Miller: Wednesday Pac-12 Tournament Previews

The games tip off today with three matchups featuring the bottom-half of the league

recent 7 min read

Posted on March 10, 2021


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

The 2021 Pac-12 Tournament tips off today with three matchups featuring the bottom-half of the league.

All season long, some have pointed towards Arizona State as a team that could be dangerous in Sin City. That time has finally come, but reports are indicating that both Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley are unavailable for the matchup with the Cougs.

Somewhat similarly, the inconsistent Utes have the talent to make a run at T-Mobile Arena, as long as they take care of a Washington team playing their best basketball of the season.

And in a rematch of last year’s First Round, the Cardinal take on the Bears as Jerod Haase hopes to avoid another early-exit to rival California.

I preview each of those games here, and my picks, along with Nick Bartlett’s, Stephen Vilardo’s, and Anthony Gharib’s appear at the bottom.

The previews and Stephen Vilardo’s Pac-12 Tournament Team Capsules and Season and Tournament Stat Notes should get you ready for today’s games.

Washington State v. Arizona State

Wednesday, March 10th
1:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

If you had to take a drink every time a broadcaster said, “Arizona State is a team nobody wants to face in Vegas,” or, “The Sun Devils are going to be dangerous in the Pac-12 Tournament,” you would probably be wobbling by the middle of the second half.

In a year that has fallen spectacularly short of expectations, Bobby Hurley will reportedly be without two of his star freshman for this matchup with the Cougs. Josh Christopher remains out of the lineup due to a back injury, while Marcus Bagley is sidelined with an ankle injury.

On some levels, the injuries to the freshmen starters allows Remy Martin to play more freely, while simultaneously providing additional playing time for Holland Woods and Jaelen House. There’s no doubt that the Sun Devils can win a game or two in this tournament, but it might take a 30-point afternoon from Martin to get it done.

Even if that happens, ASU may still need an efficient game from Alonzo Verge Jr. to pull out the win.

On the other bench, Isaac Bonton has been dealing with ankle injuries of his own, sustained in the matchup against USC on February 13th. The All-Conference guard hasn’t played a game at full health since. But with nearly a month to recover, Bonton should be rearing to exploit the soft ASU defense.

Noah Williams likely benefits from his return, making things easier for the sophomore guard as the Sun Devils focus on Bonton’s scoring prowess.

But the matchup to watch is arguably Kimani Lawrence against Dishon Jackson and Efe Abogidi. Foul trouble could play a role, yet the team that wins the battle in the paint might find itself advancing to the quarterfinals.

Washington v. Utah

Wednesday, March 10
5:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

Inconsistency has dogged the Utes all year.

With victories over Colorado, Arizona, USC, and Stanford, Larry Krystkowiak’s team has the talent to make a run. But the Runnin’ Utes have also dropped games to California and Washington, while getting swept by Oregon State.

If that’s not a roller coaster of a year, I’m not sure what is.

There’s no denying Timmy Allen’s ability to score, or Alfonzo Plummer’s capability from three, but does the Utah team that put up 98 points against Arizona State show up? Or the one that struggled to put up 56 in Corvallis and 46 at the Galen Center?

Mikael Jantunen and Pelle Larsson might be spark that ignites a Utah run. The Fin and Swede average a combined 16.7 points, but both have the potential to be the difference in any given game. Jantunen must shoot the ball efficiently and not settle for threes, while Larsson can’t afford any of the costly turnovers that have hounded him at times.

If both play well, and Allen and Plummer do what they are expected to do, watch out for the Utes.

But it all starts with taking care of the Huskies.

Mike Hopkins’ season has been shocking, to put it mildly, yet the Pac-12 Tournament presents a fresh slate to define the season. UW’s success begins and ends with Quade Green, but the contributions from Marcus Tsohonis, Jamal Bey, and Erik Stevenson are just as important.

A strong game from all four would likely be enough to pull off the upset, assuming that Hopkins’ defense is serviceable enough to slow down Utah.

There is almost always an upset on Wednesday in Vegas, what’s stopping it from happening here?

California v. Stanford

Wednesday, March 10
7:00 pm PT, Pac-12 Network

Mark Fox’s second season in Berkeley hasn’t gone according to plan. The Bears have lost the hard-fought close games that they won during his first year, resulting in a lop-sided record that wasn’t expected.

The emergency appendectomy that sidelined Grant Anticevich for several weeks played a role, as did Matt Bradley’s two separate ankle injuries, but that doesn’t change the win-loss ratio at the end of the day.

Sprinkled in the shortcomings, true freshman Jalen Celestine has carved out a role that fellow freshman Monty Bowser held at the start of the year. For California basketball to fill the shoes that it is capable of growing into, the continual development of Fox’s recruits is vital.

But on Wednesday night in Vegas, the matchup with Stanford presents an opportunity to put a stamp on this season. The Tree won both games in early February, yet Bradley and Fox know what it takes to beat the Cardinal in the Pac-12 Tournament, having got the job done last season in the First Round.

To repeat the feat, Anticevich and Bradley must have strong nights, while big man Andre Kelly needs to dominate down low. And if Ryan Betley gets hot from three, Cal might just take down Stanford once again.

But over in the Cardinal locker room, the season has gone from bad to worse. Once considered a bubble team, the injury to Oscar da Silva has torpedoed the Tree’s at-large expectations, forcing Haase to win the Pac-12 Tournament to reach the Big Dance.

Da Silva is reportedly a game-time decision, and may not be at full strength even if he gives it a go. And with numerous “coaching decisions” that have held Daejon Davis and Bryce Wills out of games this season, it’s anyone’s guess who sees the floor for the Cardinal.

If things go south, this may be the last time Ziaire Williams dons the Cardinal uniform, providing enough motivation to expect a high-scoring game out of the freshman.

Regardless, this matchup should be a great nightcap that sets up the quarterfinals well.

—More from Dane Miller—