This Saturday might be the most loaded day of college hoops that we’ve had thus far this season. Ranked teams match up all weekend, but those aren’t the only key games to watch. Several conference tilts will tell us who to keep and eye on going forward, and who’s trending downward. Here are our Weekend Picks To Click.
1.) No. 24 Oklahoma State at No. 18 Oklahoma: Always one of the most fun rivalries in college sports, it’s time for another edition of Bedlam. Both teams have split their last four games, but the Sooners are losers of two straight, with losses to Kansas State and a drubbing at the hands of West Virginia. I haven’t been sold on the Cowboys all season, despite Le’Bryan Nash and Phil Forte III being two of the best scorers in the Big 12. However, the Sooners have yet to impress on a consistent enough basis to trust them.
The game is in Norman, which leads me to think OU will come out firing and the environment will be hostile enough to push them towards a win. Give me Oklahoma here.
2.) Texas A&M at LSU: Two talented but young teams that are hoping this season’s experience can lead them towards better things in the future. LSU has incredible length on the interior, but the Aggies have guards like Daniel House and Alex Caruso that could make life difficult for the Bayou Bengals. Given that A&M just took Kentucky into double overtime, one has to think they’re primed for a big win here, right?
Since their disappointing loss to Mizzou, LSU has gotten back on track and at home, I expect that to continue. Give me LSU.
3.) Ohio State at Iowa: The Buckeyes have disappointed, as they’ve been wildly inconsistent, especially on the road. Meanwhile, Iowa has looked like a consistent team-of-two-halves. After their second half collapse against Michigan State, the Hawkeyes nearly had a repeat let down against Minnesota, albeit on the road, but they were able to pull it out in the end. If Iowa gets inside, and gets to the line, I think they have a great chance at putting OSU into tricky situations in an incredibly difficult arena to play.
I may have put too much faith into Iowa lately, but I still think this is a team that could be making a late surge in conference play. Ohio State, while still a very good basketball team, feels to be going the opposite way. Give me Iowa.
4.) No. 8 Utah at No. 10 Arizona: There are match up nightmares on both teams, like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the Wildcats and Jordan Loveridge for the Utes. Both coaches have turned their teams into defensive powerhouses. We know what is at stake here. To me, though, this game is about one player and one mindset: Delon Wright, and whether or not Utah is ready to take the next step as a program and beat a team like Arizona on the road. If Delon Wright dominates this game, then it sets up very well for Utah. But Arizona is still Arizona, and McKale is still McKale.
I’ve picked Utah to win the Pac-12, but I’m not totally ready to have them winning in Tucson. Give me Arizona, tight.
5.) Oregon at Washington: Two teams that came into conference play with a lot of momentum, and have largely seen it disappear. The Ducks sit at 2-2 and the Huskies at 1-3, with their lone win over Oregon State…and both teams have a loss to Washington State. So, what to make of these teams? Oregon can score the ball, without question, but they’re a disaster defensively. Washington has no depth, especially with recent injury news, but they do boast the conference’s best big man in Robert Upshaw.
While this game will be played in Seattle, home court advantage hasn’t been something UW could count on through this season. I look for Oregon to put a lot of pressure on Washington’s perimeter and force Nigel Williams-Goss to defend, something he’s not known for. With their outside shooting, give me Oregon.
