A new twist has been introduced to this season’s Pacific-10 Conference men’s basketball schedule.
Rather, it’s an old twist that has been brought back after an 11-year absence.
From March 7-9, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the top eight teams in the league will square off in a Pac-10 Tournament.
The lone survivor of the tourney will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, giving hope to those teams in the middle of the pack to make a late run at being a Cinderella team in the Big Dance.
While some coaches were against it — Stanford’s Mike Montgomery and Arizona’s Lute Olson — many were for it and agreed that the league tournament adds a new level of excitement to the Pac-10.
The new addition to the schedule has already had a noticeable effect, moving the start of league play to December as opposed to its usual January opening.
After Arizona was embarrassed by Oregon on Dec. 22 at McArthur Court, 105-75, Olson voiced his displeasure over the early start to conference action.
“I’m just not a believer that you should start Pac-10 play in December,” Olson said. “I think we would rather have a little more time to get ready for (Oregon).”
But like it or not, Pac-10 hoops began early and now kicks into high gear with key games each week in January and February.
And then, a week before the Big Dance, a smaller dance will take place in L.A. in March that could very well include a few surprises.
Because what would a Pac-10 season be without a few surprises up its sleeve?
1. USC Trojans
(12-2 overall,
4-0 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Henry Bibby
Player to watch: Sam Clancy, F/C
Most preseason prognosticators have pegged UCLA as this season’s Pac-10 champion. While the Bruins will be a formidable challenge, their cross-town rival could take the crown.
USC’s breakthrough season in 2001 that included a school-record 24 wins and a run into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament will pay off dividends. From that starting five, three key seniors return: forward Sam Clancy, point guard Brandon Granville and forward David Bluthenthal.
“The expectations for us will be high and they should be,” head coach Henry Bibby said. “We set a level of play where we want to go. My goal is to get back there.”
While the loss of departed Brian Scalabrine will be noticeable, the decision of Clancy not to jump early to the NBA was crucial.
2. UCLA Bruins (11-2, 4-0 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin
Player to watch: Jason Kapono, F
It’s taken a couple of years for the youth to turn into veterans, but the time has arrived for the Bruins to finish near the top of the Pac-10.
Earl Watson has left from last season’s team, but four other starters have returned, including center Dan Gadzuric, forwards Matt Barnes and Jason Kapono and guard Billy Knight.
“Since becoming head coach, it’s the first time we’ve had real stability,” head coach Steve Lavin said. “We now have balance, stability and continuity in each class.”
While the talent is set, and with a bench filled with emerging athletes, the key thing will be to find the right rotation and stick with it. The Bruins have already shown that they can be upset as Pepperdine beat them, 85-78, in November.
3. California Golden Bears
(10-2 overall, 1-1 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Ben Braun
Player to watch: Shantay Legans, PG
No Sean Lampley may turn out to be no problem for California.
While the versatile Lampley will be sorely missed, the Bears have shown thus far that they have plenty of players to pick up the load.
On Sunday, Cal ended a 10-game losing streak against its Bay Area rival in a big way. Senior Ryan Forehan-Kelly scored 13 of his 19 points in the final five minutes as Cal beat Stanford, 68-54.
With the veteran leadership of a combined seven seniors and juniors that see significant action, this group could rise to the top of the Pac-10.
“It’s important to have a lot of the same familiar faces back,” head coach Ben Braun said. “And that’s reassuring.”
4. Oregon Ducks
(10-4 overall, 3-1 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Ernie Kent
Player to watch: Luke Jackson, F
Oregon can score a lot of points. These Ducks have also learned to play some defense thanks in large part to the emergence of assistant coach Fred Litzenberger, who came over from the Oregon women’s program.
But what the Ducks are going to have to learn to do is stay composed in the game’s final minutes. While the two blowout victories over Arizona are indeed impressive, the close losses to Portland and Arizona State are not.
Look for sophomore Luke Jackson to take some of the pressure off senior guard Freddie Jones and help lead Oregon back to the NCAA tourney after last season’s dismal 5-13 Pac-10 season.
“This is a very good basketball team,” head coach Ernie Kent said.
5. Stanford Cardinal
(8-3 overall, 1-1 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Mike Montgomery
Player to watch: Casey Jacobsen, G
This will be a different Stanford team from the past. Gone are four starters.
Among those four starters were the always imposing Collins twins, Jason and Jarron, in the middle.
Still, behind the leadership of hot-shooting junior guard Casey Jacobsen, the Cardinal will always be a threat to win any game they play.
But they will also lose a few that may just keep them out of the NCAA Tournament. Watch out for them in the Pac-10 tourney, though.
6. Arizona Wildcats
(9-4 overall, 2-2 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Lute Olson
Player to watch: Salim Stoudamire, G
Oregon has already feasted on the new-look Arizona Wildcats.
Sure, Arizona’s fresh off its appearance in the NCAA Tournament championship game, but much has changed since. Four of the starters that led the ‘Cats to the Final Four left for the NBA draft.
What is left is Jason Gardner, Luke Walton, Rick Anderson and a bunch of younger players who will need to play above their age for Arizona to reach the NCAAs. The most notable is freshman Salim Stoudamire, a Lake Oswego product who is the cousin of Trail Blazer Damon Stoudamire.
Walton may be the difference, as without him last weekend, Arizona lost to Oregon and nearly lost to Oregon State at home.
7. Arizona State Sun Devils
(9-4 overall, 2-2 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Rob Evans
Player to watch: Chad Prewitt, F/C
Injuries deflated the Sun Devils a year ago, but now Arizona State is healthy and playing solid basketball.
Senior Chad Prewitt, a four-year starter, recorded back-to-back career highs last weekend with 25 and 27 points in Arizona State’s sweep of the Oregon schools. The Sun Devils will also receive help from junior college transfer Curtis Millage, who is becoming more comfortable with the higher level of play, averaging 12.6 points in a team-high 28.6 minutes per game.
8. Oregon State Beavers
(8-6 overall, 1-3 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Ritchie McKay
Player to watch: Philip Ricci, F
Having a healthy Philip Ricci at forward is making a huge difference for this season’s Beavers. Ricci, a junior college transfer, never played a game last year after undergoing preseason arthroscopic knee surgery. He’s now back and has already tallied four double-doubles.
Oregon State also has Brandon Payton this year, after Payton sat out last season due to his transfer from UC-Santa Barbara. But Payton, the half-brother of former Oregon State star Gary Payton, is averaging just under four points a game.
9. Washington State Cougars
(4-8 over
all, 0-4 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Paul Graham
Player to watch: Mike Bush, G
A key for the Cougars will be whether senior shooting guard Mike Bush’s body can hold up after playing a key role as a receiver for Washington State’s Sun Bowl champion football team. In 10 games so far, Bush has averaged 11 points.
The Cougars will also be boosted by the play of sophomore point guard Marcus Moore, but they’ll still have a tough time competing with the Pac-10.
10. Washington Huskies
(6-8 overall, 0-4 Pac-10)
Head Coach: Bob Bender
Player to watch: Doug Wrenn, F
There is some promising homegrown talent on this Huskies team. But it’s going to take another couple of years for these Washington products to shine and win consistently in conference play.
While the play of sophomores Curtis Allen and Doug Wrenn will be exciting to watch, there’s not much that can be done to save Washington from a cellar-dwelling season.