STF Conference Reports: The Pac-10 1/10/08

It's been about a month since I last delivered a conference report here at STF. Lots of things have happened out West and it's only going to get better now that we're into conference season. I debated with myself over the last 24 hours whether or not to make this week a recap of the last month, or just the last week as what happens in conference is far more important. Unless your losing to team's like Oakland. The decision? Just the last week as I feel conference season is where it at. It's where you separate the legitimate from fraudulent.

Team Of The Week - Arizona State. It was either these guys or UCLA. Who you could argue won tougher games and did so on the road, but I figure how often will ASU have a shot to win this? They won't be hosting Arizona, Oregon, and Oregon State every week. If I were looking at the last month the Sun Devils are a slam dunk anyway. Having man-slapped Xavier by 22 on December 15th. The Sun Devils are beginning to look like a tournament team, but to get it done they'll need to win on the road. Something I'm not sure they can do just yet. If they get it done expect to see these guys instead of say... Oregon come march.

Player Of The Week - James Harden. Without all the hype of fellow in-state freshman Jerryd Bayless Harden has stepped in and immediately become his team's best player. Turning a team that won just two conference games last season into the "team no one wants to play." Over the past week Harden averaged almost 24 points and 7 rebounds in the three victories. Harden's repeated trips to the rim are creating opportunities for his teammates and are a big reason ASU is getting it done in the halfcourt.

Team With The Worst Week - USC. Oregon probably had the worst month overall, but as I said I'm all about what's happened in conference thus far. And for USC it wasn't a good start. They lost both of their games last week to Stanford and California. While both were roads games and both teams are expected to contend for tournament bids this USC team was supposed to be great. This is a team that almost knocked off Memphis (neutral floor) and they're struggling horribly against Cal? The biggest reasons for their struggles are OJ Mayo and Taj Gibson. I'm not even sure Taj is playing as he's failed to show up thus far and this team has no chance without him playing well. You may remember he was a big part of their success last season and in March when they slayed Kevin Durant's longhorns. As for Mayo, he needs to play under control for an entire game. He tends to get selfish and fire up bad shots in bunches. He needs to facilitate more and it'll lead to even more open shots for him as well. And one would expect with open shots would come a raise in his abysmal shooting percentage.

Games To Watch -
Tonight - Cal @ Oregon 8:30 EST, (4) Wash St. @ USC 11 EST on FSN
1/12 Arizona @ Houston, (4) Wash St. @ (5) UCLA
1/13 (23) Stanford @ Oregon

I'm recording USC/Wazzu tonight as I won't be home, but it should officially let us know if USC can live up to the hype. Game of the week is easily Wazzu and UCLA, should be a good one. Arizona's non-conference schedule has been psychotic and that continues with a trip to Houston on Saturday. A game they'll likely lose is Jerryd Bayless is still sitting on the bench in street clothes.