Pac-10 Basketball
This year many different Pac-10 teams have put themselves on the map for an NCAA Tournament bid, like Washington finding it's way into the Top 20 and UCLA knocking off one-loss BYU. However, one thing we can assure is that this year, the Pac-10 will have at least 3 teams in the NCAA Tourney.
The Washington Huskies used great 3 point shooting to get into the Top 15 early, but they lost close games to Kentucky and Michigan State and were knocked out of the Top 25. However, the same formula that worked early in the year has UW riding a 3 game win streak, including wins over then #25 Arizona and Arizona State. The Huskies play Washington State tonight at 7:00 PM PT.
Arizona got a great start, going undefeated until a tough road loss at Kansas. After another loss at BYU, the Wildcats bounced back, winning close games over Cal and Washington State to help power them into the Top 25. Although a loss at Washington knocked them out of the rankings, they fought back and have racked up 2 straight wins.
Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins have gotten back on track after a 14-18 season, beating 1 loss BYU and taking down 6 other Pac-10 teams. Although they squandered leads against Oregon State and Cal, they were still able to hold on, with the ability to win close games and rebounding being 2 advantages they have. Reeves Nelson beat the buzzer against Cal, and the Bruins held on to beat UC Irvine by one and Oregon State by 5. Against BYU good rebounding and passing powered them to victory.
The California Golden Bears have won 2 straight games and are back on track, after losing a heartbreaker to UCLA and getting blown out by Washington. Early on Cal beat Temple and New Mexico by 7+ points, and now they have close victories over USC and Washington State on their resume. Harper Kamp and Allen Crabbe have stepped up and led the Bears to the point they are now, with a win over Oregon and a sweep of the Arizona schools away from being back on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Washington State started strong, losing only one game before Christmas, but 3 straight losses and a 4-4 Pac-10 record has knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament for now. The Cougs started 10-1, including a win over then #15 Baylor, before losses to Butler, UCLA and USC ended December on the wrong foot. However, the Cougars won 4 out of their next 5 games, sweeping the Oregon schools and surviving Stanford and Arizona State. Klay Thompson has dominated and provided a boost in every game, leading the Pac-10 with 22.2 PPG.
USC has been an up-and down team, beating UCLA and nearly shocking Kansas, but they also got swept by the Oregon schools and they lost to Bradley and Rider. If you get the good USC, you're in trouble. If you get the bad USC, expect an easy victory. However, the good USC has been on display lately. They dispatched Stanford before dropping a close contest against Cal, but they rebounded by surviving Arizona State. Nikola Vucevic has played well all year, averaging over 16 PPG and scoring 26 against ASU.
Stanford has had good and bad games, with wins over Washington and Cal in the books, but they have also lost to Oregon, Tulsa and Murray State and they stand at only 3-5 in the Pac-10. Josh Owens scored the game-winning basket for Stanford against Washington, and Stanford took an early lead against Cal and never gave it up in a 81-68 win. However, the Cardinal's stock is down now, going from a bubble team to a CBI team with 4 straight losses. Stanford is coming off of a loss to Oregon and plays Oregon State tonight.
Oregon State has also been on and off, with wins over USC and Arizona, but they have also lost to Seattle, Texas Southern and Utah Valley. Like always, Oregon State starts slow before picking up the pace and shocking a top Pac-10 team. For the second straight year they dropped a contest to Seattle, but they also shocked Arizona on a late Joe Burton layup. However, they have lost 5 of their last 6 games, the latest a 85-57 loss at Cal where nothing went right.
The other Oregon team has also been up and down, with losses to Idaho and San Jose State, but they have also come close to beating #8 Missouri, and they have 2 straight wins stockpiled. The Ducks started 3-0 and now have road wins over Stanford and Oregon State pocketed, with a game against Cal coming up. The Ducks have gotten a boost from Joevan Catron, who averages 15 PPG.
Arizona State has struggled, going 1-8 in Pac-10 play with 7 straight conference losses. The Sun Devils lost close ones to Cal, USC, and getting blown out by Oregon State, Stanford, and the Washington schools. They did survive Tulsa on January 12, and they held off Oregon 60-55 on New Year's Day, but not many other bright spots have come up this season. ASU lost to St. John's and Richmond as well.
Right now, Washington and Arizona are the only teams with tourney status locked up. UCLA is on the bubble, and Cal and Washington State are just a few wins behind. Remember; all it takes is one win to completely change a team's season.
