Games #197-198. We’re down to four teams in Los Angeles and a couple of teams have designs on rocking the bubble party.
6 pm. Arizona vs. USC. The Trojans and Wildcats split their season series with each team winning on its home floor. USC had the most impressive victory Thursday for my money, recovering from its slow start to trounce Cal by 14. Against top-seeded Arizona, however, the Trojans will have to get more from Nikola Vucevic than they did against the Golden Bears — seven points and five boards ain’t gonna cut it Friday. Both teams were hot from downtown in the quarterfinals: USC knocked down eight threes, while Arizona hit 11. If Friday’s game is settled out on the perimeter, then I like the Cats to advance.
8:30 pm. Washington vs. Oregon. The evening session Thursday offered the biggest surprise of the day (Oregon over UCLA) and the best game of the day (Washington over Washington State). The Huskies and Ducks also went 1-1 against each other this year, but it’s been more than a month since their last game. It’ll be interesting to see how much energy UW has after their emotional win over Wazzu. The fact that they probably needed that win to lock up an NCAA berth wasn’t lost on the Huskies postgame. Will UW pull a UCLA and play like their heads are elsewhere Friday? If they do, then look for the Ducks to pull off another shocker.