The Pac-10 has qualified at least two teams to the NCAA Tournament every year since 1988. However, that string will be broken this season unless someone other than top-ranked Stanford (23-0 straight up, 15-6 against the spread) or 17th-ranked Arizona (17-7 SU, 11-12 ATS) win the Pac-10 Tournament in a few weeks.
The Cardinal have a Ratings Percentage Index of four, and should have a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament unless they completely unravel. The Wildcats have an RPI of 33, meaning coach Lute Olson?s team could be looking at an eight or nine seed.
California (11-12 SU, 8-15 ATS) is the next closest with an RPI of 91. With a rating that high, the Golden Bears will have to win the Pac-10 Tournament to avoid the postseason NIT. However, Cal will have to have a .500 record or better to be eligible for the NIT.
There are still three weeks remaining in the regular season, so let?s not jump the gun. Stanford claimed its fourth league title the last six years by sweeping the Los Angeles schools last weekend.
Arizona and Washington (13-10 SU, 12-11 ATS) square off Thursday in a battle for second place in the Pac-10. However, a bigger battle might be between Washington State (11-13 SU, 9-10 ATS) and Arizona State (10-14 SU, 5-18 ATS). The Cougars and Sun Devils meet Thursday with a possible spot in the Pac-10 Tournament on the line.
The top eight teams advance to the tournament, and Wazzu is tied for ninth place with Oregon State (11-13 SU, 12-8 ATS) at 5-9 in conference play. Arizona State is currently in last place with a 4-11 league record. However, the Sun Devils are off a tough road win at Oregon (12-9 SU, 10-10 ATS).
Here?s a look at Thursday?s four Pac-10 games.
**Washington at Arizona**
--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Arizona as a 15-point home ?chalk? over Washington, with the total set at 172.
--Washington was riding a three-game SU winning streak until falling to NC State Sunday as a 14-point road underdog, 77-72. The Huskies ended a two-game ATS losing skid with that effort against the Wolfpack.
--Bobby Jones paced the offense with 22 points and nine rebounds, while guard Nate Robinson added 13 and seven. That marked the 24th consecutive contest that Washington has lost a road game to a ranked foe.
--The Huskies are 4-7 SU, but 7-4 ATS on the road. Washington has been dropping those games by an average score of 82-78.
--Arizona had won three games in a row SU and four consecutive ATS before Saturday?s setback to Oregon State as an 11-point road ?chalk,? 90-84.
--The Beavers shot 55 percent (36-of-65) versus the Wildcats, but Arizona had a 34-23 rebounding advantage. Center Channing Frye had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Hassan Adams and Chris Rodgers each contributed 14 points.
--The Wildcats are 11-1 SU and 6-5 ATS on their home court, beating opponents by an average score of 92-76.
--Arizona had gone 4-0 SU the last four meetings with Washington until the Huskies defeated the Wildcats Jan. 29 as an eight-point home underdog, 96-83. Washington has covered the number the last four games in this series.
--Fox Sports Arizona and Northwest will provide coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.
**Washington State at Arizona State**
--LVSC installed Arizona State as a 5 ?-point home favorite over Washington State.
--The Cougars are mired in a three-game SU losing funk after last Thursday?s loss to Washington as an eight-point road underdog, 71-67. Wazzu ended a two-game ATS slide in that contest.
--Thomas Kelati poured in 24 points, while Marcus Moore had 13 and four assists.
--The Cougars are 6-8 SU and 5-5 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 58-52.
--Arizona State ended a two-game slide both SU and ATS with Saturday?s victory over Oregon as a nine-point road underdog, 86-75.
--Ike Diogu stepped up with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamal Hill added 18 and three. The Sun Devils shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field as the Ducks were limited to 42 percent (28-of-67).
--Arizona State is a modest 8-6 SU at home, but a horrific 2-11 ATS. The Sun Devils have been winning those outings by an average score of 77-74.
--Wazzu was 0-4 both SU and ATS versus Arizona State until upending the Sun Devils Jan. 29 as a one-point home favorite, 63-56.
--This game is set to tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET.
**Oregon State at Stanford**
--LVSC lists Stanford as a 19-point home favorite over Oregon State.
--The Beavers improved to 3-2 SU and 5-0 ATS the past five games compliments of Saturday?s victory over Arizona as an 11-point home underdog, 90-84.
--Oregon State shot a blistering 55 percent (36-of-65) from the field. David Lucas has 22 points and nine rebounds, while Chris Stephens added 22 and J.S. Nash contributed 14 and four assists.
--The Beavers are a dismal 1-8 SU on the road, but a solid 7-2 ATS. Oregon State has been dropping those affairs by an average score 81-73.
--Stanford continued its winning ways by dumping UCLA Saturday as an 8 ?-point road favorite, 73-60. That marked the third game in a row that the Cardinal covered.
--Rob Little stepped up with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Nick Robinson added 15 and six. Stanford shot a robust 56 percent (23-of-41) from the field.
--The Cardinal are 13-0 SU and 7-5 ATS at home, beating foes by an average score of 79-61.
--Stanford beat Oregon State Jan. 29 as an 11 ?-point road ?chalk,? 62-48. The Cardinal are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS the previous five games in this series.
--This Pac-10 contest will start at 10:00 p.m. ET.
**Oregon at California**
--LVSC has California as a four-point home ?chalk? over Oregon.
--The Ducks dropped to 1-3 both SU and ATS the last four games after Saturday?s loss to Arizona State as a nine-point home favorite, 86-75.
--James Davis led the Ducks with 18 points, while Pac-10 Player of the Year candidate Luke Jackson accounted for 16, four rebounds and 10 assists. Oregon was outrebounded in the loss, 38-25.
--Oregon is 4-6 SU and 5-5 ATS on the road, losing those matchups by an average score of 79-78.
--California has dropped three games in a row SU and four consecutive ATS after Saturday?s setback to Southern Cal as a 1 ?-point road underdog, 70-60.
--Amit Tamir was the only Cal player to reach double digits in scoring with 20 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Power forward Leon Powe contributed with 10 rebounds in the setback.
--The Golden Bears are 9-5 SU, but 5-9 ATS at home. Cal has been winning those games by an average score of 67-62.
--The Golden Bears had beaten Oregon three times in a row SU and four consecutive ATS before falling to the Ducks Jan. 29 as a five-point road underdog, 68-56.
