ESPN's Antonelli expects Virginia Tech-Oregon to be 'fun matchup'
Virginia Tech guard Carleigh Wenzel (center) is averaging 15.3 points for the Hokies, who will face Oregon in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is 23-9 this season. The Hokies will meet Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Austin, Texas.
The Virginia Tech women's basketball team has not squared off against Oregon since 1999.
When the teams meet again on Friday in the NCAA Tournament, ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli expects a good game.
"The two of them, and this is a compliment, they do not have a distinguishable characteristic about them," Antonelli said in a phone interview this week. "Some teams are big. Some are small. Some are fast. Some play slow. I think they both are really solid teams.
"There's a lot of ways that they can win. … Their resumes look very similar.
"These two teams are very similar to me. It's going to be a fun matchup."
Oregon (22-12), which is steered by Kelly Graves, is the No. 8 seed in the schools' 16-team bracket. Virginia Tech (23-9), coached by Megan Duffy, is the No. 9 seed. The squads will meet in the first round at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Austin, Texas.
"It is a classic 8-9 matchup," said Antonelli, who will not be the commentator for the ESPN2 telecast of the game.
"Megan Duffy is a brilliant tactician (and) strategist. She's got great assistant coaches that have good X and 0, … situational offense. And I know Kelly Graves has the exact same thing. So it's going to be a fun one to watch because it's going to go down to the end. And then who's going to make more plays late?"
Virginia Tech coach Megan Duffy and the Hokies will meet Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Austin, Texas.
Duffy is in her second season at the helm of the Hokies. Tech was the first team left out of last year's NCAA field.
"I'm really happy for Duffy," Antonelli said. "She's a tremendous person. I think she works really hard. I think she gets it in the big scheme of things and I think her players really enjoy playing for her."
Graves is in his 12th season at the helm of the Ducks. He led Oregon to the Final Four in 2019.
Oregon was a No. 10 seed in last year's NCAAs, when the team knocked off Vanderbilt in the first round before falling to Duke in the second round.
The Ducks went 8-10 in Big Ten regular-season play this year before going 2-1 in the Big Ten tournament. They bowed out in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
"Kelly Graves is going to have a plan," Antonelli said. "They've got good, solid playmaking. They don't turn it over much. They move the ball."
Oregon sophomore point guard Katie Fiso, an All-Big Ten second-team pick, averages 15.3 points and 6.3 assists.
"Good playmaking skill. Unselfish," Antonelli said. "I like players that can make the defense wrong. That means it doesn't matter what kind of scheme you throw at them — they can figure out a way to be productive, whether they score for themselves or make a play for somebody else.
Oregon point guard Katie Fiso, an All-Big Ten second-team pick, averages 15.3 points and 6.3 assists for the Ducks.
"You've got to keep Fiso in front of you."
Ehis Etute averages 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Ducks. She is a standout on the offensive glass.
The Hokies feature All-ACC second-team picks Carleigh Wenzel (15.3 ppg) and Carys Baker (14.1 ppg).
"They play with great care and teamwork, and that is a bond that you don't see a lot," Antonelli said of that duo.
Kilah Freelon averages 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Hokies.
"Freelon has had a great year," Antonelli said. "She's quick. I think she moves really well."
Virginia Tech guard Samyha Suffren averages 9.1 points and 1.5 steals off the bench.
"Suffren is the one that I think doesn't get enough credit," Antonelli said. "She can get by anybody off the bounce.
Virginia Tech guard Samyha Suffren (center) has been a sparkplug off the bench. She averages 9.1 points for the Hokies.
"You've got to change the rhythm of the game. You can't play the same way all the time. … When you put Suffren in the game, it's instant change of tempo. It's like everybody knows they're going into another gear. When you have somebody like that that can come off the bench, you don't drop in what you're doing. If anything, you can get a little better.
"Maybe people don't have her on the top of the scouting report, but if you watch her play and you know the game, you know she can have an impact."
Oregon averages 74.7 points, while the Hokies average 72.9 points.
The Hokies are shooting 40.8% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range.
"If they make shots, then they can set up their defense," Antonelli said.
Oregon averages 10.3 steals, so that could be a problem for the Hokies.
"They can't turn the ball over," Antonelli said. "You cannot have game slippage late. (The) 8-9 games are typically (down to) the last couple possessions."
Mark Berman (540) 981-3125
