Pac-12: Five Conference Games to Watch

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Feb 1, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55) attempts against Colorado Buffaloes guard Xavier Talton (3) in the first half at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It is a new year and a new portion of the season. The arrival of 2015 signals the beginning of Pac-12 conference play, a chance to build upon tournament résumés, and the opportunity for fans to watch some of the most exciting basketball games this season. Conference games begin tonight with USC facing Utah and Washington squaring off against California.

With those games underway and the Pac-12 Conference is slated to be an exciting conference to watch, here are five games to look out for during Pac-12 conference play.

Colorado Buffaloes at Utah Utes, January 7, 2015

Prior to the 2014-15 season starting, Utah and Colorado had similar pieces that were going to make them contenders for the Pac-12 Conference title. Both teams had dynamic senior guards who could light it up from the perimeter and versatile forwards that could help on the inside. However, Colorado is stumbling into conference play losing two straight games while the Utes are riding high on a three-game winning streak.

Senior guard Askia Booker has tried his best to keep the Buffaloes afloat, averaging 15.3 points a game. Junior forward Josh Scott also returned for Colorado and is having the best year of his career averaging 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game. Somehow, that combination has not resulted in more wins. The Buffaloes have lost five games during non-conference play, with only one of those teams breaking the Associated Press Poll Top 25 at any point this season (Colorado State, currently no. 24).

They may not have had the season they expected so far, but Colorado can bring themselves back into the top 25 discussion if they can score a win against a Utah team that has been firing on all cylinders most of the season.

Utah also has a senior guard by the name of Delon Wright who is averaging 15.6 points a game and has a Pac-12 leading 61.7 percent effective field goal percentage. He is also joined by a junior forward, Jordan Loveridge, who has seen his numbers dip, but is shooting the ball much more efficiently this season, attaining a field-three-free percentage line of 50-55-91.7 percent.

This game should be an interesting tag team matchup between two of the best guards and two of the more talented forwards in the Pac-12 Conference.

Next: The Battle for Los Angeles

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