PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT : TONIGHT’S GAMES AT TEMPE, ARIZ.

WASHINGTON (11-16) vs. ARIZONA STATE (13-14), 6 PST.

TV--None. Radio--None.

Many coaches believe that Arizona State could be the surprise team of the tournament, which will be played in the Sun Devils’ University Activity Center. “If you had a good basketball team, it would be a real advantage,” Arizona State Coach Bill Frieder said, “but if you’re struggling like we have this year, you don’t know how much of an advantage it might be.” Arizona State lost six consecutive games before beating Oregon, 75-71, on Saturday at Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated Washington twice in the regular season, including a 63-48 victory at Tempe. Alex Austin is averaging 18 points and 7.1 rebounds a game for Arizona State. He scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds last month in a 58-56 victory over Washington at Seattle. His brother, Isaac, averages 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. Eldridge Recasner is averaging 16.2 points to lead Washington.

WASHINGTON STATE (7-21) vs. USC (11-15), 8 PST.

TV--None. Radio--KNX (1070).

After beating Washington State, 91-75, Saturday, the Trojans face the Cougars again in the opening round of the tournament. “I’m really impressed with the way USC is playing right now,” Washington State Coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Harold Miner gives them a weapon, a kid who if he gets going can beat you by himself. He takes bad shots and makes them.” Miner, who scored 29 points against the Cougars Saturday, is averaging 20.7 points. After a poor start, USC won five of its past nine conference games. “We’re getting better, and I think we’re going to exhibit that down in Tempe,” USC Coach George Raveling said. The Cougars have lost a school-record 17 consecutive games since beating Ohio in December. Darryl Woods, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, is averaging a team-high 13.8 points.