Pac-10 Tournament Semifinals
No. 4 Oregon
(24-7, 11-7 Pac-10) No. 8 California (16-16, 6-12 Pac-10)
• Season series: Oregon beat Cal 92-84 on Jan. 20 at Eugene, but Cal beat Oregon 63-61 on Feb. 15 at Berkeley.
• Coaches: Cal: Ben Braun (11th year, 525-372). Oregon: Ernie Kent (10th season, 188-119)
• California lineup: G Ayinde Ubaka (13.6 ppg, 4.4 apg), G Omar Wilkes (10.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg), F Theo Robertson (8.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Patrick Christopher (5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg), C Ryan Anderson (15.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg)
• Oregon lineup: G Aaron Brooks (18.0 ppg, 4.3 apg), G Tajuan Porter (14.0 ppg,, 1.6 rpg), F Malik Hairston (10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg), F Bryce Taylor (14.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg), C Maarty Leunen (10.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg)
• What to look for: Will Cal have anything left after beating top-seeded UCLA in overtime? The Bears must find enough energy to extend outside, because all five of Oregon's starters are legitimate three-point threats. The Ducks should be well- rested after an early afternoon cakewalk over Arizona on Thursday, too.
• Key player: Ayinde Ubaka, California. Dependable senior guard kept his college career alive with a 5-for-6 three-point performance against UCLA. But he will probably need another top performance today to put the Bears into the NIT.
No. 3 USC (22-10, 11-7 Pac-10)
No. 2 WSU
(24-6, 13-5 Pac-10)
• Season series: USC lost twice to Washington State.
• Coaches: USC: Tim Floyd (second year, 38-23). WSU: Tony Bennett (first year, 24-6).
• USC lineup: G Gabe Pruitt (12.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg), G Daniel Hackett (4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G Lodrick Stewart (14.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), F Nick Young (17.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), F Taj Gibson (11.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
• Washington State lineup: G Kyle Weaver (11.4 ppg, 4.7 apg), G Derrick Low (13.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg), F Ivory Clark (8.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F Daven Harmeling (9.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg), F Robbie Cowgill (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
• What to look for: With UCLA out, the Trojans will have the home city edge to themselves at Staples Center. USC is 7-8 in the Pac-10 tournament, having reached the final in 2002 and 2003 before losing each time.
• Key player: Nick Young, USC. The Trojans' gifted scorer did it again Thursday, making a key jumper to send the quarterfinal game with Stanford into overtime, then hitting free throws in overtime to help seal it.
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