OPEN BASKETBALL GAME THREAD: Cougar off-night edition
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 5:00 PM PST
in The Pac-10
106 comments
The Cougs are off tonight, but that certainly doesn't mean tonight is without interest for Coug fans -- as we established after last weekend, a lot of what happens tonight will affect where WSU is seeded in the Pac-10 Tournament. And I don't have to tell you that how we perform in that tournament will ultimately decide whether we play in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.
Here's a quick look at each game, and how you ought to root for maximum benefit for the Cougs. (By the way, I only marginally understand all the tiebreaking scenarios, so if you think I've got my info wrong below, let me know.)
Stanford at No. 21 Arizona State, 5:30 p.m. PST -- Go Devils! This one is pretty cut and dried. While ASU and Stanford won't factor into our seeding chances, we want ASU to win. Every win the Sun Devils pile up between now and the end of the season makes us look better and helps our RPI.
Where you can find the game: FSN AZ, Justin.tv
Cal at Arizona, 7:30 p.m. PST -- Go ... um ... not sure. If you think Pac-10 Tournament seeding is most important, then you root for Cal, given that we're neck-and-neck with the Wildcats in the standings. If you think improving our RPI is most important to boost our overall resume, then you root for Arizona, over whom we actually possess a win.
Where you can find the game: FSN, Justin.tv
Oregon at USC, 7:30 p.m. PST -- Go Oregon! Never thought I'd say that in my lifetime, but the Trojans are the one team we're battling with that holds the clear tiebreaker edge over us. A win by either the Ducks or Beavers over the Trojans would guarantee us a higher finish than USC. Additionally, a win by Oregon does help the RPI, however marginally.
Where you can find the game: Channelsurfing.net (just scroll down to find the game)
Oregon State at No. 20 UCLA, 7:30 p.m. PST -- Go Bruins! Not only does a win over Oregon State help our seeding chances, a win by UCLA helps the old RPI.
Where you can find the game: FCS (Comcast channel 415), DirecTV channel 694, Dish Network channel 408
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Anyone here?
Just tuning into Stanford/ASU now …
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 5:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I'll be paying attention
I’ll be watching the 7:30 FSN game…but keeping track of the others. I was hoping we could do a board for the games tonight.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 5:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, happy to be at your service
Unfortunately, I can’t get the game to load up over the network here at work as I finish up. I’ll try to catch it when I get home.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 6:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ASU offense looking awful so far
0-4 from 3, 1-7 overall. They’re even only 2-4 from the line. Ouch.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 6:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
James Harden now 4-for-8
Everyone else 0-4.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 6:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Are the AZ schools wilting?
We’ll see if ASU lost their steam when they visited Washington or they are just gearing up for a monster second half. All I know is that Goods doesn’t seem to know how to miss a 3.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 6:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The early shooting percentages are not encouraging for ASU
Tired legs are death to a zone, too.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Came back a little at the half
But geez … ASU still only played six guys in the first half. What in the world is Sendek trying to do?
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 6:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
ASU is starting to remind me of the poor man's USC right now
It just seems like Sendak is riding Harden like USC always does with their high end guard recruits (Mayo, DeRozan, etc.) and then relying on one forward (Pendergraph = Taj Gibson). But it is just not working for ASU.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 6:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
It's time to start wondering if ASU might not be finished
Normally, they’re so tough at home. But they just look gassed all around. They really need contributions from Kuksiks to be effective — they can’t just win with Harden and Pendergraph and no one else.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 7:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ASU already in the bonus, though
That’s a good sign. C’mon, DEVILS!
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 7:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
My baby is crying. . .
because he is afraid of James Harden’s beard.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 7:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don't want to say this is over. . .
but it sure looks that way. Oh well, I guess it sucks more to be an ASU fan than us on this one.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 7:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
This one would have been nice...
But I feel that the other games tonight are more important. Let’s go Oregon, keep winning for the Cougs.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 7:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
ASU is done.
Stay away from them in the tournament. Their legs are shot.
by thecassino on Mar 5, 2009 7:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well. . .I really wanted to catch the USC v. UO game, but the channelsurfing link ain't working.
So I am stuck with the UA v. Cal game. If people are watching either the USC or UCLA game, keep me posted.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 7:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Online streaming does not cater to macs usually
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 7:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Works perfectly on my Mac.
