Air Force -2.5 ***
This is the 2nd best team in the MWC. Their style has changed a little under the new coach, but the philosophy remains the same. They are running a bit more uptempo, but they are still killing teams with back door cuts and making you play fundamental defense for 25-30 seconds everytime down the couty. The key to this game is AFA's defense, only giving up 53.6 ppg. where CSU gives up 72.6 ppg. AFA has won 5 of the last 6 meetings including a 71-56 win earlier in the year. The CSU bigs won't be able to guard AFA in the halfcourt. Smith for CSU had 27 points in the last meeting, but no other CSU player took more than 8 FG attempts. Look for Hood and Burtschsi to control things offensively for AFA.
UCLA PK **
This has been a pretty hotly contested series the past 5-6 years. Yes it's senior day at Maples Pavillion, but UCLA is playing for sole possession of the Pac-10 Championship. Stanford has been keeping games tight as of late, playing Gonzaga, USC and Wazzu in close ones. The key to this game will be the Farmar vs Hernandez match-up. Last year Hernandez torched the young freshman for 35+ points at home. UCLA is a much better defensive team as a whole, anyone who watched the 2nd half of the Cal game can attest to that. Stanford doesn't have an answer for Afflalo on the perimeter. Afflalo will take care of Grunfeld defensively and UCLA as a team will need to contain Hernandez to get this one done. UCLA in a tight one that will come down to the wire.
Good Luck
Hucklebuck
This is the 2nd best team in the MWC. Their style has changed a little under the new coach, but the philosophy remains the same. They are running a bit more uptempo, but they are still killing teams with back door cuts and making you play fundamental defense for 25-30 seconds everytime down the couty. The key to this game is AFA's defense, only giving up 53.6 ppg. where CSU gives up 72.6 ppg. AFA has won 5 of the last 6 meetings including a 71-56 win earlier in the year. The CSU bigs won't be able to guard AFA in the halfcourt. Smith for CSU had 27 points in the last meeting, but no other CSU player took more than 8 FG attempts. Look for Hood and Burtschsi to control things offensively for AFA.
UCLA PK **
This has been a pretty hotly contested series the past 5-6 years. Yes it's senior day at Maples Pavillion, but UCLA is playing for sole possession of the Pac-10 Championship. Stanford has been keeping games tight as of late, playing Gonzaga, USC and Wazzu in close ones. The key to this game will be the Farmar vs Hernandez match-up. Last year Hernandez torched the young freshman for 35+ points at home. UCLA is a much better defensive team as a whole, anyone who watched the 2nd half of the Cal game can attest to that. Stanford doesn't have an answer for Afflalo on the perimeter. Afflalo will take care of Grunfeld defensively and UCLA as a team will need to contain Hernandez to get this one done. UCLA in a tight one that will come down to the wire.
Good Luck
Hucklebuck
