1.”‰Is UCLA still the frontrunner to win the Pac-10
title?
SP: Despite its loss to USC, UCLA is still tied for the lead in
the conference and probably has the easiest schedule the rest of
the way. The Bruins have two home games against the Oregon schools
that they should definitely win, and if they split against the Bay
Area schools on the road, they should be in good position for the
Pac-10 title. The Bruins seemed to have learned from their loss to
the Trojans, and I think the Bruins will rebound nicely.
ADJ: With the middling talent that sits atop the Pac-10
standings, there are three teams that could conceivably win the
regular season title outright. Among UCLA (10-4), California (10-4)
and Washington (9-5), it’s going to come down to who beats up
on each other the final two weeks of the season. The Bruins will
split both games in the Bay Area to finish the season, and the
Huskies will beat the Golden Bears at home on Sunday and win the
rest of their games. They’ll claim the title.
2.”‰Will anyone emerge as a third scorer for the
Bruins?
SP: I think senior Cedric Bozeman has the potential to be a
third scorer, but needs to be more assertive. There were obvious
times on Sunday night that Jordan Farmar and Arron Affalo needed
help at the top of the perimeter, but couldn’t get it. If
Bozeman emerged as a third scorer as Josh Shipp did last year, it
would open up a lot of things for the sophomore guards, and they
wouldn’t always have to rely on the outside shot.
ADJ: How about a second scorer? Farmar is only averaging 14.1
points per game, which ranks only 14th in the Pac-10. I don’t
want to hear the argument that Howland wants to bring the Big East
brand of play to the West Coast. Howland once turned Northern
Arizona into a tournament team with a bunch of 3-point shooting
guards. The man will win with what he has, and right now he
doesn’t have nearly enough offensive firepower to make it
deep into the tourney.
3.”‰Does center Michael Fey deserve a second
chance?
SP: As much as it pains me to say this, yes. After watching
USC’s 5-foot-10 (and that’s a stretch) Dwayne
Shackleford drive through the defense at will on Sunday, someone
needs to emerge in the middle for the Bruins, and although the
answer may not be Fey, he at least deserves a chance. He actually
has skill inside with the ball and has somewhat of an intermediary
knowledge of the offense.
ADJ: Fey has never lived up to his potential. He gets plenty of
chances to earn playing time in practice during the week.
It’s not as though Howland just rolls the ball out there and
lets them play. Sure, Fey has been injured and has battled to find
a rhythm on the court. But the same can be said for Alfred Aboya
and Ryan Hollins, who have just earned the opportunities over Fey.
With Aboya likely out for Thursday’s game, Michael Fey has
the chance to prove me wrong. If he does, UCLA will be a much
stronger team.
4.”‰How many Pac-10 teams will get in the Big
Dance?
SP: Four. If the Missouri Valley Conference can be in contention
for five spots, there is no reason the Pac-10 can’t get at
least four. Arizona, Washington and Cal, in addition to UCLA, are
all legitimate tournament teams and should be in the tournament
bracket come Selection Sunday. It is sad that Stanford had such a
horrible nonconference schedule, because it is playing some of its
best basketball right now, and could have an outside shot at the
tournament.
ADJ: My heart says five, because the Pac-10 should always be
making noise during March. My wallet says three, because in the
bedrock of mediocrity that is the Pac-10 there is no team that
looks like it would finish in the top half of the Big East
standings. In reality, however, four teams will make it into the
big dance ““ UCLA, Washington, California and Arizona. The
selection committee needs those high West Coast television
ratings.
5.”‰Will Mbah a Moute win Pac-10 Freshman of the
Year?
SP: If Luc Richard Mbah a Moute plays well enough the rest of
the season, he has a good chance to win, but if the season ended
right now, the answer is probably no. Washington freshmen Jon
Brockman and Justin Dentmon are playing their best basketball at
the end of the year for a peaking team, and Arizona’s Marcus
Williams is also one of the favorites. A lot will depend on how
Mbah a Moute finishes the season, but as of right now, those are
four equally qualified candidates.
ADJ: There is no freshman in the country, nevermind the Pac-10,
who has meant as much to a first-place team as Mbah a Moute has
meant to the Bruins. His 8.6 rebounds per game and 50.6 field goal
percentage are impressive, but they don’t begin to illustrate
how he has been a crutch for the limping Bruins all year long. Take
out the Cameroonian prince, and it’s hard to imagine where
UCLA would be at the moment. Give him the award right now.