Actually, my buddy next to me with the Sony Vaio is the one having problems.
by brlogan on Mar 5, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oregon looks like their in it
Anyone watching the game? How does Oregon look?
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 7:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Checking the score again...
And USC looks to be running away from Oregon a bit.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 8:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That's just so not good for the Cougs
Half of our tournament argument comes from sweeping the Devils.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 8:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
UA looks to be in control
They are a different team at home.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 8:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
OSU 19 - UCLA 43 - Half
Ouch… That’s one team out of the running…
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 8:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Nic WIse just picked up his third foul of the first half
Very interesting.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 8:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
USC leads Oregon by 1 at half
36-35. And here comes Cal with Wise on the bench.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 8:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Cal draws within 4
But better start playing some D.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 8:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
This Lute Olsen tribute is somewhat strange
Hope our tribute to Tony after 25 years is better put together then this.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 8:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
OSU is fighting back...
50-34 – UCLA
DON’T BLOW IT BRUINS!!!
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 8:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I love playoff time in sports, especially in the digital age
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 8:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
You know, every time I watch Cal all I can think
Is how they would have run away with the Pac-10 title if they still had Ryan Anderson. That team might have been a No. 1 seed.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
nah
what we really need is a center. but i think we win the Pac-10 with Anderson, at the very least.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 5, 2009 10:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Are you kidding?
The only team in the nation that would be able to match your offensive firepower would be North Carolina.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 10:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't know our game
on sat. was picked up by CBS. thats sweet!
by peaty411s on Mar 5, 2009 9:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I didn't know that either
When did that happen?
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
it says that on ESPN's scoreboard
on WSU’s website it says just FSN, but im going to belive ESPN on this one
by peaty411s on Mar 5, 2009 9:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't know CBS did Pac 10 games. Are we still at 2:30?
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Every pac-10 game on sat
is on CBS or ABC, thats good exposure.
by peaty411s on Mar 5, 2009 9:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
We were on CBS against Arizona the first time
At 11 a.m. Yeesh.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah...i forgot that was CBS.
Guess it was too early in the morning for me.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The CBS Sports website says they have a national game (Texas @ Kansas) at 1...
Meaning they don’t have this game… I saw it advertised on FSN earlier too. It’s still on FSN, but it’s in HD.
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 9:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This Arizona/Cal game is highly entertaining.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
He's got to be the most underrated player in the country
If he played in the SEC or Big East they’d be talking about him as a second or third team all-American.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He truly has unlimited range
And it forces defenses way outside on him. Wise can’t stay with him if he has to cover him 30 feet from the basket and deal with the quickness.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll say it again
Picture that team with Ryan Anderson. Scary.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
We're actually going to tailgate in the north lot before the game
If anyone wants to stop by.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The UCLA/OSU game is over
I think they put the mercy rule into effect: 79-54 UCLA
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 9:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Cal is just murdering UA from three point land
Keep it up!
UA – 6-15
Cal – 14-28
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 9:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I guess after 14 strait losses
we couldn’t expect oregon to win 3 in a row
by peaty411s on Mar 5, 2009 9:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This USC/UO game is pretty much over.
If Cal can hang on we would be 2-2 on the night, that’s not bad
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 9:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Buddinger plays out of control and always gets calls
I really don’t like that guy.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Plus the Offensive (fifth) foul on Wise
As Marcus Cooper would say "Dagerization!
by GoCougs on Mar 5, 2009 9:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
RANDLE!!!
I do not want to face him in the Pac 10 tourney. He can lead Cal all the way through the gauntlet by himself if he shoots like this.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If this holds...
I believe all we need is a USC loss and a WSU win to get the #5…
by Pman on Mar 5, 2009 9:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
OSU over USC....?
Maybe, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch. Unless USC is counting on the Pac 10 tournament to get a bid, maybe overlooking OSU or resting some players. But still, we’re in decent position.
Tony Bennett for Heisman!
by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's a stretch
But USC has overplayed their horses and could be tired. And we would have said us going on a three game streak would be a stretch. Crazier things have happened.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
oh man
If we get the 5 seed we will play ASU. That’s a chance too good to pass up!
