Oregon State Beavers vs. Arizona Wildcats (-3, 146.5)
THE STORY: Oregon State has won two games in the Pac-12 tournament for the first time since 1988 and seeks to continue its improbable run against Arizona in Friday’s semifinals at Los Angeles. The ninth-seeded Beavers defeated Washington State in the opening round and then upset top-seeded Washington in the quarterfinals to boost their winning streak to four. The fourth-seeded Wildcats defeated UCLA in the quarterfinals and probably have to win the tournament to receive an NCAA tournament bid.
ABOUT OREGON STATE (19-13): Junior guard Jared Cunningham scored the go-ahead basket in the 86-84 upset of Washington to cap a solid all-around game of 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Cunningham tallied just four points the prior day against Washington State. Sophomore forward Devon Collier had a team-high 19 points. Oregon State coach Craig Robinson was highly emotional after the victory. “It’s been rough these first four years,” Robinson said. “The first three years were rough because we were trying to get these guys in there and get them going, and our fans have really supported us. It is nice to be able to pay them back.”
ABOUT ARIZONA (22-10): The Wildcats received 54 points from the trio of junior forward Solomon Hill (25 points, 12 rebounds), senior forward Jesse Perry (16 points, 12 rebounds) and senior guard Kyle Fogg (13 points) in a 66-58 victory over the Bruins. Arizona coach Sean Miller wasn’t the least surprised the three stepped up. “As often is the case in March, you ride the coattails of the players – individual players playing better than they’ve played before – playing at a high level,” Miller said. “These three guys are the heart and soul of our team.” Arizona made 31 of 36 free throws against UCLA.
TIP-INS:
1. Fogg scored 23 points as Arizona beat Oregon State in this season’s lone meeting, 81-73 in overtime Jan. 12 at Tucson. Cunningham led the Beavers with 22 points.
2. Hill’s 25-point game against UCLA was three points shy of his career-high set earlier this season against Washington.
3. Oregon State sophomore guard Ahmad Starks has made four 3-pointers in both Pac-12 tourney wins and is 18 of 31 from 3-point range over the last five games.
Pick: Arizona -3 +++
Colorado Buffaloes vs. California Golden Bears (-6, 132)
THE STORY: California is the highest seeded team remaining in the Pac-12 tournament after top-seed Washington lost to Oregon State on Thursday. The second-seeded Bears and sixth-seeded Colorado meet in the semifinals after splitting two games during the regular season. California’s starters played 168 of 200 minutes in a 77-71 win over Stanford in Thursday’s quarterfinals, while Colorado upset third-seeded Oregon 63-62 on Andre Roberson’s basket with 13 seconds left. After a lackluster effort in their first-round win over Utah, the Buffaloes led most of the way against the Ducks.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA (24-8): Pac-12 Player of the Year Jorge Gutierrez is likely eager to face Colorado after coming up empty against the Buffaloes in their last meeting. Gutierrez was held scoreless for just the ninth time in his career in California’s 70-57 loss on Feb. 26 in Boulder. He was much better against Stanford on Thursday, when he scored 19 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. Harper Kamp averaged 13.5 points in two games against Colorado, while Allen Crabbe averaged 12.5. California coach Mike Montgomery understands his starters might be tired after getting little rest against Stanford. “We need to develop more depth,” he said. “I’m just not sure we can do it right now.”
ABOUT COLORADO (21-11): After losing three of their last four games in the regular season, the Buffaloes know they need to win the Pac-12 tournament in order to advance to the NCAA tournament. Roberson, a Pac-12 first-team and all-defensive team selection, recorded his 18th double-double of the season Thursday with 12 points and 10 boards against Oregon. He averaged 9.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in two games against California. Austin Dufault scored a game-high 19 points in a 57-50 loss to California on Jan. 12. Picked to finish in a tie for 10th in the preseason Pac-12 poll, the Buffaloes have recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in the program’s 111-year history.
TIP-INS:
1. California is 17-0 this season when holding its opponents under 60 points.
2. The Colorado athletic department gave 50 of the school’s most loyal student fans an all-expenses paid trip to the Pac-12 tournament in Los Angeles.
