Feb 28, 2008

Desert deciders this weekend

By Gordon Kass / Daily News Correspondent

A raft of questions will be answered this weekend in the Arizona desert. Can the UCLA men maintain their hold on first place? Can USC, Arizona and ASU keep their NCAA tourney hopes alive with good weekends or will someone slip back to the bubble or behind it?

Tonight's action begins with USC visiting up-and-down Arizona and UCLA checking into Tempe to see ASU. The Bruins have a one-game lead over Stanford and neither this stop nor the Saturday contest in Tucson will be easy. UCLA pounded both schools in L.A. earlier this year (84-51 over ASU and 82-60 over U of A) but the Devils and Wildcats are much better than that and will show strongly at home. Can the Bruins maintain their league lead before final-week play has the Cardinal visiting Los Angeles?

USC and Arizona are in good shape for the NCAA tourney, and ASU is in decent shape. However, a shaky finish could slide any of the three out of the mix. The head-to-head headbangers this weekend could leave any of them at 0-2. Or 2-0.

Looking ahead to the NCAA tourney, UCLA is currently in line for a No. 1 or 2 seed, with Stanford likely a No. 3. Washington State has slipped to about a No. 6. Arizona (No. 7) and USC (No. 8) are in good shape and ASU is in the most precarious position, looking at a No. 11 or No. 12.

On the women's side, Stanford sits comfortably with a No. 2 seed, Cal is looking at a No. 3 and underachieving Arizona State is about a No. 7 (and it would do them good to not get swept in L.A. this weekend). USC is barely in the tourney with a No. 12 slot. A victory over ASU and a trip to the Pac-10 tourney semifinals are highly recommended for the Trojans, who just missed out last year and would hate to revisit that scenario.



Men's Power Rankings

1. UCLA (24-3 overall, 12-2 Pac-10): Kevin Love apologized to teammates for being "out of it" in 75-65 win over Oregon on Saturday. While at a "low-energy level," he still scored 15 points and grabbed 11 boards.

2. Stanford (22-4, 11-3): Mitch Johnson sharp with third-best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.16) in Pac-10.

3. Washington State (21-6, 9-6): Cougs held ASU to 33.3 percent shooting (59-47 win) but allowed Arizona to hit 50 percent (65-55 loss).

4. Arizona (17-10, 7-7): After upset loss at UW, Zona was desperate in Pullman. And Jerryd Bayless paved the way, scoring all 20 of his points in the second half in 65-55 victory.

5. USC (17-9, 8-6): SC was in big hole to Oregon (trailing 50-37 early in second half) but O.J. Mayo (32 points, 5-of-7 on treys) led them out of it and to important 81-75 win.



Women's Power Rankings

1. Stanford (25-3 overall, 14-2 Pac-10): Candice Wiggins struggled with four fouls and 4-for-19 shooting but she made the big steal and hoop with 2:47 left and a subsequent jumper that led the way in 60-58 win over Cal.

2. Cal (23-4, 14-2): Devanei Hampton and Ashley Walker combined to sink 15-of-27 shots for 36 points and 24 rebounds but the backcourt duo of Natasha Vital and Alexis Gray-Lawson connected on just 5-of-28 shots.

3. Arizona State (18-9, 12-4): Easy to feel good when you play 4-22 WSU. Devils held Cougs to lowest tally in Pac-10 history (59-30).

4. USC (17-10, 10-6): Nadia Parker's buzzer-beating hoop waved off by referees in controversial finish of 55-54 loss at Oregon State.

5. UCLA (14-13, 9-7): Bruins barely edged weak OSU 55-52 and lost at Oregon 66-55. Bye-bye NCAA tourney chances.



Men's Pics

Thursday: USC at Arizona: Pic: Arizona by 5. Daniel Hackett claims he'll be back from injury to play for the Trojans but he's not likely fit enough to shut down Bayless or really attack the Zona defense.

Saturday: WSU at Stanford: Pic: Stanford by 2. Cougs could really use at least a split this weekend. This should be a fun game to watch (1 p.m. on Fox Sports Net) as Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver take on the Lopez family and friends.



Women's Pics

Saturday: ASU at USC: Pic: USC by 5. Brunch with basketball and tune in to Fox Sports Net at 11 a.m. Trojans basically playing better basketball than Devils, who have not fully put it together all season.



E-mail Gordon Kass at gordonkass2@hotmail.com