Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Weekly Recap (2/1/2021)

By Ben Martinez

@ON_a_HEATER

Welcome to my Conference of Champions, Pacific 12 (PAC-12) men’s college basketball weekly review and recap column. With this article, my goal is to give you the information you need to become a more knowledgable sports bettor, delivered to you each week in a simple and easy-to-read format. I'm both a Los Angeles local and proud L.A. native who grew up watching UCLA's Tyus Edney and his famous coast to coast buzzer beater, USC big man Sam Clancy bully defenders in the post, the dominant, dynamic duo of Arizona's Miles Simon and Mike Bibby and everything in between. The 2020-21 season now brings us even more excitement and unpredictability then ever before, and we will break it down here together each week, from the marquee top 25 matchups to the classic in-state college rivalries from year's past.

Author's Note: Pac-12 conference games are typicall played on Thursday/Saturday, but some are being played on other days of the week due to COVID-19. Any questions? Ask me on twitter @ON_a_HEATER.

California Golden Bears 68 @ Arizona State Sun Devils 72

• Thursday (1/28): Arizona State 72-68 (California +8.5, Under 143.5)
• Last meeting (12/3): Arizona State 70-62 (Arizona State +1.5, Under 190.5)
• Last year: Arizona State 1-0 SU 0-1 ATS, 0-1 O/U

From the jump, the Cal Bears played catch up against the underachieving Sun Devils. Arizona State senior point guard Remy Martin continues to be the lone bright spot for Arizona State, finishing with 19 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals. The Golden Bears took a one-point lead into the half and kept it closer than it should have been, with the "Thicc Brothers" in junior guard Matt Bradley (26 pts/10 reb) and junior F/C Andre Kelly (16 pts/13 reb), who combined for 42 of the Bears' 68 points. Sun Devils freshman guard Josh Christopher had a four-point play at the 4:39 mark that also helped to stretch the lead. The Sun Devils proved to be a force to be reckoned with, while Jalen Celestine did not help Cal’s chances by fouling Martin on a three-point attempt with only 1:41 left. Despite Cal's poor defensive performance, the true nail in the coffin came when Matt Bradley missed the front end of three 1 and 1 opportunities at the free throw line.

Oregon State Beavers 62 @ USC Trojans 75

• Thursday (1/28): USC Trojans 75-62 (USC -11.5, over 135.5)
• Last meeting (1/19): Oregon State 58-56 (Oregon State +9.5, Under 138.5)
• Last year: USC Trojans 1-0 SU 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U

The Trojans' athleticism was on display for all to see in this match up, with both the height and length advantages of USC clearly bothering a shorter Oregon St. team. USC out-rebounded the Beavers 48-30 while totaling 21 offensive rebounds in the process. Evan Mobley (14 pts/13 reb) led "Troy" on both ends of the court, while Isaiah White and Noah Baumann added 11 points each. Beaver guard Ethan Thompson (20 pts/7 reb) and Jarod Lucas (18 pts) kept the game within reach, as Oregon St. was down by 10 points with only 3:38 left. But the Trojans allowed the Beavers to score only four more points the rest of the way.

Stanford Cardinal 73 @ Arizona Wildcats 64

• Saturday (1/28): Stanford Cardinal 73-64 (Stanford +8.5, over 143.5)
• Last meeting (12/19): Stanford 78-75 (Stanford -2.5, over 137.5)
• Last year: Arizona 1-0 SU 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U

No Ziaire Williams? No problem. Despite being eight-point underdogs, the Cardinal upset the Wildcats in the desert in this matchup behind its starting backcourt stars in junior Jaiden Delaire (21pts) and senior Oscar da Silva (17 pts), Stanford matched the Wildcats shot for shot too, as junior guard James Akinjo led the team with 17 points and 6 assists. Stanford led 33-29 at the half, although Arizona would bear down and take the lead back at the 10 min mark after Bennedict Mathurin was fouled on a three-point shot.

Utah Runnin Utes 77 @ Colorado Buffaloes 74

• Saturday (1/30): Utah Utes 77-74 (Utah Utes +8.5, over 136.5)
• Last meeting (1/11): Colorado 65-58 (Colorado -2.5, Under 139.5)
• Last year: Split 1-1 SU, 2-0 O/U

This was simply a tale of two halves, as the host Colorado Buffaloes stampeded the visiting Utes in the first half by shooting over 50% from three-point land. Colorado senior McKinley Wright IV (15 pts/4 ast) led the Buffaloes to a seven-point halftime lead, and Colorado was able to extend its lead to 19 points with 8:46 left in the game. Then the Utes started "Runnin." Timmy Allen’s contributions (17 pts/10 reb) kept Utah in the game from start to finish, and it was senior Alfonso Plummer (23 pts) who put the team on his back en route to an impressive road victory. Plummer scored all of his 23 points in the second half, and his four-point play at the 3:24 mark put Utah up for good, erasing a 19-point deficit in just five minutes.

California Golden Bears 50 @ Arizona Wildcats 71

• Saturday (1/30): Arizona Wildcats 71-50 (Arizona -9.5, over 138.5)
• Last meeting: none
• Last year: Arizona 1-0 SU 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U

This contest was all Arizona from the tip, as the host Wildcats forced Cal guard Matt Bradley (21pts/7 to) to turn over the ball four times before the Golden Bears even scored a point. California big man Andre Kelly (4 pts/5 pf), was in foul trouble all game and picked up two quick fouls early that allowed Arizona to attack the rim with no resistance. Led by junior guard, James Akinjo (20 pts/8 ast), the Wildcats cruised at home.

Oregon State Beavers 52 @ UCLA Bruins 57

• Saturday (1/30): UCLA Bruins 57-52 (Oregon State +11.5, Under 135.5)
• Last meeting: none
• Last year: UCLA 1-0 SU 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U

A balanced effort helped the Bruins achieve victory at home over the visiting Beavers with UCLA junior forward Cody Riley (16 pts/10 reb) dominating inside of the paint. The guard-driven Beavers had no answers for slowing down Riley, but the Oregon State backcourt, led by Ethan Thompson (16 pts/4 ast) helped keep this game close. UCLA struggled to breakaway from Oregon State as -11.5 point home favorites, despite the host Bruins forcing nine more turnovers and grabbing five more offensive rebounds.

Stanford Cardinal 75 @ Arizona State Sun Devils 79

• Saturday (1/30): Arizona State 79-75 (Arizona State -3.5, Under 146.5)
• Last meeting: none
• Last year: Arizona State 1-0 SU 1-0 ATS, 1-0 O/U

The Sun Devils try to turn their season around on Saturday evening versus the Cardinal with no Ziaire Williams again for Stanford. Remy Martin (23 pts/6 ast) led Arizona State in this one, as the Sun Devils' full court press confused the Cardinal back court throughout the contest. Where Stanford shined was in the post, with junior forward Jainden Delaire (21 pts) and senior forward Oscar da Silva (18 pts/11 reb) dominating on the block for the Cardinal and helping to keep them in the game. Stanford lived at the charity stripe, making 31 of 34 foul shots, while Arizona State made 50% of its field goals overall. Both of these teams are tough, however, and I look forward to Williams' return for this Stanford program.