Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Thursday, December 28, 2017 Women’s College Basketball Pivec matures in her second year with No. 17 OSU By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press Sophomore guard Mikayla Pivec was unsure of the reaction she’d get when she approached Oregon State coach Scott Rueck last spring about possibly joining the track team. Lots of athletes run track in the offseason to help them stay sharp, but Pivec was a bit unusual in that she wanted to moonlight as a javelin thrower. Rueck agreed, but with a caveat: The javelin couldn’t take the place of hoops. To Rueck’s relief, it didn’t, and Pivec is a guiding force for the No. 17 Beavers this season. “He said: ‘Stay healthy and go out there and compete,’” Pivec said about Rueck’s reaction. “I was thankful for him to have that blessing.” The Beavers open the Pac-12 season at home on Friday against Washington. Oregon State (9-2) wrapped up the nonconference schedule with a six-game winning streak, capped by a 61-47 victory over UC Davis last week. Pivec had 14 points and nine rebounds. The Beavers are one of four ranked teams in the conference, joining No. 10 Oregon, No. 11 UCLA and No. 20 California. Stanford dropped out of the poll this week, ending a string of 312 weeks in the AP Top 25. Pivec is averaging 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 58.7 percent from the floor this season, taking over at point guard for Sydney Wiese, now with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. It’s a heavy responsibility: Wiese finished her career as one of Oregon State’s all-time greats. She set records for most assists and 3-pointers (with 373, also a Pac-12 record). She also helped guide the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons, including Sweet 16 appearances in the last two. Pivec said it was a privi- lege to learn from Wiese. “There’s no way you can replace Syd. She definitely left a lot of holes for us to fill,” Pivec said. “I don’t feel any extra pressure. I’m just Andy Cripe/The Corvallis Gazette-Times via AP This photo, taken Dec. 10, 2017, shows Oregon State guard Mikayla Pivec, left, bringing the ball upcourt against San Jose State’s Danae Marquez during an NCAA college basketball game Corvallis. trying to do whatever I can to help the team be successful and win.” As a freshman last year, Pivec was soft-spoken and even seemed a bit shy when she faced postgame ques- tions from the media. This season, she’s shown growing confidence both on and off the court. “A year ago, you wouldn’t hear a word out of Mik. You’d have to just wait, then ask a question, and then wait, and then she might say some- thing,” Rueck joked. He said Pivec communi- cated in her own quiet way, eventually developing a rapport with her teammates. “This year she has the ball in her hands a lot, she’s much more vocal, she’s way more in tune with me. It’s been fun to watch that develop. ... I’m seeing a lot more progress in communication, which is leadership,” Rueck said. “Offensively, running the point, she’s much more efficient getting us into plays, her transition game, her rebounding, her ability to shoot the three. Those things were in place a year ago. Everything’s just a step up.” Pivec grew up in Lynnwood, Washington, and was also a multisport athlete in high school. She ran the 800 and 1,600 meters and threw the javelin, as well as playing basketball. Her little sister Malia Pivec is also a distance runner and is now on the track and field team at Boise State. Pivec smiles when she talks about the moment, following Oregon State’s run in the NCAA Tournament last season, when she asked Rueck about doubling up. She had already prepared her argument. “I said, ‘Hey coach, how do you feel about me competing in track and field? I know it would help my strength and my speed and explosiveness. How do you feel about that?’” she recalled. Once she had his blessing, the 5-foot-10 Pivec took part in just a few meets. But at the Oregon Twilight in Eugene, she threw a 142-4, the fourth- best mark in Beavers history. She also threw in the Pac-12 championships. “I felt like I got more workouts in and I was also able to meet and bond with a new group of people, so that was good,” she said. Pivec is a BioHealth Sciences major with a pre-medicine focus, and hopes to become a dermatol- ogist. She was honored when she was named the Oregon State scholar-athlete for December because of a 4.0 grade-point average. But she sheepishly admits that she recently got an A-minus in physics. So she now has “like a 3.978.” “I did the most work in that class. I studied