(*5 *) C onference play in Pac -12 males’s basketball proceeds with 2 even more video games today.
Utah hosts California, and also Stanford check outs Colorado, in overlapping mid-day matches. The 2 video games in the Mountain area include 4 groups fighting to restore their periods.
I sneak peek both competitions below and also my choices, in addition to those of Stephen Vilardo, show up near the bottom.
California at Utah
California at Utah
Sunday, February 5
3:00 pm PT, ESPNU
W ith their at-large hopes just about snuffed out, Utah aims to come back on the right track versusCalifornia
The injury to second-leading marker Gabe Madsen has actually altered the trajectory of the Utes’ period. Losing such a critical component of Craig Smith’s lineup this late right into the year was a considerable impact to the program.
The group needs to find out exactly how to win without him and also are 0-2 given that he dropped in the initial fifty percent versus Oregon.
Now, the violation runs mostly withLazar Stefanovic The student has actually tried a high-volume 35 shots over the last 2 video games and also the brand-new design of play compels the remainder of the Utah lineup to make up.
And after 2 competitions, the modifications are still being made.
But the ship numbers to be briefly righted versus California.
The Bears will certainly lack leading-scorer Devin Askew after his season-ending surgical treatment while third-leading marker DeJuan Clayton has actually missed out on 2 of the last 3 video games.
Cal is rudderless without a leader and also key risk to rating.
That’s an issue encountering a Utah group with among the elite defenses inCollege Basketball The Utes go into the video game 30th in KenPom’s protective performance statistics and also areNo 6 in basket percent protection.
Matched up versus such a stout team, among the only methods to remain within striking range is outdoors capturing. Mark Fox’s team did it as soon as versus Stanford previously in the year, however can battle to tear down treys in the elevation of Salt Lake City.
Unless the Bears are attaching on their shots from deep, Utah must win by double-digits.
Stanford at Colorado
Stanford at Colorado
Sunday, February 5
4:00 pm PT, FS1
I n among one of the most fascinating matches of the period, Stanford tackles Colorado inBoulder
The Tree are lastly beginning to play up to the assumptions that numerous had of them throughout the preseason.
On a five-game winning touch with success over viewed Bubble Teams Oregon and also Utah, the Cardinal can perhaps verify they are worthy of to be considered as a possible at-large choice.
Harrison Ingram had an off evening in Salt Lake City, yet the student has actually been critical throughout the winning touch. Combined with the uniformity of Maxime Raynaud and also Spencer Jones, Stanford is a harmful group.
Juxtaposed are Tad Boyle and also theBuffs In the middle of a 2-5 stretch, Colorado is trending down.
Part of the battles is because of Boyle’s over-reliance on KJ Simpson and also Tristan daSilva The duo is the only set on CU’s lineup averaging in double-figures and also challengers understand it.
As long as either Simpson or da Silva is interfered with, Colorado has a much reduced possibility of winning.
Making matters even worse, Simpson gets on a chilly touch. The student is 7-for -36 from the area over the last 3 video games consisting of 0-for -10 from deep.
If the Buffs’ leading marker continues to be stuck in his funk, it’s not likely that Colorado will certainly defeat Stanford.
With such an evident protective strategy to concentrate on, look for Jerod Haase to utilize his deepness and also multi-faceted schedules to maintain a fresh gamer on the Colorado duo throughout the video game.
And with a beneficial match in the paint with Raynaud versus Lawson Lovering, Stanford must discover a method to win.
