Miller: Week 14 Saturday Men's Hoops Previews

Miller: Week 14 Saturday Men’s Hoops Previews

The Pac-12 race is now wide open after USC's double-digit loss to Colorado on Thursday

recent 6 min read

Posted on February 27, 2021


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

The tables have turned.

Just a few days ago, it appeared that the race for the Regular Season Championship was USC’s to lose, but now it’s wide open after the Trojans lost by double-digits to Colorado on Thursday.

The result moved the Bruins into sole possession of first place as they prepare to face the Buffs in a game that could change the dynamic of the fight. But Mick Cronin and his team still have to face Oregon in Eugene next week, and end the regular season with a rematch against USC.

And lurking in the back, don’t forget about the Ducks. Dana Altman and Chris Duarte guided Oregon to a quality road win over Stanford, maintaining pace with the Trojans after USC’s stumble in Boulder.

I preview all of Saturday’s games here, and my picks, along with Nick Bartlett’s, appear at the bottom.

Washington at Arizona

11:00 am PT, CBS

The Wildcats’ offense struggled in the first half against Washington State as Sean Miller’s team adjusted to a rotation without Kerr Kriisa. But the freshman from Estonia should be back in the lineup against the Dawgs, though senior Terrell Brown Jr. put together an eight-assist-to-one-turnover night in his absence.

With a roster at full strength, Arizona could be too much for Washington to handle. Yet, UW’s second game against Arizona State was much closer than expected, as the Huskies hit 11 threes and snagged 11 offensive rebounds. But Mike Hopkins’ zone was easily exploited by the UA guards in Seattle, and there’s little reason to think that will change, even if UW mixes in some man defense.

And on Senior Day, it’s going to be an even tougher challenge for the Dawgs to overcome.

Oregon at California

1:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

Looking to secure the Bay Area sweep, the Ducks take on the Bears, who are reeling from a disappointing loss to Oregon State. Matt Bradley had a chance to tie or win the game as time expired, but mishandled the ball as he drove to the basket, enabling the Beavers to pull out the win.

Nobody is giving Mark Fox’s team a chance in this matchup, potentially opening the door for a closer-than-expected contest if the Ducks overlook Cal. Yet, Oregon is gunning for the Regular Season title and remains in a fight for an at-large bid, making a defeat at Haas Pavilion an unlikely possibility.

But if Bradley can score 25 points or more while limiting turnovers, it’s not out of the question for this game to be within a handful of possessions with under ten minutes remaining in the second half.

In the end, the talent discrepancy on the Oregon roster should win out, resulting in a double-digit victory.

Oregon State at Stanford

3:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

The Tree are officially on the outside of the bubble looking in. The recent defeats to Washington State and Oregon have moved the Cardinal from one of the Last Four In to one of the Last Four Out. There are still opportunities to ensure they are in the field of 68, but a loss to Oregon State today would almost certainly end that dream.

Oscar da Silva remains questionable for the matchup, and his absence was arguably the difference against the Ducks on Thursday. But Ziaire Williams should have a better game against OSU the second time around, after the freshman scored just six points in Corvallis at the start of January.

Jerod Haase could need Williams to step up against the Beavers, as OSU seeks just its second road sweep of the Pac-12 Era.

No. 19 USC at Utah

5:00 pm PT, ESPN2

The Pac-12 Regular Season Championship could slip away from USC with a defeat in Salt Lake City. The stumble in Boulder wasn’t unexpected, considering CU’s strength at home and the win the Buffs already had over the Trojans in LA.

But this is a game Andy Enfield’s team can’t lose. With remaining matchups against Stanford and UCLA next week, a loss to Utah could keep USC from winning its first Conference title since 1984-85.

It’s easy to point fingers in losses and blame the coaching staff, but getting bigs like Evan Mobley going is not as easy as it seems. Opponents know the key to beating USC is stopping Mobley, and big-men don’t handle the ball every possession the way guards do.

In that sense, given the common twitter response of, “Just get the ball to Mobley,” it would be apt to point out the inefficient games of Tahj Eaddy and Drew Peterson’s in Boulder.

For Mobley to play his best, the Trojan guards need to do their parts as well.

Washington State at Arizona State

6:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

Isaac Bonton was nowhere near 100 percent against Arizona on Thursday, and it showed. Compounded with a poor shooting night from Noah Williams, WSU never had a chance in the second half.

But Saturday is a new day, and Arizona State presents a more manageable defensive scheme to attack. Remy Martin has been on fire since Josh Christopher went out after sustaining a back injury against Oregon, scoring 23 points or more in every game since.

If Kyle Smith’s defense can slow him down, the Cougars could be in position to win in the waning minutes of the game. But if Martin goes off for 31 as he did against UW, Washington State may as well start warming up the buses at halftime.

Still, the X-Factor might be the battle between Dishon Jackson and Efe Abogidi against Kimani Lawrence. The ASU forward has been playing his best basketball of the season over the past three games. If the Cougar bigs shut him down, WSU may have a chance.

UCLA at Colorado

7:00 pm PT, ESPN2

The Game of the Day in the Pac-12 features two of its best teams. The Bruins are in first place in the standings, while the Buffs are humming after an 18-point drilling of the former first place Trojans.

The result of this clash of titans will go far in shaping the final week of the conference season, with UCLA able to give itself a leg up on USC and Oregon with a victory in Boulder. And Mick Cronin and his team already know what it takes to beat CU, having emerged victorious in LA by three in January.

But that game was in the friendly confines of Pauley Pavilion, not the altitude of the Rocky Mountains, and Jeriah Horne had just ten points on 3-of-9 shooting. That figures to change this time around, after the grad transfer posted six threes and 24 points on USC just two days ago.