Player of the Week
Rollie Worster (Utah)
The Utes had a great week and a lot of the credit deserves to go to Rollie Worster. The junior guard was stellar in two Pac-12 matchups and stuffed the stat sheet as the Utes moved to 7-2. In a game against #4 Arizona, Utah came to play and won convincingly, scoring 81 to the Wildcats 66. Worster had a near triple-double and led the team in assists and rebounds. He paired 12 points with 11 rebounds and 9 assists. He followed this up with another great performance against the Washington State Cougars where the Utes won again with a final score of 67-65. In 38 minutes of play, Worster scored 19 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. He led the team in scoring and was second in rebounding, helping the Utes get five games above .500.
Who’s Hot
Amari Bailey (UCLA)
It seems as though the freshman Amari Bailey has found his footing in the NCAA. Though it took some games for him to adjust, Bailey performed against two Pac-12 teams in this week’s slate of games. In a 14-point win against the Stanford Cardinal, he scored 19 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 3 assists. He did this all while shooting 7/9 from the field and 2/2 from deep. He had another good performance against the Oregon Ducks, showing signs of consistent efficient shooting. He scored 14 points while grabbing 5 rebounds and shooting 58% from the field. He is turning into one of the most efficient guard players among the Pac-12.
Utah Utes
The Utes improved their record to 7-2 this week after winning two inter conference matchups. They beat the fourth best team in the country, the Arizona Wildcats, by a convincing 15 points. Four players scored in double figures, and they held the Wildcats to 66 points on 35% from the field. They followed this up with a 67-65 win against the Washington State Cougars. Four players scored in double figures again and they were able to win their closest game this season.
Who’s Not
Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado lost both of their games this week and started off 0-2 in conference play. They lost a nail biter to the Arizona State Sun Devils, 60-59. They shot only 42% as a team from the field and 66% from the free throw line. The Buffaloes also lost to the Washington Huskies, 73-63. They shot 44% from the field and 29% from the three. Colorado will need some players to step up if they want to improve on their 4-5 record
Top 5 Teams to Watch for in March
1. Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats boast a 7-1 record through the first eight games and look like one of the top teams in the country. Returning players Kerr Kriisa and Azuolas Tubelis provide leadership to a team with loads of talent. The emergence of Oumar Ballo gives them both options on offense and a solid big man duo underneath. This team should be one of the favorites when March Madness comes.
2. UCLA Bruins
UCLA comes year in and year out with a roster that proves to be championship worthy, and this year is no different. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is one of the best players in the country and shows every night the valuable things he brings to a team. Senior Tyger Campbell is a great point guard who can help the Bruins make it deep into the tournament. In addition, Amari Bailey provides efficient scoring and should improve as the season goes on.
3. Utah Utes
The Utes have a deep roster that allows them to go deep in the bench and still find usefulness for lots of players on their team. In addition, they have a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen that contribute night in and night out. The backcourt of Marco Anthony and Rollie Worster provide experienced floor generals for the entire team.
4. Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State has had the hottest start of any team thus far in the Pac-12. They’re currently 8-1 and 2-0 in conference play. Their highlight win so far has been against Michigan, where they won 87-62. The sophomore Frankie Collins and DJ Horne provide a younger and fun backcourt to a team that experiments with different guys playing.
5. USC Trojans
Though the Trojans have already lost three games, their team is deep with talented upperclassmen that prove integral every year in the NCAA Tournament. Drew Peterson and Boogie Ellis and are some of the most talented players in the Pac-12. USC also has Joshua Morgan on roster, a junior big man who averages just over 3.5 blocks a game. If this team clicks, they can win in March.