the hardest in that class. It just wasn’t able to happen. But I did my best!” she said. With a flash of humor that shows her growing confi- dence, Pivec added with a laugh: “So, I guess there goes your story. Sorry.” Men’s College Basketball Arizona State, Arizona top Pac-12 as conference play begins By JOHN MARSHALL Associated Press PHOENIX — The two biggest surprises in the Pac-12 heading into confer- ence play come from the same state. Arizona State was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 yet has been maybe the biggest surprise in all of college basketball, winning all 12 of its nonconference games while moving up to a program-high No. 3 in the AP Top 25 . Arizona was No. 2 in the poll early in the season and went the opposite direc- tion, dropping out after an unexpected 0-for-3 trip to the Bahamas. The Wildcats (10-3) have rounded back into form recently, setting up one of the most anticipated games in their rivalry on Saturday at McKale Center. No. 17 Arizona and Arizona State are meeting with both teams ranked for the first time since 1995. “I hope every fan from Arizona and Arizona State is trying like heck to get in that building,” Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said. “It’s going to be a fun, competitive game to be a part of.” The Sun Devils were expected to be better in Hurley’s third season in the desert with big men Romello White and De’Quon Lake giving their three senior guards help on the inside at both ends. Arizona State’s rise was much more meteoric than expected. White and Lake have freed up the trio of Tra Holder, Shannon Evans II and Kodi Justice, while Hurley has allowed his confident guards the freedom to do what they do best. Arizona State also has one of nation’s biggest game-changers off the bench in Remy Martin, a high-en- ergy, hard-playing freshman guard. Arizona State turned a few heads by knocking off No. 15 Xavier in late November and burst into the national consciousness by beating No. 2 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. “I think they have a great team,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “They have those guards playing at a high level as far as I can see and they have experience.” Arizona got off to a slow start in large part because of defensive breakdowns. The Wildcats have bounced back from that lost trip to the Bahamas with big improve- ments on the defensive end and one of the nation’s most difficult 1-2 punches in Allonzo Trier and Deandre Ayton. The game on Saturday is the perfect way to kick off the Pac-12 season. Here are a few more things to look for in the Pac-12 as the conference season begins: INCONSISTENT USC: Southern California was ranked No. 2 in the preseason and was expected to be Arizona’s main challenger to win the Pac-12 title. The Trojans (9-4) have yet to live up to those lofty expecta- tions, but, like Arizona, may have turned things around. USC had a three-game losing streak a month into the season and had a home loss to Princeton on Dec. 19. But the Trojans still have one of the conference’s most talented rosters, led by junior forward Bennie Boatwright, and won three games in Hawaii over the weekend to win the Diamond Head Classic. UCLA’s STRANGE RIDE: UCLA lost Lonzo Ball, T.J. Leaf and Bryce Alford from last year’s team, but it was still ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll because of the talent left on the roster and the stellar recruiting class coach Steve Alford added. The season got off to a rocky start in China, where LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were accused of shoplifting and suspended. Ball left the school to play professionally overseas, while Riley and Hill were recently suspended for the AP Photo/Rick Scuteri This Dec. 17, 2017, file photo shows Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley reacting to a foul call in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game against Vander- bilt, in Tempe, Ariz. No. 3 Arizona State was picked to finish sixth in the conference, but has turned out to be one of the nation’s best teams. Arizona is home to the two biggest surprises in the Pac-12. rest of the season. The Bruins shouldn’t be overlooked, though; they beat No. 7 Kentucky last Friday. REBUILT DUCKS: Oregon had to replace four starters from its Final Four team but was still picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12. The Ducks (10-3) have been pretty close to those prognos- tications, beating the teams they were supposed to while AP Photo/Rick Scuteri This Dec. 21, 2017, file photo shows Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) shooting