Player of the Week
[player: Tyler Dorsey] – Oregon
Even though Oregon only played one game this week, it was a slow week for the Pac-12 with most teams only playing one game. This just means that Dorsey gets the nod for player of the week. Most of you know that I love efficient scoring and Dorsey did just that against Western Oregon. Bouncing back from a tough game against Alabama, the freshman guard scored 25 points on only nine shots. Dorsey drove like a madman and shot 15 free throws, sinking 11 of them. One of my favorite parts about Dorsey is his ability to do more than just score as a freshman. Dorsey finished with eight rebounds and five assists, while only committing one turnover. Clearly, the game came against a weaker opponent in Western Oregon, but it was a great tune up game for the Duck squad. Spare a couple of bad games, Dorsey has been incredible all year. The freshman plays within himself, never forcing too many shots in a given game. Dorsey’s passing is only getting better and he is getting even more efficient with every game. I’m excited to see what the Duck’s guard has in store for us in Pac-12 play.
Who’s Hot
[player: Jakob Poeltl] – Utah
Even in the loss to Stanford, the game may have raised Poeltl’s stock. The game showed how important Poeltl is to the overall success of the Utes. The sophomore was in foul trouble for almost the entire game. When Poeltl was on the bench, the Cardinals made a consistent effort to get to the rim with every chance they could get. When the Austrian native was in the game, he dominated, scoring on 6 of 8 of his chances and shooting 4 of 6 from the free throw line for 16 points. Poeltl also played well against the College of Idaho, going 6 for 6 from the field and finishing with 15 points. The sophomore chipped in 10 boards, three assists and three blocks. Clearly, Poeltl is a dominant player, but the fouling needs to improve going forward. Utah cannot succeed without him on the court. Poeltl has to know how lenient the refs are going to be from the opening five minutes and adjust accordingly. If Poeltl learns how to play with different refs, the transition to the NBA would come much easier.
Rosco Allen – Stanford
I might have to recalibrate my thoughts on the Cardinal squad. Never quitting, they finally got a really good win at home against Utah. Allen was a major reason why. The senior was balling, hitting step backs and relentlessly driving to the rim. Obviously, the biggest play of the night came off Allen posterizing [player: Jordan Loveridge], igniting the Cardinal bench and proving that they will be a problem for other Pac-12 teams.
Who’s Cold
[player: Jordan Loveridge] and Utah’s free throw shooting.
Not the way you want to open up Pac-12 play if you’re a Utah fan. Even though the Utes didn’t play their best game, they still had a chance to win with only a couple of made free throws. Loveridge and [player: Brandon Taylor], two of Utah’s best free throw shooters, went 0-4 down the stretch to send the game against Stanford into overtime. From there, the Cardinals pulled away with [player:Jakob Poeltl] fouled out on the bench. There were some bright spots for Utah, both [player: Lorenzo Bonam] and [player: Kyle Kuzman] played well in the loss, but their efforts were just not enough. Loveridge has to start shooting the way he’s capable. The senior seems to be forcing some shots and is stepping back further and further from the three point line, killing his efficiency in the process. Loveridge was also the only starter on Utah not to score in double digits against the College of Idaho, finishing with only five points. Obviously, Poeltl has to clean up his fouling, but he has been relatively good this year with his fouls. The sophomore forward needs some help. Both Kuzman and Bonam are good players, but most of their offense comes inside, where Poeltl lives. Taylor and Loveridge have to start making threes if Utah has any hope in winning the Pac-12. If Utah can start hitting some threes, it should be able to get over its road woes.
With Pac-12 play starting up, here are the games I’m most looking forward to within league play.
Top 5 Pac-12 Games to Watch
5. USC @ Washington 1/3
I went over this earlier in the year, but this will be the first real road test for the Trojans. Washington is okay, not amazing. [player: Andrew Andrews] can certainly score, albeit at a less than efficient rate, but he’s a leader and can go off at any moment. USC has the potential to be very interesting. [player: Jordan McLaughlin] was a highly touted freshman last year but underperformed. This year, McLaughlin has found a three point shot and is definitely passing the ball better. The sophomore point guard and [player: Katin Reinhardt] are a good one-two punch that can score with the best of them. The Trojans can score, they have six players averaging double digits in points, but their defense leaves a little to be desired. I’ll be keeping a close eye on USC in the coming weeks, this is the first game everyone should tune into.
4. Colorado @ Utah 1/8
I’m quite skeptical about this Colorado team, while they almost beat SMU they barely beat an average, at best, Penn State squad. The Buffaloes have a stretch coming up that should tell us more about the team, but I think the Utah game will be the most fun to watch. Simply put, this pits the two best centers against each other in the same game. [player: Josh Scott] vs [player: Jakob Poeltl] should be an enjoyable match up. I really hope the refs let them get away with a bit of shoving. Poeltl is obviously still growing as a player but Scott has seen it all.
3. Arizona St. vs Oregon St. 1/28
Now this might be the most interesting game in the entire Pac-12 schedule. I honestly still don’t know what to think of the Sun Devils. Their best win came against Texas AM. Arizona St. also gave Kentucky a run for their money, playing tough the entire game. While Arizona St. is definitely improved under new coach Bobby Hurley, I’m not entirely sure they are a contender for the Pac-12 title. With Oregon St., it’s almost the same story as last year. The Beavers are an incredible defensive team and led by [player: Gary Payton II], but they also can score this year. Both teams are on the fringe of competing for the Pac-12, seriously they are. Lets just say this game can decide who is the best “fringe” contender, or the team that gets to be the definitive dark horse in the Pac-12.
2. UCLA @ Oregon 1/23
While this game might not decide the Pac-12 title, this can definitely win the “most entertaining game” award. Both of these teams can really score and love to push the pace. [player: Bryce Alford] is playing just as he usually does, up-tempo, up and down and jacking up everything he looks at. There is no question that Oregon has the guards and forwards to compete with anyone in the nation, but the team can have problems defending in the paint. Defending both [player: Thomas Welsh] and Tony Parker will be a great test for the Ducks. This game should include a ton of three point shots, some good passing and some exciting dunks, everyone should definitely tune in.
1. California vs Arizona 1/23
Here we are, my favorite game in the Pac-12 this year. This game will be gut check time for California. The Golden Bears have obviously started much slower than most people anticipated, but they have a chance to win everyone back by beating the Wildcats. This will obviously be a game that Cal comes in motivated for. Arizona clearly looks to be the front runner in the Pac-12, but I’m still holding out hope for someone else to take the title back from them. [player: Ivan Rabb] has been playing fantastic this year and both [player: Tyrone Wallace] and [player: Jaylen Brown] will have a fresh slate in Pac-12 play. This is the game where California can put up, or shut up.