Pac-10 Predictions
1 Washington
2 Arizona
3 UCLA
4 Cal
5 Washington State
6 Stanford
7 USC
8 Oregon State
9 Oregon
10 Arizona State
The Washington Huskies used great 3 point shooting to get into the Top 15 early, but they lost close games to Kentucky and Michigan State and were knocked out of the Top 25. However, the same formula that worked early in the year has UW riding a 3 game win streak, including wins over then #25 Arizona and Arizona State. The Huskies play Washington State tonight at 7:00 PM PT.
Arizona got a great start, going undefeated until a tough road loss at Kansas. After another loss at BYU, the Wildcats bounced back, winning close games over Cal and Washington State to help power them into the Top 25. Although a loss at Washington knocked them out of the rankings, they fought back and have racked up 2 straight wins.
Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins have gotten back on track after a 14-18 season, beating 1 loss BYU and taking down 6 other Pac-10 teams. Although they squandered leads against Oregon State and Cal, they were still able to hold on, with the ability to win close games and rebounding being 2 advantages they have. Reeves Nelson beat the buzzer against Cal, and the Bruins held on to beat UC Irvine by one and Oregon State by 5. Against BYU good rebounding and passing powered them to victory.
The California Golden Bears have won 2 straight games and are back on track, after losing a heartbreaker to UCLA and getting blown out by Washington. Early on Cal beat Temple and New Mexico by 7+ points, and now they have close victories over USC and Washington State on their resume. Harper Kamp and Allen Crabbe have stepped up and led the Bears to the point they are now, with a win over Oregon and a sweep of the Arizona schools away from being back on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Washington State started strong, losing only one game before Christmas, but 3 straight losses and a 4-4 Pac-10 record has knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament for now. The Cougs started 10-1, including a win over then #15 Baylor, before losses to Butler, UCLA and USC ended December on the wrong foot. However, the Cougars won 4 out of their next 5 games, sweeping the Oregon schools and surviving Stanford and Arizona State. Klay Thompson has dominated and provided a boost in every game, leading the Pac-10 with 22.2 PPG.
USC has been an up-and down team, beating UCLA and nearly shocking Kansas, but they also got swept by the Oregon schools and they lost to Bradley and Rider. If you get the good USC, you're in trouble. If you get the bad USC, expect an easy victory. However, the good USC has been on display lately. They dispatched Stanford before dropping a close contest against Cal, but they rebounded by surviving Arizona State. Nikola Vucevic has played well all year, averaging over 16 PPG and scoring 26 against ASU.
Stanford has had good and bad games, with wins over Washington and Cal in the books, but they have also lost to Oregon, Tulsa and Murray State and they stand at only 3-5 in the Pac-10. Josh Owens scored the game-winning basket for Stanford against Washington, and Stanford took an early lead against Cal and never gave it up in a 81-68 win. However, the Cardinal's stock is down now, going from a bubble team to a CBI team with 4 straight losses. Stanford is coming off of a loss to Oregon and plays Oregon State tonight.
Oregon State has also been on and off, with wins over USC and Arizona, but they have also lost to Seattle, Texas Southern and Utah Valley. Like always, Oregon State starts slow before picking up the pace and shocking a top Pac-10 team. For the second straight year they dropped a contest to Seattle, but they also shocked Arizona on a late Joe Burton layup. However, they have lost 5 of their last 6 games, the latest a 85-57 loss at Cal where nothing went right.
The other Oregon team has also been up and down, with losses to Idaho and San Jose State, but they have also come close to beating #8 Missouri, and they have 2 straight wins stockpiled. The Ducks started 3-0 and now have road wins over Stanford and Oregon State pocketed, with a game against Cal coming up. The Ducks have gotten a boost from Joevan Catron, who averages 15 PPG.
Arizona State has struggled, going 1-8 in Pac-10 play with 7 straight conference losses. The Sun Devils lost close ones to Cal, USC, and getting blown out by Oregon State, Stanford, and the Washington schools. They did survive Tulsa on January 12, and they held off Oregon 60-55 on New Year's Day, but not many other bright spots have come up this season. ASU lost to St. John's and Richmond as well.
Right now, Washington and Arizona are the only teams with tourney status locked up. UCLA is on the bubble, and Cal and Washington State are just a few wins behind. Remember; all it takes is one win to completely change a team's season.
Pac-10 Predictions
1 Washington
2 Arizona
3 UCLA
4 Cal
5 Washington State
6 Stanford
7 USC
8 Oregon State
9 Oregon
10 Arizona State
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