No. 24 Arizona at No. 13 Oregon
![]()
To have a chance the Wildcats must shoot like the squad we saw Saturday and not the one that couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean in the previous eight games, as Oregon is 18-0 when allowing its opponents under 50-percent shooting. Even so, this one figures to be close like the first game, and Oregon’s 10-2 in games decided by eight points or less while Arizona hasn’t won a game by less than six. Look for Aaron Brooks to net another game-winner for the Ducks.
Oregon 87, Arizona 86
Michael Schwartz, assistant sports editor
![]()
Now that the Wildcats have turned the corner since that 2-6 stretch, they want to get even with the Ducks and make their climb back up the conference standings. Chase Budinger had only four points in their first meeting, but he’ll turn it around in Autzen. Oregon struggled through their road trip and won’t have time to regroup against a hungry Wildcat basketball team.
Arizona 82, Oregon 74
Savir Punia, staff writer
![]()
Which Arizona team will show up on Saturday? Will it be the team that started the year 12-1 or the team that lost six out of eight after that? Anybody who watched that game knows that the Wildcats simply cannot stop point guard Aaron Brooks from penetrating. The most frustrating part is that he always goes right, like he did on his game-winning shot in the first match-up. They know its coming and the Wildcats still can’t stop it. It will be dǸjÇÿ vu for Arizona fans as Brooks hits another game winner.
Oregon 77, Arizona 75
Cameron Jones, staff writer
No. 2 UCLA at West Virginia
![]()
The Moutaineers just lost their first home game of the season Wednesday to a top 10 team. Look for the Bruins to make it two. In beating USC for the second time this season, UCLA has made sure that the Pac-10 is only the most competitive it has been in years in the race for second place. With their suffocating defense, the Bruins shouldn’t have much trouble continuing their dominance on the other side of the
country.
UCLA 72, West Virginia 57
Michael Schwartz, assistant sports editor
![]()
Even though it’s apparent the Bruins are feeling the loss of Jordan Farmar from last season, they continue to roll, and it should be no different against Mountaineers. West Virginia’s record of 18-5 is misleading as they have only played two ranked teams and lost both of them, the most recent coming in a beat-down at the hands of Pitt. West Virginia will have a tough time putting points on the board against this defensive powerhouse. This one’s not even close. UCLA rolls.
UCLA 70, West Virginia 45
Savir Punia, staff writer
![]()
West Virginia just lost their first home game of the season Wednesday night, falling 60-47 to No. 6 Pittsburgh. Look for a fired up squad to hit the floor against UCLA and don’t expect the Bruins to hand the Mountaineers back-to-back losses in Morgantown. West Virginia is always tough at home, and UCLA was lucky to get by USC Wednesday night. Expect a heavy dose of West Virginia home cooking on a Saturday that will see both the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the
nation fall.
West Virginia 62, UCLA 55
Cameron Jones, staff writer
No. 1 Florida at No. 20 Kentucky
![]()
If I’ve learned one thing over the last year of college sports, it’s “”don’t pick against the Gators.”” (Luckily I learned that before football’s National Championship game, thank you very much.) With the SEC’s top offense and defense, not even the raucous Rupp Arena crowd can stop the Gator train from rolling to its 16th-straight win when Kentucky’s version of the Wildcats become Gator-bait.
Florida 75, Kentucky 67
Michael Schwartz, assistant sports editor
![]()
After a huge road win against rival Georgia Feb. 7, Florida looks unstoppable and back in championship form. But since losing to Georgia in overtime Jan. 24, Kentucky has won three straight. Still, Tubby Smith’s team doesn’t look like the powerhouse force that Kentucky basketball is supposed to be. Florida is way too talented with five players averaging double figures in points, plus it’s hard to beat the force in the paint that is Joakim Noah and Al Horford.
Florida 82, Kentucky 68
Savir Punia, staff writer
![]()
Although the Gators are currently No. 1 in the nation and the defending national champions, I like Kentucky in this one. Randolph Morris is finally playing like the player he was supposed to be coming out of high school three years ago, and his size matches up well with Florida’s two stud big men, Al Horford and Joakim Noah. On the outside, guard Joe Crawford is shooting threes at nearly a 40 percent clip this season and I like Kentucky’s inside-out combination to overwhelm Florida’s balanced scoring attack.
Kentucky 73, Florida 68
Cameron Jones, staff writer
