[sportsfan2006]

By Randy Rosetta
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Everybody has UCLA, Washington and Arizona pegged as the teams to beat in the Pac-10 this season, with Washington State holding onto to the spot as the leagueʼs most surprising team so far in 2006-07.

But Southern Cal would like to claim its place among the Pac-10 elite in the early going, and the Trojans get the perfect chance to do so when league play tips off today.

USC will host No. 14 Washington on Thursday night in Los Angeles and then square off with Washington State Saturday.

Troy enters Pac-10 action with a 10-3 record after knocking off sixth-ranked Wichita State on Saturday in Las Vegas, USCʼs fifth win in six games since a close-call 10-point loss at Kansas on Dec. 4. The Trojans limited the Shockers to 38 percent shooting from the floor, the 12th foe in 13 games who has failed to shoot 40 percent.

Southern Calʼs defense has been a major key this season. The Trojans lead the nation in field-goal defense at 33.4 percent and are limiting foes to 26.1 percent accuracy (73-of-280) from 3-point territory.

USC junior guard Nick Young notched a season-high 26 points vs. Wichita State, his 10th straight game in double digits.

The Trojans have rattled off eight straight home wins, but have lost their last three Pac-10 openers. Washington (11-1) swept USC a year ago and owns five wins in a row over Troy to draw even in the all-time series, 62-62.

Rebounding will be a focal point tonight. With scrappy 6-foot-7 sophomore Jon Brockman (10.1 rebounds a game) and 7-footer Spencer Hawes (5.9) leading the way, Washington is dominating the glass this year, beating opponents by an average of 43.8-30.3.

The Huskies lead the Pac-10 in scoring (88 points a game) and will probably be favored on WagerWeb.com, but look for Southern Cal to take UW down to the wire.

WASHINGTON STATE: The Cougars are on a roll entering Pac-10 play, with four wins in a row against 18th-ranked Gonzaga, Idaho, Cal State Northridge and San Diego State. WSU encounters its nemesis in the league opener, top-ranked UCLA. The Bruins owns an 89-13 series lead against the Cougars, although four of the last UCLA victories have been by three points or less. Washington State is 0-16 when playing the Bruins when they are No. 1. Guards Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver lead the way for the Cougars. Weaver recorded his first career double-double against San Diego State with a season-best 16 points (all in the second half) and 11 rebounds. Low is WSUʼs leading scorer with 15.5 points a game and ranks ninth in the league in 3-point shooting (27-of-61, 44.3 percent). The Cougar defense has been salty this season, allowing a league-low 57.7 points a game.

OREGON STATE: The Beavers can spoil Oregonʼs best start in 60 years when the rivals lift the crank up the Pac-10 season Saturday in Corvallis. OSU follows that with two more home games, against No. 1 UCLA and up-and-coming Southern Cal next week. Freshman forward Roland Schaftenaar was perfect from the floor last week, hitting all three shots against Howard and then going 6-for-6 vs. Mercer. The Beavers have one player each in the Pac-10ʼs top 12 in scoring (Marcel Jones, 9th with 15.8 points a game), rebounding (Kyle Jeffers, 12th with 6.6 per game) and assists (Josh Tarver, 10th with 3.5 per game).

STANFORD: The Cardinal logged a 69-67 victory against Fresno State on Dec. 19, with twin freshmen Brook and Robin Lopez returning to their hometown and scoring 10 points apiece. Sophomore guard Mitch Johnson was also big against the Bulldogs with a career-high 10 assists. Stanford opens Pac-10 play with the Arizona swing, starting off in Tempe on Thursday. In seven victories this season, sophomore forward Lawrence Hill is averaging 17 points and shooting 61.5 percent (48 of 72) from the floor. Stanford ranks second in the Pac-10 in field-goal defense (40.8 percent) and third in blocked shots (4.3 per game).

ARIZONA STATE: In their last game, the Sun Devils limited Colgate to 36 points, the fewest by an ASU opponent since 1949. The Devils may need similar defensive efforts as they get into Pac-10 play. They rank last in the league in scoring offense with 65.3 points a game and are also hovering near the bottom of the league stats in free-throw shooting (10th), field-goal defense (10th) and field-goal shooting (9th). On the bright side, big men Jeff Pendergraph and Serge Angounou have provided a nice tandem for Arizona State. Over the last seven games, Angounou is producing 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds a game, while Pendergraph is hanging up 11.2 points and 10.8 boards in his last five outings, buoyed by a career-best 19 rebounds against Colgate.

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