Oregon plays at Arizona in Pac-12's marquee game this week

Published Feb. 10, 2021 2:44 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Things to watch this week in Pac-12 Conference basketball:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Oregon at Arizona, Saturday. Two of the Pac-12's best teams the past few years will be trying to keep pace with UCLA and No. 20 Southern California in the conference race. The Ducks are fourth in the Pac-12 at 5-3, 2 1/2 games behind the Bruins and Trojans, Arizona, which self-imposed a postseason ban, is 7-6 after losing to Colorado and Utah last week. Oregon and Arizona almost always play high-level games, including the Ducks' 73-72 win last February. Oregon has won five straight in the series.

LOOKING AHEAD: Arizona State is hoping to return from a second COVID-19 pause this week against the Oregon schools. ... UCLA and USC play at the Oregon schools as they jockey for the conference lead. ... Colorado, third in the Pac-12 at 9-4, plays at the Northern California schools, as does Utah.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Colorado senior guard McKinley Wright IV needs 11 rebounds to become the first player in Pac-12 history with 1,600 career points, 600 rebounds and 600 assists. He has already joined Oregon's Payton Pritchard as the only conference players with 1,600 points and 600 rebounds. ... USC is ranked for the first time since reaching No. 25 on Dec. 4, 2017. ... Colorado leads the country in free throwing shooting at 83%. The Division I record is 82.2%, set by Harvard in 1983-84.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Evan Mobley, USC. The freshman big man continues to dominate at both ends. He was named the Pac-12 player and freshman of the week after averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots in wins again UCLA And Stanford last week.

ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE: No. 5 Stanford continues to lead the Pac-12 at 14-2, with No. 10 Arizona second at 10-2. The Cardinal play at the Oregon schools this week while the Wildcats host the Washington schools. ... Alissa Pili became the third USC player to be named Pac-12 player of the week after scoring 17 points in a win over Washington and 18 in a win over Washington State. She joins teammates Endyia Rogers and Jordan Sanders to give the Trojans three players of the week for the first time. ... No. 8 UCLA (9-3) plays at Colorado and Utah as it tries to keep Stanford within reach.

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Compiled by AP Basketball Writer John Marshall in Phoenix.

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