Utah drew 14,140 to Friday’s Pac-12 opener against USC, a night when students were on winter break, and it was brutally cold in Salt Lake City.
The 10th-ranked Utes lead Arizona in virtually every statistical category, and especially those of the most significance: fewest points allowed, shooting percentage (including free-throw percentage), defensive field-goal percentage and rebound margin. The Utes have made more three-pointers than Arizona and, if the season were to end today, would likely have the Pac-12’s Player of the Year, Delon Wright.
Utah’s schedule has been as difficult as Arizona’s, with games against Kansas, Wichita State, San Diego State, UNLV and BYU. (Only the Wichita State game was in Salt Lake City.)
The Utes have depth, size, reliable perimeter shooting and a freshman class, especially star-level big men Jakob Poeltl and Brekkott Chapman, that is superior to Arizona’s newcomers.
Perimeter shooter Brandon Taylor is someone Arizona could use today.
What I’m saying is, I think Utah is going to win or tie for the Pac-12 title. It will likely be close, perhaps a game separating the Utes and Wildcats, or maybe even a tie with both teams at 15-3.
The schedule-makers smiled on the Utes, who don’t have to play at Stanford or Cal, two potential losses for everybody else. Here’s how I call the Pac-12 race:
1. Utah (16-2). The title game should be Feb. 28 against Arizona in SLC.
2. Arizona (15-3). Those harrowing games at UTEP and UNLV portend bigger trouble at Cal, Stanford, Washington and Colorado.
3. Washington (12-6). Seven-footer Robert Upshaw and point guard Nigel Williams-Goss give Huskies a chance every night.
4. Cal (11-7). Backcourt of Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Mathews as good as it gets in Pac-12.
5. Stanford (11-7). The Cardinal doesn’t look like an NCAA tournament team, but its win at Texas makes it fearsome.
6. Colorado (11-7). The Buffaloes are a player short of being a contender.
7. UCLA (9-9). No bench; the Iron Five will get worn down by March and Bryce Alford will shoot too much.
8. Oregon (8-10). No road games at Utah or Colorado will help.
9. Arizona State (7-11). Better than you think.
10. USC (4-14). It lost to Army at home.
11. Oregon State (3-15). Wait till 2017.
12. Washington State (1-17). Was Ernie Kent hired to be fired?
