, a redshirt senior from Springfield, Ore., outside of Eugene, was the first to sign on with the Lady Vols. One of the most heralded recruits in Tennessee history \u2014 she was the 2013 Gatorade national player of the year \u2014 Russell came to Knoxville with former guard Jordan Reynolds, a Portland native (Reynolds has since graduated). Nared, also a top 10 prospect, followed the next season. But both Russell and Nared say they didn\u2019t pressure Westbrook, the 2017 USA TODAY National Player of the Year, to join their Oregonian contingent. Instead, Russell said, \u201cI just told her about why it was a good fit for me, and how the atmosphere here was awesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It worked. Westbrook signed, and has become one of the biggest surprises for Tennessee this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of freshmen are just wild and excited to be in college, but Evina\u2019s really poised,\u201d Nared said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Warlick, now in her sixth year as head coach after two-plus decades as an assistant, said the 6-foot guard has a \u201ccalming effect\u201d on the team whenever she steps on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s already a better passer than I ever thought she\u2019d be, and I knew she was a good passer coming in,\u201d Warlick said of Westbrook. \u201cShe\u2019s comfortable and confident, she understands time and possession and knows exactly where everyone needs to be on the floor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s journey has involved the most ups and downs. Warlick likes to call the 6-foot-6 forward \u201ca point guard trapped in a post player\u2019s body,\u201d a nod to Russell\u2019s outstanding basketball IQ. Though she came in with loads of fanfare, Russell struggled early on, in part because of nagging injuries that dated back to high school. She redshirted as a sophomore after offseason surgery on both feet. Since then she\u2019s been a matchup problem for defenses, especially as she continues to add muscle to her long, lean frame.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat extra year has helped her mature so much,\u201d Warlick said. \u201cShe\u2019s so much more composed. She\u2019s having a pro year right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nared has been steady throughout her career at Tennessee, a regular starter since her sophomore year. Warlick\u2019s been most impressed with Nared\u2019s growth as a vocal leader this year, adding that she also has a calming presence \u2014 similar to Westbrook \u2014 whenever she\u2019s on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Nared\u2019s impact with the Lady Vols could be felt far beyond this season. After all, her little sister Eboni, who\u2019s 11, is the next baller in the family. And she might be able to help keep the Oregon-to-Tennessee pipeline going.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaaw\/2017\/12\/12\/tennessee-lady-vols-oregon-players-jaime-nared-mercedes-russell-evina-westbrook\/947194001\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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