Yes They Can–Pac 10

2009 is a new year. Turn those frowns upside down.

Despite the #1 team in the country losing, you might argue the biggest upset of the weekend occurred in Corvalis.  Oregon State, fresh off an 0-18 run in the Pac-10 last year, defeated USC in overtime.  The Oregonian’s Paul Buker profiles pre-game articles referring to the Beavers as a “speed bump” and “gimme” before the game.   Coach Robinson’s early win should help change the culture at OSU.  It sounds like the Trojans ignored their coach while floundering down the stretch.  From Buker’s post game analysis:

“TIM FLOYD: (On how USC planned to defend Schaftenaar’s shot)
“The plan was to foul under seven seconds. That’s the first thing that didn’t happen — we did not get the foul. We wanted to put (Haynes) on the line for two shots or one-and-one, get a rebound and make it a free throw contest. That didn’t happen either.”
(Did he want Gibson to leave Schaftenaar to help on Haynes?)
“No, but it happened.”

The win means Oregon State is not in the cellar of the Pac-10 for the first time in awhile.  That ignominious distinction falls to Oregon and Arizona.  The Ducks excuse is they’re starting three freshmen.  Arizona’s wild ride continues as they were swept in the Bay Area.  The loss to Cal was alright, but to lose to a Stanford team that was throttled by Az State?  Darren Sabedra reviews the game writing, “A victory over Arizona might not carry the cache it did during the Lute Olson era, but Stanford will happily accept what unfolded Sunday night at Maples Pavilion.” Ouch.  It was a bad night for Chase Budinger, four field goals made, four fouls and four turnovers.  As a team the Wildcats coughed it up 20 times enroute to starting their Pac-10 campaign 0-2 for the first time since 1995-1996.

How about Cal?  It appears Mike Montgomery is on his way towards waking the Pac-10’s sleeping giant as Cal beat Arizona and Arizona State over the holiday weekend.  Monte Poole attributes the Golden Bear’s hot start to the Coach and new star, Jerome Randle–26pts, 10 assists, 5reb against Arizona State.  Scott Ostler has more on how Randle has thrived under the new coaching regime.

The theme of change swept Pullman too where Washington defeated Washington State for the first time in nearly three years.

Not everything is upside down out West.  UCLA quietly picked up road victories over Oregon and Oregon State and shares first place in the league.