As the fall season winds down, Pacific-10 conference teams are scrambling to finish strong. Championships are on the line across a wide spectrum of sports, and it looks to be another memorable holiday season for the Pac-10.
Stanford
The Stanford women’s soccer team matches up with UCLA Friday afternoon in round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament. A spot in the quarterfinals is on the line, as UCLA looks to avenge a 2-1 overtime loss to Stanford last year in the NCAA semifinals.
The Stanford women, however, hold the distinct advantage of playing at home, where they have won 33 consecutive matches. The Cardinal also won its last three matches against UCLA, most recently in a 2-0 road victory on Oct. 10.
En route to the round of 16, Stanford defeated Sacramento State by a score of 3-0 in the first round. The Cardinal moved on to face off with Santa Clara, which it also eliminated with a 2-1 victory.
Should Stanford defeat UCLA today, it will move on to play either Marquette or Florida State in the quarterfinals.
Oregon State
If you tune into an Oregon State men’s basketball game and notice something strange, don’t be alarmed. As a by-product of the partnership between Oregon State and Nike N7, the Beavers will wear customized turquoise uniforms on Nov. 21 against Texas Southern.
It is all part of a plan to reach out to Native American and Aboriginal youths by advertising the benefits of organized basketball. The turquoise coloring is meant to represent friendship in Native American culture.
The jerseys are also environmentally friendly, made up of 69 percent recycled polyester. The shorts to go along with them are 73 percent polyester.
California
The California men’s water polo team, currently ranked No. 1 in the country, faces off with No. 5 Stanford today. Dominant so far this season, the Golden Bears are riding a 12-match winning streak.
Stanford is no stranger to this California team. The Golden Bears have already scored two wins over the Cardinal this season, the last coming on Oct. 3. The Stanford men lost their last match against Pacific on Nov. 14.
California’s only two losses this season came against UC Irvine and USC (the reigning NCAA Champion).
Arizona
The Arizona men’s swim team is ranked No. 1 overall in the first-ever Avidasports/Collegeswimming performance poll. This type of ranking system has never been used in collegiate swimming and could change the way teams are measured going forward.
According to Bill Burnett, the Vice President of Sales for Avidasports, the ranking system will use methods similar to that of the Bowl Championship Series in football. Half of the rankings will be based on percentage of season best times, while the other portion will have to do with “average rank of each team’s times in relation to competitor programs.”
Complex? Sure, but it could drastically improve the national rankings in collegiate swimming. And Arizona sure isn’t complaining.
USC
The season’s first Pac-10 Player of the Week award for women’s basketball went to USC junior Briana Gilbreath. This is the first time Gilbreath has been honored with the weekly award, though there could be plenty more in her future.
The Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year last season, Gilbreath showed off her offensive skills last week against No. 22 Gonzaga. The guard scored 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while also grabbing two steals and dishing out three assists. As a result, the Women of Troy came away with a 79-73 upset win.
Washington
Washington starting point guard Isaiah Thomas has been listed as a nominee for the Naismith Award, which recognizes college basketball’s best player.
Thomas, a junior, is one of fifty players on the list. Last year, he averaged 16.9 points and 3.9 assists per game, earning a spot on the 2010 First Team All-Pac-10.
The list will be cut to 30 players in February.
Washington State
Perhaps the brightest moment in years for the Washington State football program came last week in a win against Oregon State. The Pac-10 took notice, naming quarterback Jeff Tuel the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week.
A sophomore this year, Tuel threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also running for 79 yards. He managed to stay turnover-free and proved to be the catalyst in breaking a 16-game conference-losing skid.
[email protected]