PAC-10 BASKETBALL | WEEK 9 | 2 UNIT PLAY-OF-THE-DAY

PAC-10 KEY MATCHUP
Arizona at Southern California

FRONT-RUNNING 'CATS BEGIN LA WEEKEND AGAINST SUDDENLY HOT TROJANS

Thu Feb 24, 2011 | 10:38 PM, EDT | FSN-Arizona
Galen Center | Los Angeles, California


#10 ARIZONA WILDCATS 23-4 | 12-2 Conf (14-12 ATS)      
       SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS 15-12 | 7-7 Conf (16-9 ATS)

Textbook "Sandwich-Game" for Cats' here, following a signature 87-86 Arizona Home Win over Dawgs, & before Cats' final marquee Regular Season Game at UCLA Saturday.
 
Arizona rolls into SC's Galen Center to face the off-&-on Trojans.  Unfortunately for Cats', SC is really back 'ON', coming home after an uncommonly transcendent 2-0 Bay Area Weekend (ATS & S-U).


Not to pile on Arizona, yet there are a good number of solid reasons to really like SC in this spot. 


Starting w/Cats', we really have to conclude that Arizona, at long-last, feels safely slotted into NCAA Tourney, & may not move up or down from #4 to #6 Seed Range.  (ESPN's Joe Linardi lines Arizona as a '5', for what it's worth).  That said, AZ's seemingly secure 2-Game lead w/4 to play, Cats' are facing awfully tricky pair of LA-Roadies. 


Cats' have good reason to feel confident riding an 8-Game Win Streak, includes two relatively comfortable, nine and eleven-point late-January home wins over UCLA and SC.  


Nonetheless, Arizona is particularly vulnerable to SC's Inside Strength.  Cats' still have an exceedingly problematic Post Matchup issues with both Bruins & Trojans.


Today vs SC, Cats face a Trojan Frontcourt on the Up-Rise.  Truthfully, SC played well enough to win at Arizona.


Sat Jan 29: SC at Arizona:
  * Trojans 4 Fewer Turnovers (SC 8 | AZ 12)
  * Trojans Shot +6 FT Attempts (SC 25 | AZ 19)
  * Trojans Frontcourt: 12-22 FG (54.5%)
  * SC's Vucevic was saddled w/Fouls, only played 25 Minutes. 
  * Vucevic still had many good flash-looks right in his 'comfort zone'
  * SC SHOT 12-25 FT'S (52%)


Aside from these one-sided numbers, Arizona (even for them), had the most effective, preposterously proficient collective shooting effort we may see:


ARIZONA'S 'CRAZY-GOOD' NIGHT, & GREAT BALANCE vs SC (1/29) 
  * 11 Arizona players shot at least 3 FG's
  * 3 Arizona starters (Williams, Jones & Perry) were 8-8 from Deep (15-16 FG's)
  * Williams & Jones were combined 12-12 FG
  * Arizona Shot 61% FG's
  * Arizona Shot 53% Threes
  * w/SC's Vucevic in Foul Issues
Arizona still won by just 9 at Home, vs then-slumping SC


Moreover, SC is again hitting their stride, with 'NBA-Ready' Nikola Vucevic leading the charge.
  * SC 6-10½ | 247 Vucevic is "finishing up" his 3-Year So Cal Stay in style


VUCEVIC's COMING IN OFF A SUPERB BAY WEEKEND PAIR OF PERFORMANCES:  
  * 40-POINTS 
  * 13-22 FG (59%)
  * 5-6 From Deep
  * 24 BOARDS  


SC's 6-9½ Stevenson also benefited greatly from Vucevic's hot-hand, fueled Trojans w/above-average, consistent contributions.



STEVENSON's BAY WEEKEND: 
   * 26 POINTS & 16 BOARDS


All of this adds up to a troubling matchup for Arizona


AZ 6-8 | 244 Ultra-proficient Williams, remains only Cats' Starter over 6-7


So Cal is primed to surprise Arizona

    2 UNIT    ARIZONA
    SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA +1