PAC-10 UPDATE GAME OF THE WEEK
VS Texas@Arizona The No. 13 Wildcats (12-5, 5-1
Pac 10) will take on the No.23 Longhorns (15-3, 4-1 Big 12)
Saturday in Arizona’s McHale Center. Although the game doesn’t have
any league implications, it will be interesting to see how
Arizona-which came into the season as national title
contenders-perform out of conference. The Wildcats are just 7-4
this year in non-conference games, including losses to Purdue,
Illinois and Connecticut. PAC-10 BASKETBALL
STANDINGS CONFER. OVERALL Stanford 5-0 17-0 Arizona 5-1
12-5 UCLA 4-1 10-5 USC 3-2 13-4 California 3-2 12-5 Oregon 2-3 11-4
Oregon St. 2-3 8-9 Washington 2-4 8-10 Washington St. 1-5 7-8
Arizona St. 0-6 8-9 WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY GAME
TIME Arizona St. @ Arizona (Wed.) 7:30 p.m. California @ Washington
St. 7:00 p.m. Stanford @ Washington 7:30 p.m. Oregon @ USC 7:30
p.m. Oregon St. @ UCLA 7:30 p.m. Source: Pac-10 Conference Original
Graphic by ADAM BROWN/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by YUAN HUANG
Stanford keeps on a roll
The No. 1 Cardinal, who have yet to lose this season, had
another dominating weekend.
This time they destroyed arch-rival California on Thursday 84-58
and crushed New Mexico on Saturday 75-44 in Maples Pavilion.
“We’re on a roll right now, and as long as we just
stay focused and keep getting better, we’ll be in good
shape,” forward Ryan Mendez told the local media
Saturday.
Stanford (17-0, 5-0 Pac-10) has a deep squad led by preseason
All-American Casey Jacobsen, who is averaging 18 points per
game.
Upset special
It’s close to impossible to win in Oregon’s McArthur
Court.
Don’t tell that, though, to the perennial cellar dweller
Washington Huskies.
Last Thursday, the Huskies (8-10, 2-4 Pac-10) went to Eugene,
where the Ducks went 11-3 last year, and pulled off a shocker,
beating Oregon 72-71 in thrilling fashion.
With his Huskies down 71-70, guard Curtis Allen slashed through
the Duck defense and scored a layup with six seconds left.
Oregon freshman Luke Ridnour then raced down court and buried a
15-foot jumper, but referee Bobby McRoy ruled the shot came too
late.
Replays showed the shot beating the horn.
Arizona’s X-Factor
The Wildcats are loaded with All-Americans and future pros.
There’s 7-foot-1 Loren Woods, who could very well go No. 1
in the NBA draft. There’s forward Michael Wright, who already
has an NBA body. There’s guard Jason Gardner, who could be
the nation’s best point guard.
But according to UCLA guard Earl Watson, there’s another
Wildcat that should be getting more headlines.
“Everybody talks about Loren Woods and Michael Wright but
Richard Jefferson has expanded his game,” he said. “In
my opinion he’s been the difference in their team.”
The 6-foot-7 Jefferson has been on a tear lately. On Thursday
against USC, he had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Against Watson’s Bruins, Jefferson dropped 12 points, five
rebounds and three assists.
Feasting on the meek
There’s nothing like a couple of games against the
Washington schools to raise team morale.
Oregon State, which entered last weekend with a four-game losing
streak, dismantled perhaps the league’s two worst teams over
the weekend, beating Washington State 67-62 and Washington
63-56.
The Beavers will face UCLA on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion. They
are led by senior guard Deaundra Tanner. Tanner is from Los Angeles
and there’s no doubt he’ll have some added incentive on
Thursday.
Two years ago, the guard stuck it to the two Los Angeles
schools. Leading Oregon State to two victories over UCLA and USC,
Tanner averaged 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Senior still looking for huge season
USC center Brian Scalabrine, a preseason All-American, was
expected to have a huge senior season.
He started the year that way, averaging 27 points in the
preseason Yahoo! Sports Invitational in Hawaii.
But the towering redhead has hit a tough stretch recently.
He is averaging just six points in his last three games,
including a donut against Arizona. Not by coincidence, USC lost two
of those games ““ losing to UCLA 80-75 and Arizona 71-58.
Trojan head coach Henry Bibby is quick to point out that
Scalabrine has been double and triple teamed. He’s also been
plagued by foul trouble as of late, fouling out of the UCLA and
Arizona games.
Notes compiled by Chris Umpierre, Daily Bruin Staff.