[StanfordMatt]

I think Cal needs to win tomorrow in order to feel good about their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Beating USC today obviously helps but they were the lowest ranked of the Big 4 entering the weekend and the only one to have lost to a non-Big 4 team all year (Harvard on 9/15). I feel pretty good about Stanford and USC making the tournament regardless of what happens tomorrow but obviously beating Cal will make the path to a national title much easier for us by claiming the top seed and avoiding another Big 4 opponent in the semis. MT is right that the parity among all four this year is as close as any I remember. If Stanford and USC both win tomorrow, I sure wouldn't want to have to be the judge deciding who gets the 3rd MPSF spot between UCLA and Cal.

[StanfordMatt]

I think Cal needs to win tomorrow in order to feel good about their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Beating USC today obviously helps but they were the lowest ranked of the Big 4 entering the weekend and the only one to have lost to a non-Big 4 team all year (Harvard on 9/15). I feel pretty good about Stanford and USC making the tournament regardless of what happens tomorrow but obviously beating Cal will make the path to a national title much easier for us by claiming the top seed and avoiding another Big 4 opponent in the semis. MT is right that the parity among all four this year is as close as any I remember. If Stanford and USC both win tomorrow, I sure wouldn't want to have to be the judge deciding who gets the 3rd MPSF spot between UCLA and Cal.