This week we get some rivalry matchups and a heavy dose of Mountain West video games that might show huge down the stretch.
While that convention might even see some separation on the prime within the subsequent week, the Pac-12 will see some groups probably duking it out in the midst of the standings going head-to-head.
In the West Coast Conference, it’s nonetheless Gonzaga’s area. But the Zags will go to a few groups this week that could be inching nearer. And if they need to show they’re then this week is the week to do it.
Here are some intriguing matchups for the approaching week.
Colorado State at Nevada
Colorado State at Nevada
Wednesday, January 4
7:30 pm PST, FS1
Nevada appears to be like like a staff that might problem in a really aggressive Mountain West.
The Rams have at occasions this season seemed like they might be a staff to reckon with, regardless of being a bit up and down within the non-conference.
Jarod Lucas is coming off a career-high and is averaging 17.4 factors per sport this season. The Wolf Pack assault the rim and get to the fouls stripe, 26.0% of their factors have come from the FT line.
CSU is seeing 16.1% of opponents’ factors come from the stripe as they’re 91st within the nation with a foul dedicated on 22.4% of possessions. The Rams are second within the NCAA with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.73.
Washington State at Arizona State
Washington State at Arizona State
Thursday, January 5
5:00 pm PST, Pac-12
This is an attention-grabbing matchup in the truth that Washington State seemed good final week selecting up a win over USC and taking UCLA to the wire, shedding by one.
Pulling the street upset over Arizona State will likely be tough. The Cougars have gained three of the final 5 conferences between the groups in Tempe, nonetheless.
Against USC the Cougs knocked down 14 three-pointers. TJ Bamba leads WSU this season in scoring at 15.9 factors per sport and three of the 4 gamers averaging over 10 factors per contest for WSU are guards with Joe Mullins and Justin Powell becoming a member of.
The three have mixed to shoot 44.3% from the sector this season.
ASU has been stingy on protection, particularly in opposition to guards. The Sun Devils are limiting opposing backcourt gamers to simply 33% from the sector.
USC at No. 10 UCLA
USC at No. 10 UCLA
Thursday, January 5
6:30 pm PST, ESPN
UCLA owns the sixth-longest win streak within the nation at 10 video games.
The Bruins gained the final two conferences between the groups, however USC has gained six of the final 9 between the rivals and owns a four-game win streak in video games performed on the Galen Center.
The Trojans will want to play a stable sport in the event that they hope to proceed that streak. UCLA is third within the nation with 9.2 extra scoring probabilities per sport than opponents.
USC is getting 2.3 fewer scoring probabilities per sport than opponents, and that –2.3 mark ranks 271st within the nation.
The Trojans are blocking 9.4% of opponents’ discipline objective makes an attempt, the thirteenth-best within the nation whereas the Bruins are solely seeing 4.2% of their photographs come again at them.
Something has to give there.
The Bruins enter this one with momentum and ought to be the favourite, however within the rivalry, you by no means know.
No. 9 Gonzaga at San Francisco
No. 9 Gonzaga at San Francisco
Thursday, January 5
8:00 pm PST, ESPN2
This is a sport I had on my radar for the reason that begin of the season. It has misplaced a few of its luster with San Francisco off to an 0-2 begin to convention play.
The Dons loss at Santa Clara was not a foul loss, the one at residence to San Diego whereas giving up 48 within the second half was a little bit of a shock. Gonzaga has gained 24 in a row over the Dons and 27 of the final 28.
USF will want to shoot the three like they did in opposition to Arizona State if they need a win on this one. 40.4% of San Francisco’s factors this season have come off of threes, the Tenth-highest fee within the nation. The Zags are permitting opponents to shoot 31.7% on threes.
Gonzaga has gained 33 straight video games within the month of January.
Stanford at California
Stanford at California
Friday, January 6
6:00 pm PST, ESPNU
Stanford and Cal have cut up their final 16 evenly. Last season the groups cut up their two conferences with the house staff successful every time. In the 2 conferences to rating 199 factors in whole.
Last 12 months within the loss in Berkeley, Stanford made simply 12 discipline targets. Cal obtained their second win of the season over Colorado final outing in a sport they led all however 26 seconds.
The Cardinal had been swept by the Mountain colleges final weekend, dropping each video games by eight factors whole.
This one is a rivalry, although, and who is aware of what may occur in a giant rivalry sport.
Nevada at San Jose State
Saturday, January 7
1:00 pm PST, Mountain West
This has unexpectedly changed into a pivotal early season matchup within the Mountain West.
San Jose State opened Mountain West play 2-0 for the primary time ever after successful their first convention sport for the primary time for the reason that 2013-14 season. The Spartans are eighth within the nation with a complete rebound fee of 56.1%.
