Arizona State-Cal preview

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All the cookies in the cookie jar. All the marbles. No matter how you slice it, this is it. Cal and Arizona State are tied at the top of the Pac-10, each with 5 losses. With a victory, Cal clinches a share of the Pac-10 title. It’s Senior Day. It’s time to send the seniors out the right way. Of course, Arizona State has the same things on their mind.

Arizona State is a balanced team on offense, not relying on any one player too heavily. Their leading scorer is SG Ty Abbott (12.4 PPG), and he is joined in double figures by PG Derek Glasser (10.5 PPG) and F Rihard Kuksiks (11.7 PPG). Eric Boateng (8.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG) is definitely a threat, as he single handedly carried his Sun Devils to a win against Stanford. He shot 11-11 and scored 24 points. The Sun Devils love to shoot from 3; if you thought that we were a perimeter-oriented club, then you’ll be in for a surprise: Arizona State has taken over 100 more then we have over the season. If they’re cold (like they were against Stanford), the game should be relatively easy. If they’re hot, then look out. Of course, Boateng has the potential to lift this team when they’re cold (see the Furd game).



Defensively, the Sun Devils don’t really stand out. They don’t get blown out (they’ve only allowed over 80 points once on the season), but they aren’t a great team defensively. They usually keep their opponents in the high 60s to the 70s. Cal scored 78 on them in the first matchup. Cal’s not going to score 95 like they did against Arizona, that’s for sure.



Overall, it’s an even match-up. We’re a better offensive team, they’re probably the better defensive team. It should be a close one in a game that decides the conference title. Go Bears!



Prediction: 76-72 Cal