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No. 13 Oregon at No. 20 USC
Today
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No. 19 Stanford at No. 14 Arizona
Today
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No. 10 Florida at No. 11 Kentucky
Saturday
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No. 1 Kansas at Missouri
Sunday
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No. 3 Duke at North Carolina
Sunday
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Justin St.Germain
Sports Editor
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USC forward Sam Clancy averages 19 ppg. Move the
decimal to the left and you have his GPA. Coincidence?
Maybe, but if the two numbers continue their correlation,
they might just make him re-eligible for the Wooden
after he hangs 40 on Oregon.
USC 88, Oregon 82
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This game should be a barnburner. Look for Michael
Wright to force in a 5-footer over the Collins
twins with time expiring to win it after Richard
Jefferson riles the crowd up by doing another
kick-a-Cardinal-in-the-head dunk … or watch
a bunch of underclassmen start since they all
left early for the NBA.
Arizona 75, Stanford 73
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I feel bad for Florida. Not only have the temptations
of gambling (Teddy Dupay) and the NBA (Kwame Brown)
cost them integral parts of this year's squad,
but they have to travel to Podunk-ass places like
Tennessee and Kentucky for their away games. Sorry
Ashley Judd, but UK's going down. At least she
can still be a CART groupie.
Florida 66, Kentucky 60
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In Kansas earlier this season, the Jayhawks embarrassed
the former No. 2 team in the nation by 32 points.
Now Missouri's unranked and the Jayhawks enter
Columbia atop the NCAA. In this kind of a rivalry,
home-court advantage can mean a 33-point difference.
Kareem will hang 25 on the 'Hawks before he Rush-es
to the developmental leagues with big brother.
Missouri 80, Kansas 79
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The UNC basketball team's so bad this year, even
the football players are embarrassed. Julius Peppers
decided (wisely) not to play bball this season,
and now their quarterback's going to transfer.
If I was Mike Krzyzewski, I'd rest Jason Williams
and Carlos Boozer for this game. I'd also be 5-foot-nothing
and look like an elf.
Duke Final Four, UNC NIT
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Connor Doyle
Staff Writer
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Sam Clancy got booted from Wooden Award consideration
because his GPA fell below 2.0, but he's still
eligible to play. Fabulous. I get a 1.9 GPA, and
the university boots my ass outta here quicker
than you can say "unathletic." At least
colleges have maintained perspective, right? Oh,
by the way, Oregon's losing its last two games.
USC 72, Oregon 65
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Casey Jacobsen is the best shooter in the Pac-10.
Top that off with Julius Barnes, who's cooler
than a polar bear's toenails, and you have what
I consider to be the best backcourt in the Pac.
But Cardinal center Curtis Borchard racks up fouls
like O.J. lops off domes and Arizona's has one
of the deeper frontcourts in the conference.
UZona 91, Stanford 85
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SEC basketball is painful to watch. It's slow,
low scoring and sloppy. But this game actually
matches up the two teams in the conference that
won't force anybody watching to off themselves
before halftime. Tayshaun Prince (you, know, the
guy who looks like Ally McBeal) will dominate
as long as he doesn't get blown away by the arena's
AC, and 'Cats will roll.
Kentucky 54, Florida 43
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The only thing more intense than this rivalry
is driving with Mike Darr. Kareem Rush had a terrible
game against Oklahoma State, but the Tigers won.
Kansas is the class of college basketball, but
the Tigers come into the game looking to cement
a good seed in the Tourney. Clarence Gilbert hits
the buzzer-beater and Columbia turns into Watts
for a night.
Mizzou 81, Kansas 80
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This game used to determine the ACC title. This
season, it's just a great opportunity to smack
on the Heels. Matt Dohertry may think the Dukies
have the ugliest cheerleaders, but I bet a team
of five Duke pommies could work Carolina right
now. Since the real game is going to be a joke,
here's the hypothetical cheerleaders vs. Tar Heels
score.
Duke pommies 51, North Carolina 12
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Brett Fera
staff writer
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It pains me to say that Sam Clancy will rip apart
this Oregon team. He can't make the grade, but
he sure can play. Bluthenthal finally woke up,
and the big two of Southern Cal will do away with
Luke and Luke (Jackson & Ridnour). Oregon
never should have been in this position; now they
will cook.
USC 75, Oregon 69
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This SHOULD showcase 4/5 of the All Pac-10 Team.
Casey and Curtis are managing to keep the Cardinal
above water, and Arizona's Nos. 4 and 22 are ripping
the nets. Gardner runs the show, but Luke SHOULD
win Pac-10 POY. He drops 16, dishes 6 and still
grabs 7 boards per. Balance. Luke drops a triple
double.
Cats 88, Trees 81
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MIA: Keith Bogans. They said this guy could have
played in "The League," but maybe he
didn't think so. Bogans will finally step it up,
but Udonis Haslem won't let anbody ruin his farewell
to Gainesville. It's time to pass the torch, and
superfrosh David Lee is ready. Tubby's troops
get tripped by the trio of Haslem, Nelson and
Bonner.
Florida 71, Kentucky 68
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If this game was during the first week of December,
Kareem Rush, Clarence Gilbert and Afro-man (a.k.a.
MU pg Wesley Stokes) could have brought down the
Jayhawks. KU has matured since then, and Kirk
Hinrich is the most underrated player in the nation.
Drew Gooden and Kansas keeps their No. 1 ranking,
but Mizzou makes it watchable.
Kansas 91, Missouri 81
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The game of the week! ACC POWERHOUSES! Oh wait,
UNC decided to take a year off. It's a shame for
KU's Gooden, Maryland's Juan Dixon, and Cincinatti's
Steve Logan, because Jason Williams will all but
secure his Wooden award today. He will keep on
shooting (just like his namesake), and torch the
Tar Heels for 40 in a rout.
Duke 95, North Carolina 68
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Eliza Tebo
copy cheif
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In the grand tradition of Staff Picks' non-discrimination
policy toward Staff Pick writers, I was asked
as copy chief to bring my sports savvy to the
table - despite the fact that I haven't had P.E.
since sixth grade and haven't watched a game since
the Bulls stole the NBA title from the Suns back
in 92? (95? 88?). Uh, yeah.
USC 96, Oregon 6
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Richard Jefferson once walked the halls of my
high school! If he were still playing for Arizona,
I'd mention (true story) how my Moon Valley High
principal once read him a Dr. Seuss story in front
of the entire school while he sat on our gymnasium
floor, gazing at her with a Burger King crown
on his head. But I won't.
Arizona 87, Stanford 42
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OK, who said Kentucky could steal our mascot?
And someone really needs to do something about
the college scrollbar on the homepage of the FansOnly.com
Web site ("Web site": two words, first
word capitalized). It takes me a good minute and
a half to find and click on a team. I'm gonna
have to go with the Wildcats on this one.
Kentucky 102, Florida 98.7
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Hmm … if sheer gorgeousness is in any way
related to performance, I'm guessing the Tigers
are taking this one. Six feet and 6 inches of
pure Kareem Rush is what I'm asking my folks for
this Christmas.
Kansas 68, Missouri 65
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All right, here comes some made-up sports jargon:
The Tar Heels will gussy themselves up Sunday
to crack the Blue Devils' egg onto the frying
pan. But, in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils
are sure to frequent the hoop relentlessly to
effect a triumph. Sorry Tar Heels: Any team whose
name connotes feet should know it's gonna get
kicked.
Duke 134, UNC 30
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