Nevada is 334th within the nation with an offensive rebound fee of 20.0% whereas the Spartans are getting 81.4% of defensive rebounds out there, the fourth-highest fee within the nation.
Utah State at Boise State
Utah State at Boise State
Saturday, January 7
3:30 pm PST, FS1
This is an attention-grabbing matchup as strengths will go head-to-head.
Boise State enters the week main the Conference and 14th within the nation permitting 59.4 factors per sport. Utah State enters the week averaging 83.8 factors per sport, additionally 14th-best within the nation.
The Broncos have rebounded effectively all season and have restricted second-chance factors for opponents with a defensive rebound fee of over 80%. The Aggies enter the week taking pictures an NCAA-leading 43.1% on three-pointers.
Obviously, if the threes are happening then there is not going to be many probabilities for Boise State to seize the defensive boards, however the misses may trigger some lengthy rebounds and it may change the video games.
Boise State is hard in opposition to photographs, although, as they’re limiting opponents to 37.8% from the ground.
Oregon at Utah
Oregon at Utah
Saturday, January 7
4:00 pm PST, Pac-12
All 4 of the video games between the Oregon colleges and the Mountain colleges this week might be on this record fairly truthfully. They are intriguing and will actually go both manner.
If I had been to choose them—and you may see my picks in Dane’s article—I’d say these two are successful the weekday video games, however nothing is assured with Utah, and Oregon struggles in Boulder.
So having mentioned that, this one may tackle extra which means as two groups that appear to be they might be preventing it out for the highest of the second tier within the Pac-12.
Utah is limiting opponents to 36.0% from the sector, the fourth-best mark in America. The Ducks are taking pictures 45.3% from the ground. Both groups are defending the rim with the Ducks blocking 9.0% of FG makes an attempt, Twenty first within the nation, and Utah is simply behind them at 8.9%.
UNLV at No. 21 New Mexico
UNLV at No. 21 New Mexico
Saturday, January 7
6:30 pm PST, CBS Sports
UNLV forces turnovers and New Mexico retains a maintain of the ball.
The Lobos, who misplaced their first sport on Wednesday to Fresno State, are turning the ball over on 15.6% of their possessions, the Thirty fourth-best mark within the nation. The Rebels are second within the nation, forcing a turnover on 28.0% of possessions.
As a outcome, the Rebels common 6.2 extra scoring probabilities per sport than opponents, seventeenth within the nation. UNM is getting 2.8 extra scoring alternatives per sport than opponents.
The Lobos have extra offensive firepower and UNLV may have to cope with that. New Mexico will get the ball inside as 28.4% of their shot makes an attempt have been three-pointers, which is the Twenty first-fewest fee within the nation.
Oregon State at Colorado(*9*)
Oregon State at Colorado(*9*)Saturday, January 7
6:30 pm PST, Pac-12
Both groups may have a midweek sport, with the Buffs internet hosting Oregon and OSU at Utah.
This is a giant sport for each groups whatever the end result within the first video games of the week. Both groups can view this sport as one they will win.
For the Beavers, it is happening the street and stealing a win. For the Buffs, it’s holding serve at residence and never shedding the benefit they gained with the street win at Stanford.
The loss at Cal additionally should nonetheless sting for CU and so they can’t afford to drop winnable video games at residence.
No. 9 Gonzaga at Santa Clara
Saturday, January 7
7:00 pm PST, Root Sports
Gonzaga has gained 89 consecutive video games over nonconference opponents and by the point this one ideas off, that streak might be at 90.
Santa Clara has seemed like a staff that might give the Zags a run. A 3-point loss to Saint Mary’s prevented the Broncos from a 2-0 convention begin.
But heading into their mid-week tilt with Pepperdine, SC has gained 10 of their final 12 and has a reputable scorer in Brandin Podziemski has averaged 18.8 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sector in his final 4 video games.
Gonzaga is 45-2 within the final 47 conferences between the 2 groups. The Zags are taking pictures 61.4% on non-blocked two-point FGs and their inside play could show an excessive amount of for Santa Clara, with Gonzaga taking pictures an NCAA-leading 52.6% from the ground.
Nevada at San Diego State
Tuesday, January 10
8:00 pm PST, CBS Sports
This one is every week away, so quite a lot of issues could change between this writing and the tip-off, however every week out this one has the texture of an excellent one.
The Aztecs have a visit to Wyoming prior to this contest whereas Nevada hosts Colorado State and heads to San Jose, one other potential assembly of undefeated groups.
On the court docket, SDSU will get after it on the defensive and the Wolf Pack will knock get to the free-throw line and knock them down.
The Aztecs are discovering their stride and Matt Bradley picked issues up on the offensive finish final week for them averaging 25.0 factors per sport final week.
