News and notes
Of the four remaining undefeated schools in NCAA Division I
men’s basketball (Stanford, Georgetown, Boston College and
Baylor) none have a top 25 rated schedule in the recent Ratings
Percentage Index, a barometer used by the NCAA to determine the
post season field of 64 and seedings.
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
Washington State’s 57 points last Saturday against the
Bruins was the lowest output against UCLA by a conference opponent
since head coach Steve Lavin’s first season at the helm, when
the Bruins topped California 64-56 in January, 1997 at the Cow
Palace.
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
Jason Kapono notched a career-high 27 points, including nine of
10 shots in the second half in an 82-78 victory over Southern
California last year at Pauley Pavilion. He and the rest of the
Bruins will get a chance to draw first blood on the hardwood
against crosstown rival USC on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Pauley
Pavilion.
Home sweet home
Following Indiana University’s 69-68 upset of then-No. 1
and defending national champion Michigan State on Sunday in
Bloomington, Indiana, Stanford (13-0) took the top spot in both
national Top 25 polls for the first time this season.
Defeating the Arizona schools in the desert this past weekend to
claim a share of the Pac-10 Conference lead with UCLA and USC, the
Cardinal received 27 of 31 possible first place votes in the
ESPN/USA Today poll and all 70 top votes in the Associated Press
poll, marking the first unanimous AP No. 1 team since North
Carolina in 1997.
Duke (13-1), whose only loss on the season was to Stanford 89-88
at the Pete Newell Challenge in Oakland on Dec. 21, rose one spot
to second place. The Spartans (12-1) fell to third in both
polls.
The Cardinal was the No. 1 team in the nation two different
times last season, for two weeks each. The last time they lost the
top spot was after a 94-93 overtime loss on March 4 at Maples
Pavilion to UCLA.
Bruin strength
Entering the first weekend of conference play, the Bruins have
been ranked with the 13th toughest schedule in the country. Big
wins are an important factor among the 18 victories needed to
secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament in March. However, what has
been commonly coined as “quality losses” also weigh on
the minds of the selection committee.
UCLA’s season-opening 99-98 loss to Kansas in New York
will play a role with the Jayhawks (12-1), who rose to the fifth
spot in the AP Top 25 and has a schedule rated the 11th strongest
in the nation.
North Carolina’s defeat of then-No. 4 and undefeated Wake
Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s opening weekend
will also look favorably upon the Bruins after their impressive
showing in an 80-70 loss to the Tar Heels on Dec. 23 in Pauley
Pavilion.
Oh brother!
Stanford forwards Jarron and Jason Collins were named co-Pac-10
Players of the Week after an impressive showing on the Cardinal
frontline against Arizona and Arizona State this past weekend.
Jarron posted 22 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats,
while sophomore Jason added 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win at
Tucson.
Stanford has a perfect 22-0 record when both Jarron and Jason
are in the starting lineup.
Carving their names
UCLA senior point guard Earl Watson has 196 career steals (23
this season) and is third in UCLA history behind Tyus Edney
(’95) with 224, and Cameron Dollar (year) with 214. Watson
has also recorded 508 career assists (67 this season) and is sixth
in the Bruins’ books, just four behind Roy Hamilton
(’79).
Bruin sophomore forward Jason Kapono has 115 career three-point
field goals (33 this year) and is fifth all-time. He is one
three-pointer behind Kevin Walker (’90) and three behind
Gerald Madkins (’92).
Notes compiled by AJ Cadman, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.