Each week the Pac-12 microsite will run down our weekly superlatives, which typically will include a Team, Player and Newcomer of the Week, along with our weekly Power Rankings.
Team of the Week: Arizona
You go on the road and get a sweep in the Pac-12, then you’re our Team of the Week. So, welcome back, Wildcats. The fact that they won both weekend games against the Washington schools by an average of more than 25 points per game is just icing on the dominant, dominant cake. With all of its long and athletic stoppers littered around the roster, team defense has never really been a question mark for Arizona this season. But as we make the turn into the home stretch of the regular season, the Wildcats are starting to also put together some terrific offensive performances. This week the ‘Cats return to Tucson to host the Los Angeles schools, including our lone scheduled renewal of the Arizona-UCLA rivalry game on Saturday. All of which is just preamble for a renewal of my complaint about UCLA and Arizona only being scheduled once in a season. It may take some fancy scheduling or creative thinking and it may have the side effect of forcing USC-Arizona State upon as twice every year — but for the good of both programs, for the good of the conference, for the good of the sport and for the love of all that is good and holy, get these two teams scheduled against each other twice every season.
Player of the Week: Dexter Kernich-Drew, Senior, Washington State
Middle of February 2013, almost exactly two years ago. Washington State was sitting at 2-10 in conference play, losers of five straight (a streak that would eventually reach nine losses in a row). The Cougars were hosting Oregon in an overtime game. With just four seconds on the clock in the extra period — moments after Royce Woolridge had knocked in a three to tie the game — Kernich-Drew reached out and intentionally fouled E.J. Singler in a classic case of failing to know the score. Singler knocks in two free throws and the Cougars lose their sixth in a row. Kernich-Drew, then a promising sophomore, earns the tag around the league as “that guy who made that boneheaded play one time.” Since that infamous moment, Kernich-Drew’s career has bounced up and down. He poured in 24 points in an overtime loss against Colorado last year but his positive impacts were relatively sparse. Fast forward to this weekend. On the heels of an 18-point night against Oregon last Sunday, Kernich-Drew exploded for 47 points in the home stand split against the Arizona schools, knocking in 10 threes and hitting shots at an 83.3% eFG clip. In his past three games, he is a blistering 14-of-25 from three. He doesn’t do a whole lot else for his team, but he’s doing exactly what Ernie Kent is asking of him. He uses his length to play solid perimeter defense and then he sits at the arc and waits for his opportunities. More importantly, he’s putting together a streak of games that will help knock that old memory from when he was a sophomore right out of our minds. As we head into the stretch of another regular season, with Senior Days around the league beginning as early as next weekend, it is fun to have the chance to recognize one of those seniors who has come such a long way in his college career.
(Also receiving votes: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson)
Newcomer of the Week: Gerry Blakes, Junior, Arizona State
All year long, Blakes has been a key play-maker for the Sun Devils. Most of the time those plays are made in favor of Arizona State, but all too often, a wilder and more erratic Blakes appears. This week? Nothing but good Blakes. In a road split with the Washington schools, the junior averaged 23.5 points, 6.5 boards and 2.5 assists per game, knocked in six threes and shot 61.8% eFG. The numbers alone, however, don’t begin to sum up the impact Blakes had in the second half of the Washington game. With both teams trading blows in a back-and-forth struggle, Blakes took over midway through the second half — in the 12 offensive possessions between the under-12 timeout (when the Sun Devils were down three points) and the under-4 timeout (with the Sun Devils up by four points), Blakes was 6-of-8 from the field for 16 points and an assist. Without his key contributions during that stretch, the Sun Devils probably would have headed home from the Evergreen State without a win.
Power Rankings
This week’s power rankings have Arizona jumping back over Utah into the #1 spot, UCLA jumping to the unanimous #3 spot, and Stanford continuing its slide down the rankings to what will likely be its personal basement in a tie for eighth. Of greater concern, though, is what 0nce appeared to be a slam-dunk NCAA Tournament team is now definitely in need of finding its way.