College Basketball

Rivals USC and UCLA highlight week in the Pac-12

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:40 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

A look at things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEK: USC at UCLA. The season has not turned out the way either team expected, but this is a rivalry game and there's still something at stake. At 8-7 in conference, the Trojans and Bruins are just a half-game behind Utah for fourth in the Pac-12. That's significant because the top four teams get an opening-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament two weeks from now in Las Vegas. USC won the first meeting 80-67 at home behind 21 points each by Bennie Boatwright and Nick Rakocevic.

LOOKING AHEAD: Washington has clinched at least a share of the Pac-12 regular-season title and a first-round bye in the conference, entering this week with a 3½-game lead. The Huskies can clinch the title outright with a win over California or Stanford, or any loss by Arizona State and Oregon State. Washington moved into the AP Top 25 at No. 25 this week.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Stanford's Josh Sharma is shooting .701, currently fifth on the Pac-12's all-time list. ... Nine teams are still in contention for first-round byes in the Pac-12 Tournament and 11 of 12 spots will be determined over the final two weeks. ... Cal is 0-15 in conference and has lost 16 straight games. The Bears play the Washington schools this week.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Matisse Thybulle, Washington. The Huskies' long-armed senior guard was named the Pac-12 player of the week after averaging 13.5 points, 6.0 steals, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks. Thybulle leads Division I with 3.56 steals per game and is 20th with 2.30 blocks — the only player in the top 50 in both.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: The Pac-12 women's race will come down to three teams over the regular season's final two week. No. 6 Oregon leads at 14-2, with No. 7 Stanford and No. 9 Oregon State a game back at 13-3. The Ducks and Beavers play the two Arizona schools this week. The Cardinal are at the Washington schools.

share

Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

College Basketball

Pacific-12

Pac-12

USC Trojans

USC Trojans