Thursday Pac-12 Hoops Preview

January 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Film and television actor Mark Wahlberg poses with UCLA Bruins cheerleaders at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight we shift from the desert to Southern California as the Oregon schools  visit LA.

Oregon at UCLA-  This could be an interesting game.  Oregon has made their way into the NCAA tournament discussion by winning three straight games.  Of course all three games were at home.  But if the Ducks were to find a way to get a win at Pauley Pavillion tonight, that would almost certainly vault them from last four out to at least last four in.  But UCLA has been playing very well lately and that seems like a stretch to me.

Oregon St. at USC- USC, the place where every team not named Cal has picked up a road win.  Oregon St. isn’t playing for the NCAA tournament, but I assume the Beavers would like to enjoy some form of post season play, so winning at USC is a must.  I actually think the future is bright for the Trojans under Enfield if they’ll have some patience but the future does not start tonight.

And in cast I don’t get to it tomorrow

Washington St. is at Washington- One of two of Wazzu’s wins was against the Huskies.  And road wins have generally come on either the first game of the road trip or when a team only has one game.  All that said, Wazzu has lost six straight and Ken Bone’s time in Pullman is almost done.  Romar is a guy who blows inexplicable games but a home game to Wazzu isn’t going to be one of them.

Look back in the morning for the HoyoScale Standing update.