3. The winner will meet fourth-seeded Arizona or No. 9 seed Oregon State in Saturday’s final.
Pick: Colorado +6 +++
THE STORY: Oregon State has won two games in the Pac-12 tournament for the first time since 1988 and seeks to continue its improbable run against Arizona in Friday’s semifinals at Los Angeles. The ninth-seeded Beavers defeated Washington State in the opening round and then upset top-seeded Washington in the quarterfinals to boost their winning streak to four. The fourth-seeded Wildcats defeated UCLA in the quarterfinals and probably have to win the tournament to receive an NCAA tournament bid.
ABOUT OREGON STATE (19-13): Junior guard Jared Cunningham scored the go-ahead basket in the 86-84 upset of Washington to cap a solid all-around game of 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Cunningham tallied just four points the prior day against Washington State. Sophomore forward Devon Collier had a team-high 19 points. Oregon State coach Craig Robinson was highly emotional after the victory. “It’s been rough these first four years,” Robinson said. “The first three years were rough because we were trying to get these guys in there and get them going, and our fans have really supported us. It is nice to be able to pay them back.”
ABOUT ARIZONA (22-10): The Wildcats received 54 points from the trio of junior forward Solomon Hill (25 points, 12 rebounds), senior forward Jesse Perry (16 points, 12 rebounds) and senior guard Kyle Fogg (13 points) in a 66-58 victory over the Bruins. Arizona coach Sean Miller wasn’t the least surprised the three stepped up. “As often is the case in March, you ride the coattails of the players – individual players playing better than they’ve played before – playing at a high level,” Miller said. “These three guys are the heart and soul of our team.” Arizona made 31 of 36 free throws against UCLA.
TIP-INS:
1. Fogg scored 23 points as Arizona beat Oregon State in this season’s lone meeting, 81-73 in overtime Jan. 12 at Tucson. Cunningham led the Beavers with 22 points.
2. Hill’s 25-point game against UCLA was three points shy of his career-high set earlier this season against Washington.
3. Oregon State sophomore guard Ahmad Starks has made four 3-pointers in both Pac-12 tourney wins and is 18 of 31 from 3-point range over the last five games.
Pick: Arizona -3 +++
Colorado Buffaloes vs. California Golden Bears (-6, 132)
THE STORY: California is the highest seeded team remaining in the Pac-12 tournament after top-seed Washington lost to Oregon State on Thursday. The second-seeded Bears and sixth-seeded Colorado meet in the semifinals after splitting two games during the regular season. California’s starters played 168 of 200 minutes in a 77-71 win over Stanford in Thursday’s quarterfinals, while Colorado upset third-seeded Oregon 63-62 on Andre Roberson’s basket with 13 seconds left. After a lackluster effort in their first-round win over Utah, the Buffaloes led most of the way against the Ducks.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA (24-8): Pac-12 Player of the Year Jorge Gutierrez is likely eager to face Colorado after coming up empty against the Buffaloes in their last meeting. Gutierrez was held scoreless for just the ninth time in his career in California’s 70-57 loss on Feb. 26 in Boulder. He was much better against Stanford on Thursday, when he scored 19 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. Harper Kamp averaged 13.5 points in two games against Colorado, while Allen Crabbe averaged 12.5. California coach Mike Montgomery understands his starters might be tired after getting little rest against Stanford. “We need to develop more depth,” he said. “I’m just not sure we can do it right now.”
ABOUT COLORADO (21-11): After losing three of their last four games in the regular season, the Buffaloes know they need to win the Pac-12 tournament in order to advance to the NCAA tournament. Roberson, a Pac-12 first-team and all-defensive team selection, recorded his 18th double-double of the season Thursday with 12 points and 10 boards against Oregon. He averaged 9.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in two games against California. Austin Dufault scored a game-high 19 points in a 57-50 loss to California on Jan. 12. Picked to finish in a tie for 10th in the preseason Pac-12 poll, the Buffaloes have recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in the program’s 111-year history.
TIP-INS:
1. California is 17-0 this season when holding its opponents under 60 points.
2. The Colorado athletic department gave 50 of the school’s most loyal student fans an all-expenses paid trip to the Pac-12 tournament in Los Angeles.
3. The winner will meet fourth-seeded Arizona or No. 9 seed Oregon State in Saturday’s final.
Pick: Colorado +6 +++
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