CORVALLIS -- Welcome to the latest edition of Sydney Wiese's Oregon State women's basketball diary, where the All-Pac-12 point guard will take readers inside the Beavers program.
This week, Wiese goes inside her mindset during the final minutes of her 23-point outburst against Oregon. Then, the Phoenix native looks ahead to the final hometown trip of her college career.
Feb. 1, 2017
We know how to win. Give credit to Oregon. Both games were dogfights, to say the least, and they're a talented team. We've been through all those wars where you can either break and give up, or you come together and make things happen. For both games, we made the plays down the stretch to help us win -- whether it was making big shots, getting big stops on defense, rebounding, making free throws. I mean, Bree (Brown) had some crucial free throws. We've learned how to close out games. You don't want to be in that position all the time. It's very stressful. But if it comes down to it, we know how to take care of the ball, how to get each other good shots, how to get stops. Now we have to play with that intensity all the time. We have to play like our backs are against the wall, instead of playing when they actually are against the wall. Having that sense of urgency and playing more consistently like that, that will help us going forward into the rest of conference play.
Oregon knew what we wanted to do. So when that happens, they're able to be a little more physical, because they're going to take us off of our spots, or at least try to do that. So it really forced us to make plays and to see what can we get out of these possessions if they're going to take away our first option and maybe our second option. How can we create and use the lessons that we've been through to still score and to not go through any droughts? We were both incredibly prepared for each other. It was tough. It was a very emotional, draining week and weekend. I'm blessed and thankful to say that we won both games and that our class is undefeated in the Civil War. For now. Potentially undefeated (depending on how the Pac-12 Tournament plays out).
It's an out-of-body experience (when you're on a roll like that). I knew I took one three after the timeout and I missed, and I was like, "Crap," because for a split second I thought of the UCLA game. In that game, I was really trying to force the issue and not taking the best shots. But I knew we had to try and get something going. But then, short-term memory loss. I tried to just clear my mind and focus on each possession. And then I honestly just shut my mind off. Maite (Cazorla) was doing incredible guarding me the whole weekend. She was right there with me -- physical, quick, she knew exactly where I wanted to go. Once I shook her free and got that first three up, I said, "Alright." Even during the timeout that Coach (Scott) Rueck called, there was no way that we were losing to Oregon. I didn't care who was going to make the plays -- we weren't losing. Whatever had to be done on both ends of the floor, we made it happen.
ASU is always tough. Very mentally tough. Physically tough. Strong. They try to turn you over and pressure you and make you play faster. That's how they've always been. They're a little bit younger this year, but their backs are against the wall. It's like UCLA a couple weeks ago. We're coming off two emotional wins, plus they've lost four of their last five and this is make-or-break time for them. They're gonna be on their home floor. They need a win, and we are completely aware of the position and the mindset they have to be in. Our scout guys have prepared us really well this week. We're trying to find any types of gaps that we can to make it easier for us offensively. They have some talented post players. They have youthful guards, but still very talented. And they work hard, so they're gonna try anything they can to get extra rebounds and make extra plays happen. They pride themselves on their hustle plays. I know that. I've seen it since birth. I've been to all the camps. I've been to all the talks of (coach) Charli Turner Thorne. I know how they play. It's just a matter of keeping calm, cool and collected, staying balanced on the floor. If they make a couple of tough plays, stay poised and take a deep breath and know everything's gonna be fine.
My mom was selling tickets at our church, and she said that at least 200 were sold. And then people not at the church asked for tickets, too. It's gonna be crazy. I have some friends coming down from Flagstaff. Friends throughout the Valley. Family from Minnesota. Taylor (Kalmer) has people coming. It's a huge homecoming. I honestly think it'll be close in the attendance for home-court advantage. There's gonna be a lot of orange. They don't disappoint.
It's exciting that they'll be here in person, for sure, but there's been so many experiences and I've learned to keep a level head. Obviously, there's gonna be some extra adrenaline. I'm gonna be excited to see some faces, but at the same time, you have to take care of business and stay focused. I know when we hear them cheering, it'll make me feel pretty good inside, to know that they're here and they're present, finally, after a couple years of not being able to go home and play in front of them. They've been watching. They've seen all the battles and all the wars. Now they just get to see it live. I'm just trying to keep that focus so I don't get too high or too low, because I know there's gonna be a lot of emotions in there.
-- Sydney Wiese, as told to Gina Mizell
Sydney Wiese's 2016-17 Oregon State women's basketball diary
Oct. 24, 2016: "I'm thankful for one more year"
Nov. 16, 2016: "Incredibly surreal" to play in "last first game"
Nov. 28, 2016: "Growth is painful sometimes"
Dec. 7, 2016: "We are still searching for our team identity"
Dec. 29, 2016: "This is what we work for"
Jan. 3, 2017: "This conference is ridiculous"
Jan. 10, 2017: "It took everything we had"
Jan. 18, 2017: "Now we can't relax"
Jan. 25, 2017: "A little more pride involved"
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