Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Challenge Starts Tonight

Does anyone east of the Mississippi really care about this series of games like everyone did during that whole ACC/Big 10 (plus one) thing this week?

Even here in Southern California it’s not a big deal. Four of our major newspapers barely mention it, and 12th ranked UCLA’s game against 8th ranked Texas at the Frank Erwin Center tonight is somewhere in the middle of the sports section.

They’re all too busy talking about the alleged rivalry football game between USC and UCLA where USC is a 30 point favorite (some rivalry), and featuring two assistant coaches from both schools having a hissy fit and not speaking to each other anymore.

And there’s the Oscar De La Hoya/Manny Pacquiao fight that also has non-stop coverage. Both events are this weekend.

So about this Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Challenge.

It gets underway shortly with unranked USC taking on No. 6 Oklahoma in Norman at 4 p.m. Pacific Time. UCLA and Texas start just after at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

Both Texas and Oklahoma look a little too good and too deep for either of these Pac-10 powers, so look for both to win. But expect Texas to have a harder time with the Bruins.

Granted, USC defeated the Sooners last year 65-55 at USC, but that was before Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin decided that he was a man among boys this year. He is averaging 25.7 points and 19.2 rebounds so far this season.

Both games are on ESPN2.

At 8 p.m. Pacific Time, Oklahoma State plays Washington in Seattle.

In other games…

Texas A&M hosts Arizona at College Station on Friday.

On Saturday, Iowa State plays Oregon State at Ames, Iowa, and Baylor visits Washington State.

Could someone please tell me why Kansas is playing Jackson State on Saturday night?

On Sunday we have California at Missouri, Nebraska at 19th ranked Arizona, and Kansas State at Oregon.

The Big 12 won this series last season 7-5. Expect much of the same this weekend.