It’s been a disappointing first half of the season for the Pac 10, with non-conference successes being few and far between. That all changes on New Year’s Eve, as conference play starts with four games.
Pac 10 Rings Out 2009 With Four Conference Openers
- Arizona State, one of the nation's milder surprises, visits one of the season's biggest disappointments, UCLA. SB Nation's Sun Devil blog, House Of Sparky, and our Bruins blog, Bruins Nation, will have coverage of this one.
- Washington State, the team with the best record in the Pac 10 (10-2, with the losses coming at Gonzaga and Kansas State), opens up league play with a home game against Oregon, a team that has already lost to Montana, Portland and St. Mary's. This game will only be televised regionally in the Pacific Northwest. Visit our Cougars blog, CougCenter, and Ducks site, Addicted To Quack, for discussion and analysis of this one.
- USC has won six straight, and they look like a completely different team with Mike Gerrity at the point. He took over for the Trojans' 22-point win over Tennessee on December 19. USC then claimed the Diamond Head Classic with a 67-56 win over UNLV on Christmas Day, in forward Leonard Washington's second game. The Trojans put their win streak on the line in their conference opener against up-and-down Arizona. Our Trojans blog, Conquest Chronicles, and Wildcats blog, Arizona Desert Swarm, will have more on this contest.
- No. 17 Washington hosts Oregon State in the nightcap. The Huskies are the closest thing the Pac 10 has to a Tournament lock at this point, even with a road loss to now 20th-ranked Texas Tech and a neutral court setback to now No. 13 Georgetown on their resume. Meanwhile, the Beavers, who had a bit of buzz surrounding them after last season's College Basketball Invitational crown, have disappointed so far. A win in Seattle would do wonders for Craig Robinson's club. Head over to our Huskies blog, UW Dawg Pound, and Beavers site, Building The Dam, for full coverage of this tilt.
Here’s all the information you’ll need to follow and discuss the start of the Pac 10 season here on SB Nation.
FINAL: UCLA 72, Arizona State 70
The Bruins held off a furious Sun Devil rally to start their Pac 10 season with a win.
Sun Devil game preview and discussion at House Of Sparky
Bruins game preview and discussion at Bruins Nation
FINAL: Oregon 91, Washington State 89 (2OT)
The Ducks stole a win in Pullman after the Cougars couldn't close it out in regulation.
Duck game preview and discussion at Addicted To Quack
Cougar game preview and discussion at CougCenter
FINAL: USC 56, Arizona 50
The Trojans had to hold off a pesky Wildcat team to win their seventh in a row.
Wildcat game preview and discussion at Arizona Desert Swarm
Trojan game preview and discussion at Conquest Chronicles
FINAL: No. 17 Washington 76, Oregon State 70
The Huskies fought off the Beavers to open their Pac 10 slate with a victory.
Beaver game preview and discussion at Building The Dam
Husky game preview and discussion at UW Dawg Pound
For a look at Thursday’s other televised college basketball matchups, visit Blogging The Bracket.
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