Tony Bennett for Heisman!
by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 9:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately, nothing that happened tonight helps our RPI
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I was holding out hope that we might get some help
But everything that might’ve helped our RPI didn’t happen tonight.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 5, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
At least now is becomes simple
We win, and a USC or AZ loss means we get a bye, or we win the tiebreaker over AZ. Who would have thought that 2 weeks ago?
by peaty411s on Mar 5, 2009 9:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
It is an amazing run we're on
And being locked as a lowest possible 7th…and a shot at 6th even if we don’t pull it out Saturday. Amazing turn of events.
by 02Coug on Mar 5, 2009 9:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
clearly that will happen
:)
Tony Bennett for Heisman!
by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 9:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm wrong anyway
USC has to win, and Arizona has to lose, which would give the tiebreaker to WSU over UA.
by thecassino on Mar 5, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
also I think you are right
We lose tiebreakers with USC, we’d lose if we ended up tied with Arizona and USC, and we would lose tiebreakers with Arizona. 7th I suppose isn’t so bad, especially considering we’d get UCLA who we’ve already beat already, if we beat Oregon.
Tony Bennett for Heisman!
by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 10:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No, peaty was right
USC beats OSU, and Stanford beats Arizona and UW beats WSU:
5th: USC (9-9)
6th: WSU (8-10)
7th: Zona (8-10)
8th: OSU (7-11)
Can’t get the 5th seed without a win though, which is where you want to be, cuz that would probably give you a first round game against Arizona State.
by thecassino on Mar 5, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
doesn't Arizona have the tiebreaker?
If we have the same record doesn’t the tiebreaker start with head to head (we split), then go with record against top teams (We would have lost twice to UW while Arizona won once).
Tony Bennett for Heisman!
by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 10:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's a quirk.
If we beat UW, we have to root FOR Oregon State. If UW wins, we have to root AGAINST Oregon State. That’s because if we win and OSU loses, we’re #5 outright, and the Committee would have to reach down below us to pick Arizona, hopefully scooping us up as well. If we lose and OSU wins, we’re the #8 seed no matter what.
Assuming OSU over USC, UA over Stanford, and UW over WSU: UA is 9-9 and takes #5 outright. The 3-way tie for 6th would be resolved as follows:
#6: OSU: 3-1 (sweep USC, split with WSU)
#7: USC: 2-2 (swept by OSU, swept WSU)
#8: WSU: 1-3 (split with OSU, swept by USC)
Assuming OSU over USC, Stanford over UA, and UW over WSU: 4-way tie for #5, all at 8-10. That tie would be resolved like this:
#5: UA: 4-2 (swept OSU, split with USC, split with WSU)
#6: OSU: 3-3 (sweep USC, split with WSU, swept by UA)
#7: USC: 3-3 (swept by OSU, swept WSU, split with UA);
#8: WSU: 2-4 (split with OSU, swept by USC, split with UA)
by Pman on Mar 5, 2009 10:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought today's games would clear things up
but they didn’t really…
The only thing I know for sure is that Cal is now locked into the #3 seed.
Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"
by PaulThomas on Mar 5, 2009 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
OK, one more fact of interest:
I’ve just figured out that if UCLA and Washington tie, UCLA will win on the third (!) tiebreaker by having an 11-2 to 9-3 advantage in nonconference record. If Washington had scheduled a D-I opponent instead of Seattle and beaten Portland in their first game of the season, they’d have gone to a coin toss.
Far out.
Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"
by PaulThomas on Mar 5, 2009 11:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, the third tiebreaker bit only applies if Cal loses to ASU
If Cal beats ASU, UCLA wins by the much simpler expedient of having swept Cal.
Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"
by PaulThomas on Mar 5, 2009 11:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not that it really matters, but...
Seattle is D-1 this year…
by james_WSU on Mar 6, 2009 12:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
You’re right on the tiebreaker. I was thinking they would have the same records against UW, but clearly that would not be the case.
It’s all pretty exhausting.
by thecassino on Mar 5, 2009 11:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Even though the Pac-10 does not have the same talent it had last year. . .
this year sure has been exciting to watch. Even Oregon (the Oregon State of last year) pulled off a few key wins.
by JimtheCoug on Mar 5, 2009 9:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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