The last of the major conferences to embrace the conference tournament was the Pac-10. Once again, the tourney is being held in a media center in Los Angeles. Unfortunately many of the games will have a crowd flavor similar to a Big South finale. In other words, plenty of good seats still available. This conference really only has two spots locked up for the NCAA tournament with UCLA and Washington. Some feel California has to win at least one game and Arizona can only help its cause with a victory.

Opening Round
 
Arizona State and Oregon State start the festivities in LA-LA land. Both teams come into the contest with a quantity both have been sorely lacking since Pac-10 play started, a victory. The Beavers gnawed away at in-state rival Oregon, to win for just the second time since January 21. OSU has been troubled since senior point guard Lamar Hurd went down. The Sun Devils have not shown much again as Coach Rob Evans may be living on borrowed time with talent challenged squad. OSU was 2-10 in road games, but 2-1 in neutral site confrontations. ASU swept the Beavers in the regular season and goes for the trifecta. Sun Devils Kevin Kruger could be the difference making nearly three shots beyond the arc a game.
Advantage-Arizona State

This contest features a coach in trouble vs. another who is making his swan song. Ernie Kent’s team had much higher expectations coming into the season. Due to inconsistent defense, poor 3-point shooting and free throw shooting, these Ducks never got out of the water. Oregon was 9th in 3-ball accuracy and last in free throw competence. Watching Washington State, it is really challenging to determine if the offense is truly awful or if the defense is pretty good. The Cougars were the Pac Ten’s top defense team, yet were in one of the last three positions in every offense category. Oregon swept Wazzou and is only 4-9 ATS as a favorite. This is one game you can’t blame the fair weather fans of L.A. if they don’t care.
Advantage – Oregon

Quarter-Finals

Top seeded UCLA is far and away the league’s best team with stifling defense and great guard play. The Bruins held opponents to 42.5% and were 2nd in rebounding at +5 rebound margin. The Bruins beat Arizona State twice, failing to cover both times. Look for the same scenario to play out again.
Advantage – UCLA

Arizona forward Hassan Adams was suspended Monday by coach Lute Olson for the Pac-10 Tournament after the senior was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving following the Wildcats loss to Washington on Senior Day. This spells real trouble for Lute Olson’s team who could use a least one more win despite the pedigree. Stanford’s only way to avoid the NIT is to win the Pac-10 tourney. With that dream out the window, beating Arizona is not. C Matt Haryasz can play with the Arizona big people and now shooters Dan Grunfeld and Chris Hernandez have more room to work without Adams available. Cardinal 7-4 ATS on the road to put Arizona out of its misery in this lost season.
Advantage – Stanford

California and USC hook up for the second time in six days. The Bears showed resiliency in putting OT loss to UCLA behind them and taking care of the Trojans by 11 two days later. USC has found no answers for the Cal defense, shooting 37.3% and 29.5%. Tim Floyd is doing great things in turning around this tepid program, however since the loss of Gabe Pruitt the offense has suffered. California wins in hard fought contest.
Advantage – California

Washington pulled an Austin Powers and got their ‘mojo’ back and has reeled off 8 straight victories. The Huskies are back to playing hustling defense and creating opportunities for the fast break. Washington is not visually impressive, falling behind allowing easy baskets. Then out nowhere a couple of three balls and two quick steals and Washington just hung a 10-0 run on an opponent. Both previous games went Under, this one might not, as Huskies run down the Ducks.
Advantage – Washington

Semi-Finals

Stanford will fell good after beating Arizona, however UCLA brings quite another challenge. The previous two other games had the Bruins winning by 17 points and 21 less then a week ago. Trent Johnson team will be fired up and UCLA may be thinking about title game, in the end the Bruins win, possibly not covering potential inflated spread.
Advantage – UCLA

These teams split during the regular season. The key figure in this match-up is big Leon Powe for the Bears. If the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder has his way like he did in the first game and for half of the second contest, the Bears can pull the upset. The Huskies will exhibit too much speed for the more powerful California contingent and win pulling away in the last five minutes.
Advantage – Washington

Finals

This should be an outstanding game with the underdog Huskies pulling the minor upset. The Bruins do have scoring droughts and with Washington playing up to pre-season expectations, they can pull ahead by 8 to 10 points and take UCLA’s best shot. Coach Lorenzo Romar has team relishing underdog role and capture the crown.
Pac-10 Champions – Washington

Darkhorse – California
Spoiler – Stanford
Bubble Teams – California and Arizona

Odds to win Pac-10 (by SportsBook.net)

UCLA 6-5
Washington  7-4
California  9-2
Arizona 8-1
Field 5-1