I know the Pac-10 Conference is down this year, but does anyone want to win the regular season title? Not that the regular season title carries any weight besides the top seed in the conference tournament, but the winner at Staples Center earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
UCLA was alone atop the heap with a 10-2 conference record before dropping its last two outings. California is also 10-4 after losing to lowly Arizona State in double overtime on its home court. The Bruins are still looking good despite their recent problems. UCLA enjoys the highest conference ranking concerning the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) at 14, compliments of its 20-6 record.
The only other Pac-10 squad in a similar situation with UCLA is Washington. The Huskies (20-5) reached the 20-win plateau, and have a RPI rating of 35. Washington is currently tied with Stanford for third place at 9-5.
Arizona appears to be the only other Pac-10 team with a shot at the NCAA Tournament despite its pedestrian 16-10 record. The Wildcats are gunning for their 22nd consecutive tournament appearance, the longest current tenure compliments of their 18 RPI ranking. Arizona could technically still win the regular season title despite its pedestrian 9-6 record.
Stanford and Southern Cal appear destined for the NIT, while Washington State and Arizona State may be in the market for a new coach during the offseason. Wazzu head coach Dick Bennett has been hinting at retirement with the poor play of his team. The Cougars have dropped nine of their last 11 games, scoring just 37 points in their latest setback and 30 points a few weeks ago.
Arizona State has won three of its last five games, and continue to play hard for head coach Rob Evans even though he appears to be on borrowed time. The Sun Devils will have their work cut out this weekend with a road game against rival Arizona.
Enough of the conference review, let’s check out Thursday’s four games.
**California at Washington State**
–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened California as a 2 1/2-point road ‘chalk’ over Washington State, with the total set at 116. FOX Sports West will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
–California (16-7 straight up, 14-8 against the spread) had its six-game SU winning streak snapped unceremoniously in double overtime against Arizona State Saturday as a decided 12-point home favorite, 65-64. The Golden Bears slipped to 1-2 ATS their last three outings.
–Cal was outrebounded for the contest, 41-31, and shot a miserable 39 percent (20-of-52) from the field. Power forward Leon Powe accounted for 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, while DeVon Hardin added 13 and 10.
–The Golden Bears are a pedestrian 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS away from home, prevailing by an average score of 65-63.
–Cal is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS the previous three encounters with Washington State after winning Jan. 28 as a 7 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 55-53.
–Washington State (11-12 SU, 12-11 ATS) dropped to 1-3 both SU and ATS its last four games after Saturday’s debacle versus Oregon as a 4 1/2-point road underdog, 67-37.
–The Cougars never recovered from scoring just 10 points in the first half, and were outrebounded for the contest, 45-28. Robbie Cowgill led the anemic effort with just 11 points as the team shot a dismal 27 percent (13-of-49).
–Wazzu sports a 9-4 SU and an 8-5 ATS home ledger, beating opponents by an average score of 60-52.
**Oregon at Southern Cal**
–LVSC has Southern Cal as a two-point home favorite over Oregon. This contest is scheduled to tipoff at 10:30 p.m. ET.
–Oregon (12-15 SU, 11-13 ATS) has alternated SU wins and losses its past four performances after routing Washington State Saturday as a 4 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 67-37. That marked the fourth game in a row that the Ducks covered.
–Chamberlain Oguchi stepped up with 18 points and five rebounds, while teammate Malik Hairston contributed 15 and four and Maarty Leunen added five and 12.
–Oregon has stumbled to a 2-7 SU and 5-4 ATS road record, dropping those affairs by an average score of 72-68.
–The Ducks were 4-0 SU and 2-2 ATS the previous four meetings with the Trojans before dropping a Jan. 28 encounter as a 6 1/2-point home favorite, 84-78.
–Southern Cal (16-9 SU, 14-7 ATS) was mired in a three-game SU and ATS losing skid before slipping past UCLA Sunday as a six-point home underdog, 71-68.
–The Trojans were outrebounded, 34-24, but connected at a robust 57 percent (27-of-48) from the field. Five players reached double digits in scoring, led by Nick Young’s 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
–USC maintains a 10-4 SU and 8-4 ATS home record, beating opponents by an average score of 73-64.
–Oregon center Ivan Johnson (disciplinary) is ‘questionable’ against the Trojans. USC guard Gabe Pruitt (knee) is ‘out’ the next few weeks.
**Oregon State at UCLA**
–LVSC installed UCLA as a 16-point home ‘chalk’ over Oregon State. FOX Sports West2 starts its coverage of this game at 10:30 p.m. ET.
–Oregon State (11-15 SU, 10-12 ATS) fell to 1-4 both SU and ATS its last five games after being routed Saturday by Washington as an eight-point home underdog, 96-63.
–The Beavers were in the contest before being outscored after halftime, 52-26, and were outrebounded for the game, 38-28. Sasa Cuic poured in 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Nick DeWitz added 12 and six rebounds.
–Oregon State owns a 4-9 SU and 6-6 ATS road record, dropping those affairs by an average score of 72-64.
–The Beavers are 2-2 SU and 1-2 ATS the previous four meetings with the Bruins after dropping the last meeting Jan. 28 as a four-point home underdog, 63-54.
–UCLA (20-6 SU, 12-10 ATS) suffered its second consecutive SU setback after being upset by Southern Cal Sunday as a six-point road ‘chalk,’ 71-68. The Bruins had covered three games in a row before that contest.
–UCLA dropped that affair by allowing USC to connect at a 57-percent clip, while hitting just 41 percent (24-of-59). Jordan Farmar paced the offense with 21 points and five assists, while Arron Afflalo had 19 and four rebounds.
–The Bruins are 12-3 SU and 5-6 ATS on their home court, prevailing by an average score of 69-60.
–UCLA forward Alfred Aboya (hip) is ‘doubtful’ versus the Beavers.
**Stanford at Washington**
–LVSC lists Washington as an 8 1/2-point home favorite over Stanford, with the total set at 145. FOX Sports West begins its coverage of this tilt at 10:30 p.m. ET.
–Stanford (13-10 SU, 13-8 ATS) fell to 1-3 SU and 3-1 ATS its past four performances after Sunday’s setback to Arizona as a 3 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 76-72. The Cardinal had covered their last 10 games before facing the Wildcats.
–Stanford shot 46 percent (26-of-56) from the field, while allowing Arizona to hit 53 percent (30-of-57). Senior point guard Chris Hernandez led all scorers with 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Matt Haryasz pitched in with 15 and nine rebounds.
–The Cardinal are 4-8 SU and 7-4 ATS away from home, falling by an average score of 68-65.
–Stanford improved to 3-2 SU and 5-0 ATS the last five meetings with Washington after prevailing in overtime Jan. 29 as a 2 1/2-point home underdog, 76-67.
–Washington (20-5 SU, 8-14 ATS) is riding a four-game SU winning streak after routing Oregon State Saturday as an eight-point road ‘chalk,’ 96-63. The Huskies had dropped back-to-back outings ATS before facing the Beavers.
–Brandon Roy stepped up with 25 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in the victory, while Bobby Jones poured in 12, nine and five.
–The Huskies lay claim to a 15-2 SU home ledger, but a disappointing 5-9 ATS record. Washington is winning its home endeavors by an average score of 87-69.
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