Alright.... Here we go:

--------------------------------DAY ONE--------------------------------

ASU vs WSU -- Gimme WSU
Asu is good, and they've got something to prove in the tourney - I just dont think they got it. I think no one has really "bought in" except for Martin and Verge and they can't play defense to save their lives. ASU took a 98 - 59 LOSS to Utah over the weekend.... yeah, its that bad. Contrast that with WSU who looks like they're having fun. They're playing as a team, they rank #42 in defensive efficiency per Ken Pom - 4th in the P12! Bonton is supposed to be back this week and they have other talented guys, I think they got it.

UTAH vs. WASH -- Gimme the Utes
I actually wanted to go Washington here, Green is talented and can score well. However, the Utes have been playing well lately, they have size, they have guys who can shoot and they are learning how to play without Jones, who hadn't been a huge asset to their team this year unfortunately. In their last two weeks they have: clobbered ASU, lost to the Ducks by 3, lost to the beavers by 5, beat US in a sad excuse for a bball game, and lost to UCLA fairly handidly. The utes are not a good basketball team, but they're good enough to beat the huskies.


CAL vs. THE TREES -- Gimme the Trees
Da Silva is questionable for this game, and even if he does come back he won't be at full strength. Like Colorado vs. us, however, Stanford just knows this matchup and I don't see Cal pulling the upset -- Stanford has athletic, talented players, a good coach and something to fight for, don't see it from Cal.


--------------------------------DAY TWO--------------------------------
ORE vs WSU -- Oregon
WSU could ABSOLUTELY pull off this upset, especially if Bonton gets back to form. Unfortunately, the Ducks are just too all around talented and the more senior team so they can put WSU away down the stretch if it comes to that. Otherwise, if the Ducks shoot 60% from 3... and sink ~15 of them like they did vs. the Beaves on Sunday -- no one's going to catch them. Keep in mind though, WSU, #42 in defensive efficiency isn't bad... the problemo being they are #193 in offensive efficiency whereas the ducks are #17. Yikes.

UCLA vs. the Beaves -- Uglies
Once again, the Beaves could hand Cronin the upset here and put them on a 4 game losing streak, but I think the bruins are coming to Vegas with something to prove. I watched a Cronin interview the other day where he said unfortunately they lost a day of practice (Tuesday) before the oregon game due to Covid which meant their gauntlet last week of playing the 3 toughest teams in the P12 in one week was even harder than we thought. The Bruins defend better than OSU, shoot better than OSU and are starting to get their players back into rotation, take em.


COL vs. THE TREES -- Boyle
Honestly, Colorado could beat and lose to anyone in this tournament. Barring an effective return of Da Silva, I don't think the Cardinal talent can compete with the buff seniority and talent. Maybe a hot shooting night for the trees could get it done? I say it will be close until the end.


USC vs. UTAH -- Cmon now
We got something to prove here. Come out with energy, play like we deserve to win and we're fine.


--------------------------------DAY THREE--------------------------------
ORE vs UCLA -- Bruins
Altman in March is something, historically, not to underestimate, but I really think the bruins can take this one. I think Mick is making sure the Bruins know how to break that press, I think they can carve up Oregon's D better than OSU because they're more talented than OSU, I think the Bruins play harder defense than the the Ducks AND I think they shoot just about as well as each other.


COL vs USC -- Ho boy...
The Buffs scare me, honestly they do. I hope don't play intimidated Friday night (cause we shouldn't be), but it seems they shut down whatever we do and we can't do the same to them. In our second matchup, ATHELETICISM seemed to be the biggest factor: we needed to go man cause they can shoot out of our zone, but we lose our guys on screens, we fall behind our guys, we get gassed running up and down the court and somehow we gotta fix that. Offensively, I read an article that talked about using Evan Mobley differently in games against the mountain schools. He doesn't HAVE to be a scorer, if we can put him in the high post and use him to help us move the ball around for our guys we could give Col (and other teams) and new look that's more difficult to defend. I don't expect Enfield to throw a new scheme in this late in the season, but I hope we be more creative with Evan.
I split this game in my two brackets.


--------------------------------CHAMPIONSHIP--------------------------------
COL vs. UCLA
I think UCLA is better than Colorado -- I think they have enough athletic guards to do well enough on defense to where their offense can cover whatever Colorado is putting up. Barring turnovers here, UCLA can take it.

UCLA vs. USC
If we get an opportunity to remind UCLA that we're better than them for the 3rd time this season, I hope we take it.

Ok, ow, my hands hurt.
FIght On!

if we get to face colorado in the semi's, what a huge game that will turn out to be for both teams. I think the winner of this game takes the tourney and sits on the 4 or 5 line next week. the loser loses a seed line. hope CAE and staff have figured something out this week on film. ...and i hope we're not looking past utah. they're playing good basketball.

this is where the tough-get-going!

✌😎

Would be great to see a CU/SC rematch. That would appear to be likely. If we show up, we'll win. Poetic justice. A victory may also help with the tournament seeding.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Colorado struggle in tonight's game. They have struggled in this tournament to lower seeded teams.

SC can't forget to show up for the Utes. Fight On !!!

Yeah, Cal looked good last night, they are a different team with Bradley back and if they shoot well from 3 they can give Colorado problems.