Pac-10 Men's Hoops
Arizona State vs. No. 22 Arizona
As journalists, we're really supposed to be impartial. It's not that hard when the UA's playing, say, Stanford, a classy program with classy fans. Then there's ASU, a school known only for being a bastion of utter and abject mediocrity. It's like the Paris Hilton of public universities ÷ average-looking, vapid, easy to get into and most famous for making porn videos.
Arizona 102, ASU 80
Pac-10 Women's Hoops
Women's Pac-10 Tournament
Arizona has shown it has the talent to be the best team in the Pac-10. After all, the UA ladies did split the conference title. But they've been less than stellar away from home. It all comes down to whether or not the scrappy, selfless team that plays in McKale Center knows the way to San Jose. I think it does.
Pac-10 tourney champs: Arizona
ACC Men's Hoops
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 UNC
You know that part in "The Passion of the Christ" where Jesus is being whipped (and whipped, and whipped) by the Romans, and the devil is walking around the crowd? Notice how much he looks like Mike Kryzewski? It's no coincidence, folks. Duke could lose, and fall to No. 4. Or the Devils (see?) could win, and jump to No. 1, past two undefeated teams.
UNC 86, DUKE 85
Pac-10 Men's Hoops
No. 1 Stanford vs. Washington
To all those on the Washington bandwagon, fasten your safety belts ÷ the wheels are coming off this weekend. The Huskies haven't beaten a good team (sorry, UA) all year, and the Cardinal won't be the first. Nate Robinson is a great player against UA (24.5 ppg), and a good player overall (12.5 ppg), but he's not going to beat Stanford.
Stanford 82, UW 76
Pac-10 Men's Hoops
Arizona State vs. No. 22 Arizona
I had the privilege of attending the season's first matchup in Tempe. There were so many UA fans who packed Wells Fargo Arena that day, it should have been called McKale Center North ÷ especially at the end of the game. Even if the entire starting five are suspended indefinitely tomorrow, the Wildcats should manage to take care of the Devils again. If not · well, let's just not think about that.
Arizona 90, ASU 67
Pac-10 Women's Hoops
Women's Pac-10 Tournament
As one of the beat writers for the ladies, I must abstain, courteously, from making a prediction. However, the Wildcats have won their last four and their last pair on the road, and have put up their best defensive numbers of the season in the past two weeks. You have to like their chances to make a return trip to the championship game in San Jose.
ACC Men's Hoops
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 UNC
Duke sucks. Sucks, sucks, sucks. But only because they're so good. Actually, they did lose two in a row a couple weeks ago, but how long has it been since the Blue Devils have lost a home game? We're not sure who was president the last time that happened. Duke beat the Tar Heels at Chapel Hill. You have to believe they're going to do the same in Cameron.
Duke 71, UNC 62
Pac-10 Men's Hoops
No. 1 Stanford vs. Washington
Washington swept Arizona this season. But then, so did Stanford. The only difference is that it didn't take a trio of blown calls and a miracle shot in the final seconds for the Huskies to sweep the Wildcats. Stanford won't finish the season undefeated, but that doesn't mean it won't finish the regular season undefeated. Or does it? Yes, it does.
Stanford 64, Washington 52
Pac-10 Men's Hoops
Arizona State vs. No. 22 Arizona
Lost in all the nonsense of things ÷ like how the UA should end its best player's season when it has only six capable players ÷ is the fact that no one knows what's going on at practice, much less in the locker room. Expect Team Turmoil to rally together now, starting with a slapping of the Devils worse than the one Washington women's hoops player Gioconda Mendiola did to ASU's Kylan Loney after their game last week.
Arizona 102, ASU 77
Pac-10 Women's Hoops
Women's Pac-10 Tournament
Speaking of Title IX ball, all 10 UA fans are going wild after the Wildcats' first league title, but simma down a little. The Pac-10 is so weak, that combined with the UA's pathetic non conference schedule, the Wildcats have a strength of schedule ranking of 94 and an RPI of 38. It sorta gives them an asterisk, though not as big a one as Barry Bonds'. Stanford beats Arizona again in the title game.
Pac-10 Champs: Stanford
ACC Men's Hoops
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 UNC
As much as I hate Dickie V. U., for the fans of all that is holy, this game will be as disappointing as the SI swimsuit issue. Always-overrated Duke will run to a No. 1 seed again, and then probably get upset in the Sweet 16.
Duke 81, Carolina 75
Pac-10 Men's Hoops
No. 1 Stanford vs. Washington
The Card caps the regular season with a win over resurgent UW, but since Stanford never does well in the Pac-10 Tournament and the UA owns it (when not taking a dive), Arizona gets the automatic bid. Meanwhile, St. Joe's, who last time I checked was out-rebounded in every game against teams like Fordham and LaSalle, could very well run into a No. 16 seed with an actual frontcourt, and fall.
Stanford 89, Washington 84 (OT)