Oregon State’s Talia von Oelhoffen drives against LSU’s Kateri Poole during the Beavers’ 87-55 loss to the eventual national champion Tigers during the Maui Classic on Dec. 18 in Kihei. This year’s Maui Classic is set for Dec.19-20 at Lahaina Civic Center. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
While the future of their conference currently hangs in the balance, there is at least one thing certain going forward for the Oregon State University women’s basketball team — the Maui Classic will remain a priority on their scheduling decisions.
The event that the Beavers host on Maui began in 2016 and will be held again this season, with doubleheaders at Lahaina Civic Center on Dec. 19-20.
Texas Tech, Tulsa and Southeastern Louisiana will join Oregon State in the event that has not yet drawn up their schedule other than the Beavers do know they will play Texas Tech.
“We’re still working that out in terms of Tulsa and Southeastern Louisiana, but we will play Texas Tech, for sure, that one’s guaranteed,” OSU coach Scott Rueck said via phone on Tuesday.
Last year, LSU played in the event on its way to winning the NCAA championship. The 2022 tournament was played at the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium — the Tigers, ranked 11th at the time, beat the Beavers 87-55 in Kihei.
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck shouts to his team during a game at the Phil Knight Lefacy tournament on Nov. 25. AP file photo
“First off, it was great that we had the national champion before anybody knew it was going to happen,” Rueck said. “They looked the part that night against us in LSU last year, so maybe that means that you know it’s going to be Texas Tech or Oregon State to win it this year. Or maybe Tulsa, you never know.”
As for making the drive to the west side, Rueck and crew don’t mind.
“Anywhere on Maui, it’s beautiful anywhere on Maui, it’s a dream scenario,” Rueck said. “And we loved it last year in Kihei, I thought it was just a fantastic event and venue. Certainly we have loved playing in the Civic Center over the years — you can’t go wrong either place.
“We’re excited to be over there and both venues are beautiful.”
The Beavers missed the Maui trip in 2020 when COVID dictated travel restriction and a short schedule, but they have made the island a second home for their rabid fanbase.
“The relationship that we’ve built is the fulfillment of the dream — that was the vision going into this,” Rueck said. “I hoped for a longterm relationship, that has happened, I hope it continues and we hope to embrace the community and that the community embraces us. That’s the beauty of this event. That is what makes it unique to pretty much every other destination tournament that I know of.
“We want to make it a win-win, not only for all of us that get to enjoy the beauty of the island and culture, but for the residents of Maui to have a great experience and to be impacted positively by us while we’re there. And that has happened, it’s just been beautiful to watch and evolve over the years.”
Talia von Oelhoffen, OSU’s leader as a junior guard, is the daughter of Kimo von Oelhoffen, the former Super Bowl champion who grew up on Molokai.
A preseason All-Pac-12 selection, Talia von Oelhoffen was limited to 26 games last season with an injury, but still earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. As a freshman in 2021-22, she was an All-Pac-12 selection who led the team with 13.7 points per game.
“She had a minor surgical procedure, but she has been rehabbing and she will be back and 100 percent,” Rueck said. “She’s about there now. She’s done a great job with that.”
Von Oelhoffen’s injury was one of several last season for the Beavers, who finished 13-18 overall and 4-14 in the Pac-12.
“I’m really excited, as you said last year we didn’t win at the level that we’re used to winning, yet we were right there every night,” Rueck said. “But we were extremely young last year and the conference was extremely old actually with fifth years and COVID.
“With the COVID extra year it was like we were playing our big sisters every night and they just had the wisdom to close us out. So, this team continued to improve and get better. … We are healthy, everybody is. I love the leadership on this team, I love our talent level and I love their desire to win and that’s evident every day. I think we have the makings of a very special team.”
The Beavers leave for an 11-day, 10-practice tour of Italy on Saturday with their roster that has seven returnees and six newcomers.
“We get to play several times against pro teams and that is going to really move us forward,” Rueck said.
The Pac-12 will play with its current layout for the last time in the 2023-24 season — USC and UCLA announced they were leaving for the Big Ten 13 months ago, and Colorado followed suit by announcing a return to the Big 12 last week.
“Well, I don’t have any insight into where the conference is,” Rueck said. “I can’t even comment on that, I don’t have the insight to give you even an educated response on that. Certainly we know that USC and UCLA are going and Colorado is going, and so those changes, you know, it’s just part of life.
“You evolve and change. If life has taught us anything the last several years it’s change is inevitable and we can sustain it and we will. We’ll find new ways to operate as everything evolves.”
Rueck has seen his program roll with the punches of the NIL and transfer portal in recent years as well and he sees the uncertain future of his conference as not much different.
“All we can control is this moment and this day and taking care of the people around us and that’s what we’re doing,” he said. “And so my focus is on the team and getting ready to have a fantastic year.”
The Maui trip is crucial to preparing for the Pac-12 season.
“This tournament comes at such a perfect time,” Rueck said. “We’ve grown so much by that time and we’ve had finals week, so our players’ minds can be relieved of academics. They can actually enjoy themselves to a greater extent and where they are, so they can take in everything that’s Maui.
“And we get to focus on basketball and have a great, great event right before we break for the holidays. So, it’s just an ideal situation.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
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