Basketball season is finally here and it couldn’t have come sooner (thanks NBA). Today we look at early season tournaments that the Pac 12 teams are participating in. These tournaments can really help you win weekly leagues as you can get a pretty nice games played advantage if you look closely enough at schedules (for example this week I loaded up on Arizona and Mississippi State players as they play three games when most teams only play one). These tournaments also help mold the national perception of a conference and could provide huge boosts in RPI. It’s important that the top four teams (UCLA, Arizona, Cal, and Washington) flex their muscle with the big boys of college basketball to keep the conference relevant nationally. It is also an opportunity for other teams to show the depth of the league with some upsets. Let’s take a look at each team’s tournament schedule and try and predict what will happen in each game.
Arizona – 2K Sports Classic (Nov. 7-9 on campus and Nov. 17-18 in New York City)
The Wildcats opened the season with a solid win over Valparaiso on Monday night. Next up is Duquesne Wednesday night before they head East and the competition heats up. Forward Kevin Parrom, who is recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered in September, isn’t expected to be back in game action until early December but expect him to push hard to play in his native city when the Wildcats take on St. John’s. This game will feature two teams who are looking at freshman to be major contributors. My wife is a Wildcat alumnus and we will be in attendance when they take down the Johnnies. A finals matchup against Texas A&M or Mississippi State will test the interior defense of the Wildcats. The lack of experience would prevent me from picking them to beat either of those teams right now. March could be a different story.
Arizona State – Old Spice Classic (Nov. 24-27)
The Sun Devils will leave Tempe and head to Orlando for Thanksgiving. It’s only fitting that they would play in the Old Spice Classic since Isaiah Mustafa, a former Sun Devil football player, is The Man Your Man Could Smell Like. They will open the tournament against Fairfield in what should be a competitive game. The Stags are a talented team that enters the season as co-favorites in the MAAC but I see the Sun Devils advancing which should set up a showdown against Dayton (our resident ACC writer Chris Bennett picks them to beat Wake Forest). The Flyers will most likely be too much for this young squad to overcome, especially if Jahii Carson still isn’t cleared to play. They will play a third and final game on Nov. 27th but that opponent is TBD. It would be a successful run if they can leave the Sunshine State with a 2-1 record.
Cal – CBE Classic (Nov. 13-17 on campus and Nov. 21-22 in Kansas City)
The Golden Bears will host George Washington and Austin Peay in what figure to be two easy wins for them before they head to Kansas City to take on Georgia. The Bulldogs went to the NCAA Tournament last year but lost their two best players to the NBA Draft (both second round picks by my Los Angeles Clippers…come on NBA I need my Blake Griffin fix!). While the game will be competitive the Bears talent should prevail in the end. The finals matchup would most likely be Missouri in what should be a tough test for the Bears. Missouri fans will fill the stadium and create an away game atmosphere. The Tigers lost Laurence Bowers to season-ending surgery but they will still create havoc with their press defense. This game will test the depth and ball-handling ability of the Bears but if the PAC 12 wants respect this is one of the games it needs to win.
Colorado – Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Nov. 17-20)
The Buffaloes will get tested right out of the gates against Wichita State. The Shockers won the NIT last year and posted a school record 29 wins. The experience factor definitely works against the Buffaloes in this contest. They lost their top four scorers while Wichita State returns five of their top six. I would be shocked (I know, lame, but I had to use that joke) if the Buffaloes win this one which sets up a second game against Maryland or Alabama. I don’t see them winning that game against either one of those teams as well. The last game of the tournament is TBD but the Buffaloes should hope it ends up being Iona as it looks like the only team in the field they would be favored against. It probably won’t be a successful trip but at least they get to leave snowy Boulder for sunny San Juan to work on their tans.
Oregon – Global Sports Hoops Showcase (Dec. 20-22)
While the Ducks open the season with a tough game at Vanderbilt, the rest of their non-conference schedule is laughable. They didn’t do themselves any favors by hosting a tournament in which the competition is Prairie View A&M, Stephen F. Austin, and North Carolina Central. Although it’s three games in three nights, it should be three wins. The Ducks will probably finish the season with 20 wins but it will take a strong finish in the PAC 12 Tournament if they are going to be NCAA material. If they end up in the NIT they can look at this tournament as the reason why their RPI will be so low.
Oregon State – Legends Classic (Nov. 13-15 on campus and Nov. 19-21 in New Jersey)
The Beavers host West Alabama and Hofstra before heading to East Rutherford to take on Texas. They should be 2-0 before what could be a big opportunity for the Beavers to post a signature non-conference win they have been lacking in recent years. Texas has to replace all five starters from last season and could take a little while to jell. I’m going out on a limb and saying they pull the upset in a low-scoring affair with some tenacious man-to-man defense. On the other side of the bracket I don’t see them beating Vanderbilt or NC State so it looks like 3-1 is a best case scenario for the Beavers.
