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Cal, USC women look for redemption
A couple of women's teams shot themselves in the foot last week and have a lot riding on this week's Pac-10 tournament.The Cal women blew a share of the Pac-10 title by losing the regular-season finale at so-so Washington. The Bears will make the NCAA tourney but this weekend's tournament in San Jose allows them to define their season. It will be very distasteful if they lose to ASU in the semifinals or it could go back to beautiful blue (and gold) if they beat the Devils and dump Stanford in the championship game. Can Devanei Hampton and Ashley Walker right the listing Bear ship?
The other stumbler was USC. The Trojans were hanging on to a ticket for March Madness but a loss at OSU was followed up by a blown lead at home last weekend to weak Arizona and a defeat in their finale at the hands of ASU. That pushes Mark Trakh's women back to where they painfully stood last year: out of the Big Dance. They have one more hope and that's to beat some of the top teams (ASU, Cal, Stanford) this weekend. They'll need to begin tourney action by beating angry rival UCLA one more time. And don't think the Bruins will be an easy opponent, as they are quite ornery after several close losses to SC the last few years.
On the men's side, Stanford faces UCLA tonight and a win in Pauley would move them into a first-place tie (but don't overlook the tough game Saturday for the Cardinal at USC). UCLA and Stanford, along with WSU and USC, are locks for the NCAA tourney. Arizona and ASU are looking good but not certain, and Cal and Oregon are basically thinking NIT.
Men's Hoops Power Rankings
1. UCLA (26-3 overall, 14-2 Pac-10): Cats couldn't stop Kevin Love inside. Bruins center scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in 68-66 UCLA victory.
2. Stanford (24-4, 13-3): Everyone who predicted a 24-4 season and a final week title showdown for Stanford, raise your hand.
3. Washington State (22-7, 10-7): Wazzu sharp in 70-49 win at Cal but blowing 33-20 lead in 60-53 loss in Maples is disturbing.
4. USC (18-10, 9-7): Trojans unhappy about being whistled for 28 fouls (to ASU's 14) and free throw disparity (39-11) in 80-66 loss.
5. Arizona (17-12, 7-9): Discord in Tucson. Lute Olson says he's coming back next year, after many felt it was assistant coach Kevin O'Neill's team this year and thereafter. Look for O'Neill to depart.
Women's Hoops Power Rankings
1. Stanford (27-3 overall, 16-2 Pac-10): Candice Wiggins set all-time Pac-10 scoring record against WSU in Pullman though only 675 (maybe) were there to see it.
2. Cal (24-5, 15-3): Huskies were 8-for-15 on treys in their 74-66 upset of Cal to deny UC share of title.
3. Arizona State (20-9, 14-4): Devils happy as clams with L.A. sweep, bouncing UCLA 73-67 and USC 65-57.
4. USC (17-12, 10-8): Leading scorer Nadia Parker (12.4 points per game) went down with knee injury eight minutes into Arizona game and Trojans blew 29-21 halftime lead in 64-62 loss.
5. UCLA (15-14, 10-8): Lindsey Pluimer scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds in 80-70 win over Arizona; can she score against USC in Pac-10 tourney quarterfinal Saturday night?
Pac-10 Men's Basketball Pics
Thursday, Stanford at UCLA: Pic: UCLA by 8. When spotlight is on, Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook will shine and the Cardinal will fall.
Saturday, Stanford at USC: Pic: Stanford by 2. Crucial game to Cardinal momentum. Don't want to enter Pac-10 tourney on a slide, then maybe get bounced in semifinals there too. Watch the Lopez brothers fight it out with Taj Gibson.
Pac-10 Women's Basketball Pics
Sunday tournament semifinal: Pic: ASU over Cal by 6. Bears have been struggling for months and need to relocate early-season magic.
Sunday tournament semifinal: Stanford over USC by 8. If Trojans get past Bruins, they could let it all hang out against Stanford. But SU is sharper these days and SC won't have any rabbits to pull out of their hat.
Monday tournament final: Pic: Stanford over ASU by 13. Cardinal closing season with a flourish, will roll Devils in San Jose.
E-mail Gordon Kass at gordonkass@hotmail.com.
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