College Basketball

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UC Santa Barbara (3-5) vs. Nebraska (4-4) at Tempe, Ariz., 4 -- The Gauchos have struggled on the road as they try to win the opening game of the azcentral.com/ASU Hoops Classic. Santa Barbara has lost three in a row since defeating USC on Dec. 3. Junior guard Nick Jones is having a breakout season, averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. Junior transfer Andrew Drevo leads Nebraska in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (9.3).

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USC (5-5) at Oregon State (6-3), 7 -- USC begins Pacific 10 Conference play in a familiar position -- on the road. This will be the Trojans’ fifth consecutive game away from the Sports Arena and their seventh road game this season. The Beavers are 5-0 at home this season, with their most impressive victory coming against Florida. But Oregon State has also dropped its last six conference openers.

UCLA (5-4) at Oregon (4-5), 7, KBET (850), KTDD (1350) -- The Bruins have a lot of proving to do in the Pac-10, having gone 9-23 in conference play the last two seasons. But Oregon has the kind of big frontcourt that gives undersized UCLA problems. The Ducks are still adjusting to the loss of senior guard Shaquala Williams, who was dismissed by Coach Bev Smith for disciplinary reasons. But they have also won six of the last seven games against the Bruins, and four straight on their home court.

-- Mike Terry