Stanford – NIT Season Tip-Off (Nov. 14-16 on campus and Nov. 23-25 in New York City)
The Cardinal will open with Fresno State who is in a transition year after hiring a new coach and losing five players off last year’s roster. It won’t be easy but the talent of the Cardinal should move them on in the bracket. A second round matchup between the winner of the Colorado State/SMU game shouldn’t keep the Cardinal from reaching the semifinals in NYC. While I fully expect them to get to the semi-finals that is where I think the journey will end. Waiting for them in NYC are most likely Oklahoma State, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech. They have an outside shot winning the 3rd place game if they can avoid meeting up with Syracuse there.
USC – Las Vegas Invitational (Nov. 19-22 on campus and Nov. 25-26 in Las Vegas)
The Trojans open up the LVI at home with two contests against Cal Poly and Morgan State which should both be wins. It gets interesting when they head out to the desert though as they will take on UNLV. This game will test the backcourt of the Trojans could still be trying to figure out how to deal with the loss of Jio Fontan. The frountcourt though should have its way inside with the Rebels. It might also pump up the Trojans to look over at the Rebels bench and see former teammate Bryce Jones sitting in street clothes as he is sitting out the season after transferring. A win puts them in the finals against most likely North Carolina. I won’t even get into that game as it will most likely be a route. If they can’t get past UNLV then a matchup against the other USC looms, although I refuse to acknowledge the Gamecocks as USC. The Trojans figure to have the upper hand if that contest happens as the Gamecocks best player, Bruce Ellington, is tied up playing football until January. Three wins could go a long way towards helping them gain confidence heading into a season where not much is expected.
UCLA – Maui Invitational (Nov. 11-15 on campus and Nov. 21-23 in Maui)
Call me crazy but I don’t understand the whole Opening Games and Regional Games concept to this tournament. There are eight teams competing in a loaded field in Hawaii but I guess we needed to add four more teams for earlier games for some reason. Anyways, UCLA will “open” with Middle Tennessee State in Los Angeles on Nov. 15th in a game that shouldn’t be close. Then they will travel to Maui to take on Chaminade on Nov. 21st in another potential blowout. I’m not sure how they pulled that draw but I’m sure they aren’t complaining when looking at the other teams in the field. We will find out a little more about the Bruins when they play the winner of Georgetown/Kansas. The Jayhawks figure to win that game and set up a nice matchup of blue bloods. The Bruins massive frontline gives them a chance in any game and I wouldn’t be stunned in the least if they were to get past the Jayhawks. A finals game against Duke may be a different story. The weakness of the Bruins is in the backcourt and the Blue Devils should be able to exploit that and win the title. It appears that the Bruins are looking at a 3-1 record but could go a long way in restoring some love out West if they win the tournament.
Utah – Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 24-26)
Let’s see, Salt Lake City or The Bahamas for Thanksgiving? Give the Utes credit for making the right choice even if it means playing some meaningless basketball games. Not much is expected of them this year after they were picked to finish dead last in the Pac 12 by the coaches. An opening round game against Harvard isn’t going to be easy. The Crimson returns its entire roster from a team that won 23 games and its first ever Ivy League championship. This game is a tough matchup for a team with 11 newcomers on the roster and I don’t see the Utes winning it which would set up a second round matchup with UMass. This game should provide the Utes with a mark in the win column. If it plays out as expected then their final game will be against the College of Charleston. If the Utes can leave The Islands with a 2-1 record then it will be something for them to build on.
Washington – World Vision Classic (Nov. 12-14), Jimmy V Classic (Dec. 6), CARQUEST Auto Parts Classic (Dec. 10)
The World Vision Classic will be played on the Huskies homecourt and match them up against Georgia State, Florida Atlantic, and Portland in three consecutive days. Yawn, yawn, and more yawns. The Huskies will then travel to New York City to take part in the two other Classics. I’m hoping to be at the Garden with my buddy from Seattle for both games assuming my wife doesn’t go into labor prior to tip-off. In the Jimmy V Classic they will play Marquette in a rematch of a 2010 NCAA Tournament game in which the Huskies won. The Huskies are loaded on the wings and should match up fairly well in this contest. I don’t think they will let the conference or my buddy down on that night. The Huskies will stay in the Big Apple and take in some sights before taking on the Duke Blue Devils on Dec. 10th. This game figures to be an up-tempo contest that will feature plenty of scoring. The Huskies lack of depth on the interior could be a problem against the #6 ranked team in the land. It’s another opportunity for the conference to re-establish some credibility but I don’t see it happening on this particular evening.
Washington State – 76 Classic in Anaheim (Nov. 24-27)
The Cougars get to spend Thanksgiving in my old stomping grounds of Southern California (I am extremely jealous but won’t be able to travel this year due to the previously mentioned pregnancy). The Cougars will be looking to establish a new identity after losing Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto to the professional ranks. Oklahoma returns four starters but they only won five conference games last season. It should be a close game but I predict the Cougars will advance setting up a second round matchup with New Mexico. The Cougars won’t have an answer inside for Drew Gordon or the athletes to keep up with the Lobos. The third game is TBD but it looks like the Cougars will go 1-2 no matter which side of the bracket they end up on. Enjoy Disneyland fellas and make sure to visit Original Tommy’s to enjoy their world famous chili burger. Did I mention I was jealous yet?
This season’s Wooden Classic will be a Pac 12 contest between Arizona and UCLA in Anaheim on Jan. 5, 2012.