What possible clue did we have that the PAC-12 (or PAC-10 as TBS announcer Kevin Harlan kept saying during the OSU*2 game last night) was improved this year? Maybe we weren't at the start, but got coached up? There was next to nothing non-conference-wise to use as a basis of comparison:
Best opportunities: ASU at Villanova (L), CU @ Kansas St (W) Tenn (L), UO vs Seton Hall (W) Missouri (L), Stan vs Alabama (W), North Carolina (L) Indiana (L), UW vs Baylor (L), Utah @ BYU (L), UCLA: Ohio St (L), San Diego St (L), USC vs BYU (W) vs UCONN (L)
UA: Best non-conf win: E Wash Worst non-conf loss: None
Quick note: the guy playing for ASU is Josh Christopher, not Patrick. (I'm sure that was on accident, and not to rub in our recruiting woes, right? Right?)
Pretty exciting to have four Pac-12 teams in the Sweet Sixteen. Mostly we are rolling over clearly inferior teams. No more basketball though for a couple of days.
This article gets at exactly what I was thinking: this year, with the smaller number of non-conference games, ranking the conferences by strength was going to be much harder. The Pac-12 was undervalued going in to the tournament (though probably still had the right number of teams selected).
What's been impressive about the Pac-12 in this tourney so far, is that most of these games haven't even been particularly close in what has otherwise been a pretty tightly contested tourney. On the opposite side, I'm interested in what the takeaway should be with the Big-10 mostly wetting the bed. We had been told that the Big-10 this year was one of the best conferences ever. I expect at least one of Iowa and Michigan will be done after tonight. Side note: The Beavers are playing Loyola-Chicago, not LMU.
What's been impressive about the Pac-12 in this tourney so far, is that most of these games haven't even been particularly close in what has otherwise been a pretty tightly contested tourney. On the opposite side, I'm interested in what the takeaway should be with the Big-10 mostly wetting the bed. We had been told that the Big-10 this year was one of the best conferences ever. I expect at least one of Iowa and Michigan will be done after tonight. Side note: The Beavers are playing Loyola-Chicago, not LMU.
Absolutely. One thing that has stood out watching the Tourney so far is how athletic these teams are. The good teams have tall and long guys that look like Kuany size-wise, move and defend like Joel, and shoot it like Grant...the Bears could really use an infusion of athleticism. With that in mind, keep your eye on incoming FR Sam Alajiki. More athleticism across the board should help Cal close the gap...eventually.
What possible clue did we have that the PAC-12 (or PAC-10 as TBS announcer Kevin Harlan kept saying during the OSU*2 game last night) was improved this year? Maybe we weren't at the start, but got coached up? There was next to nothing non-conference-wise to use as a basis of comparison:
Best opportunities: ASU at Villanova (L), CU @ Kansas St (W) Tenn (L), UO vs Seton Hall (W) Missouri (L), Stan vs Alabama (W), North Carolina (L) Indiana (L), UW vs Baylor (L), Utah @ BYU (L), UCLA: Ohio St (L), San Diego St (L), USC vs BYU (W) vs UCONN (L)
UA: Best non-conf win: E Wash Worst non-conf loss: None
ASU: Win: Rhode Island Loss: UTEP
Cal: Win: USF Loss: Pepperdine
Stan: Win: Alabama Loss: North Carolina
CU: Win: Kansas St Loss: Tennessee
Utah: Win: Idaho St Loss: BYU
UO: Win: Seton Hall Loss: Missouri
OSU: Win: Cal* Loss: Portland *yes, non-conf
UCLA: Win: Marquette Loss: San Diego St
USC: Win: BYU Loss: UConn
UW: Win: Seattle Loss: Montana
WSU: Win: E Wash Loss: None
Great, thoughtful take, as always.
Quick note: the guy playing for ASU is Josh Christopher, not Patrick. (I'm sure that was on accident, and not to rub in our recruiting woes, right? Right?)
According to SI...Jason Kidd earned his degree. Just sayin'...
https://www.si.com/college/cal/basketball/kidd-interests-unlv
Pretty exciting to have four Pac-12 teams in the Sweet Sixteen. Mostly we are rolling over clearly inferior teams. No more basketball though for a couple of days.
Oh, well. The Pac-12's undefeated run was nice while it lasted. Colorado is losing to FSU. 65-48, under 3 minutes left.
UCLA over Abilene Christian 31-19 with 0:20 remaining in the 1st half.
Oregon absolutely smoked Iowa. Pretty darn impressive.
This article gets at exactly what I was thinking: this year, with the smaller number of non-conference games, ranking the conferences by strength was going to be much harder. The Pac-12 was undervalued going in to the tournament (though probably still had the right number of teams selected).
What's been impressive about the Pac-12 in this tourney so far, is that most of these games haven't even been particularly close in what has otherwise been a pretty tightly contested tourney. On the opposite side, I'm interested in what the takeaway should be with the Big-10 mostly wetting the bed. We had been told that the Big-10 this year was one of the best conferences ever. I expect at least one of Iowa and Michigan will be done after tonight. Side note: The Beavers are playing Loyola-Chicago, not LMU.
What's been impressive about the Pac-12 in this tourney so far, is that most of these games haven't even been particularly close in what has otherwise been a pretty tightly contested tourney. On the opposite side, I'm interested in what the takeaway should be with the Big-10 mostly wetting the bed. We had been told that the Big-10 this year was one of the best conferences ever. I expect at least one of Iowa and Michigan will be done after tonight. Side note: The Beavers are playing Loyola-Chicago, not LMU.
Loyola Chicago, not LMU
Absolutely. One thing that has stood out watching the Tourney so far is how athletic these teams are. The good teams have tall and long guys that look like Kuany size-wise, move and defend like Joel, and shoot it like Grant...the Bears could really use an infusion of athleticism. With that in mind, keep your eye on incoming FR Sam Alajiki. More athleticism across the board should help Cal close the gap...eventually.