Off to Maui soon!

Close-up
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

Emily and I are off to Maui on Tuesday for our wedding. We are so excited to have so many of our good friends and our family at the event. We are also very excited to enjoy some great weather which is not something you get to experience during an Oregon winner as well as having a long vacation from the daily grind of working life. I may not be able to get my blog out the next two weeks but then again maybe I will be able to write some sitting by the pool or beach in Kahana. I plan to take a zillion pictures so stay tuned and wish us the best of luck as we take another step on our journey together.

Big Buddha

Big Buddha
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

Pac 10 Power Poll

Well barring a 7-3 or better finish which includes road trips to all the California schools or winning the Pac 10 Tournament I think you can safely say that Oregon has joined Cal as teams I will say as this point are NIT bound and can forget about sweating out Selection Sunday. As of right now I see the Pac 10 with a lock on five bids (UCLA, Arizona, Stanford, WSU and a streaking USC squad). People seem to be putting ASU in the tournament but to me they have awful computer numbers and will face what is likely the third hardest schedule down the chute the rest of the season to the Oregon schools. The Devils do have 2 top 25 RPI wins but both were at home and under difficult circumstances for the road team (Xavier traveling cross country after a bitterly tough game versus cross city foe Cinci and then Zona facing ASU wihout Jerryd Bayless). ASU will need to win another road game against someone other than Oregon State if they hope to go to the tournament. With their sad computer numbers having Cal as your only true road win of the year won't cut it. I actually think that Washington may have a better shot at getting that final possible bid but in the end the Pac 10 will be a five bid conference this year.

1. UCLA - (2) The Bruins survived a scare at Oregon and should be healthy again for the Arizona schools. (RPI 12 SOS 32) NCAA Lock
2. WSU (1) - Didn't look good in the loss in Tucson but Arizona was actually favorted so dispite what the polls say this wasn't an upset. The Cougs gutted out a win in Tempe that really put a hurt on ASU's chances for a bid. The Cougars could still be in play for a 2 seed but need a sweep this weekend hosting the Bay Area schools and to beat UCLA when they play up their later in the year. Due to the poor OOC slate I feel more comforatable giving WSU a 3 seed. (RPI 10 SOS 77) NCAA Lock
3. Stanford - Since Brook Lopez's return the Trees have been a team worth of a top 5 seed in the NCAA's but they still need to get a few road wins to seal that up. The Siena loss is still a major blight on the OOC schedule, that along with a generally weak OOC slate, is dragging down their RPI numers. (RPI 29 SOS 110) NCAA Lock
4. Arizona (7) - Back on track with Bayless back in the lineup. However the Cats have a very tough road trip this week and could use a split. (RPI 7 SOS 1). NCAA Lock
5. USC (6) - The hottest team in the league almost threw away the Oregon game but shot perfect in overtime to destroy the Ducks season. As I expected USC is coming on later in the year, no surprise with the young talent they have. (RPI 38 SOS 22) NCAA Lock
6. ASU (4) - Getting swept at home by the Washington schools might be the straw that breaks the camels back. With a high likelihood of getting swept in LA this week I think it will be all but imposssible for the Devils to get 10 pac wins. Despite the very high RPI number of the conference ASU will get no favors from the commitee and only have 4 home games remaining. (RPI 90 SOS 151).
7. UW (8) - The win at ASU gives them faint hope for a bid and they have a very favorable schedule down the stretch but don't have many wins that stand out with the best being a win over #52 RPI Oregon. A shame for the Dawgs that they couldn't beat Pitt way back in early December. (RPI 88 SOS 62) NIT
8. UO (4) - What an unfortunate weekend for the Ducks who could have gotten a sweep and jumped to the top of the Pac 10 and now find themselves in 8th place with a miniscule chance of anything better than the NIT. The Ducks have dropped almost 30 points in RPI in two weeks. (RPI 52 SOS 14)
9. Cal (9) - Could this be the last year of the Ben Braun era. He is now the dean of Pac 10 coaches unless Lute Olson comes back next year. Pity poor Ryan Andeson who is playing his heart out on a team that just doesn't have the horses this year. (RPI 92 SOS 42). NIT
10. OSU (10) - I give the Beavs credit for playing two strong first halves in the games versus USC and UCLA. Kevin Mouton and the Beavs will have their one shot for a win this Saturday versus the Ducks who have to be in the complete dumps mentally. (RPI 235 SOS 139)