over Connecticut forward David Onuorah during the second half of an NCAA college basket- ball game in Tucson, Ariz. losing to the four best teams on their schedule. RIDING REID: Stanford (6-7) had an uneven run through a difficult noncon- ference schedule, but Reid Travis hasn’t. The junior forward leads the Pac-12 in scoring at 21.4 points per game despite opposing teams keying on him and is grab- bing 7.1 rebounds per game. WRIGHT IS RIGHT: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV was not highly recruited out of his Minnesota high school, but he has been a perfect fit for the Buffaloes. The 6-foot point guard is the Pac-12’s second-leading freshman scorer (17 points per game) and has been a confident floor leader while playing relentlessly on defense. SCOREBOARD Local slate PREP BOYS BASKETBALL Thursday Ione vs. Echo (at Helix), 1:30 p.m. Heppner vs. Liberty Christian (WA) (at Irrigon), 4:30 p.m. Trout Lake (WA) at Helix, 4:30 p.m. Riverside at Stevenson (WA), 5 p.m. Pendleton at Mountain View, 6 p.m. Silverton at Hermiston, 7 p.m. Mac-Hi vs. Pilot Rock (at Irrigon), 7 p.m. Waitsburg (WA) at Irrigon, 7:30 p.m. South Wasco vs. Nixyaawii (at Helix), 7:30 p.m. Umatilla vs. TBD (At Salem Acadmey), TBD Friday Pendleton vs. Grants Pass (at Summit HS), 12:30 p.m. Heppner vs. Waitsburg (WA) (at Irrigon), 1:30 p.m. Condon/Wheeler vs. Tri-City Prep (WA) (at Pendleton Convention), 1:30 p.m. Echo vs. Trout Lake (WA) (at Helix), 1:30 p.m. Mac-Hi vs. Liberty Christian (WA) (at Irrigon), 3 p.m. Burns vs. Weston-McEwen (at Pendleton Convention), 4:30 p.m. Ione vs. Nixyaawii (at Helix), 4:30 p.m. South Wasco at Helix, 7:30 p.m. Pilot Rock at Irrigon, 7:30 p.m. Hermiston at Crescent Valley, 7:30 p.m. Umatilla vs. TBD (at Salem Academy), TBD Saturday Pendleton vs. Bend (at Mountain View), 11:30 a.m. Hermiston vs. Central (at Crescent Valley), 2:30 p.m. South Wasco at Echo, 4:30 p.m. Ione at Helix, 5:30 p.m. Condon/Wheeler vs. Weston-McEwen (at Pendleton Convention), 7:30 p.m. Umatilla vs. TBD (at Salem Academy), TBD PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL Thursday Mac-Hi vs. Pilot Rock (at Irrigon), Noon Ione vs. Echo (at Helix), Noon Heppner vs. Liberty Christian (WA) (at Irrigon), 3 p.m. Trout Lake (WA) at Helix, 3 p.m. Riverside at Stevenson (WA), 3:30 p.m. Waitsburg (WA) at Irrigon, 6 p.m. Nixyaawii vs. South Wasco (at Helix), 6 p.m. Pendleton at Mountain View, 7:45 p.m. Umatilla vs. Western Mennonite (at Salem Academy), 8 p.m. Hermiston at Lake Oswego Nike Shootout, TBD Friday Heppner vs. Waitsburg (WA), Noon Trout Lake (WA) vs. Echo (at Helix), Noon Condon/Wheeler vs. Tri-City Prep (WA) (at Pendleton Convention), Noon Mac-Hi vs. Liberty Christian (WA) (at Irrigon), 3 p.m. Burns vs. Weston-McEwen (at Pendleton Convention), 3 p.m. Ione vs. Nixyaawii (at Helix), 3 p.m. Pendleton vs. Lake Washington (WA) (at Bend), 4 p.m. Pilot Rock at Irrigon, 6 p.m. South Wasco at Helix, 6 p.m. Hermiston at Lake Oswego Nike Shootout, TBD Umatilla at Salem Academy Tournament, TBD Saturday Pendleton vs. Wilson (at Bend), 1:15 p.m. South Wasco at Echo, 3 p.m. Ione at Helix, 4 p.m. Condon/Wheeler vs. Weston-McEwen (at Pendleton Convention), 6 p.m. Hermiston at Lake Oswego Nike Shootout, TBD Umatilla at Salem Academy Tournament, TBD PREP WRESTLING Saturday Pendleton, Mac-Hi, Riverside, Irrigon, Echo, Heppner at Schimmel Memorial Tournament (Pendleton HS), 9 a.m. COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursday BMCC vs. Everett (at North Idaho Col- lege), 2 p.m. Friday EOU at Walla Walla, 1:30 p.m. Saturday EOU at Walla Walla, 8 p.m. COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Friday EOU at Walla Walla, 11:30 a.m. Saturday EOU at Walla Walla, 6 p.m. Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct Boston 28 10 .737 Toronto 23 10 .697 New York 17 17 .500 Philadelphia 15 18 .455 Brooklyn 12 22 .353 Southeast Division W L Pct Washington 19 16 .543 Miami 18 16 .529 Charlotte 12 22 .353 Orlando 11 24 .314 Atlanta 9 25 .265 Central Division W L Pct Cleveland 24 11 .686 Detroit 19 14 .576 Indiana 19 16 .543 Milwaukee 17 15 .531 Chicago 12 22 .353 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct Houston 25 7 .781 San Antonio 24 11 .686 GB — 2½ 9 10½ 14 GB — ½ 6½ 8 9½ GB — 4½ 5½ 6 12 GB — 2½ New Orleans 18 16 .529 8 Dallas 11 25 .306 16 Memphis 10 24 .294 16 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Minnesota 22 13 .629 — Oklahoma City 20 15 .571 2 Denver 19 16 .543 3 Portland 17 16 .515 4 Utah 15 20 .429 7 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 27 7 .794 — L.A. Clippers 14 19 .424 12½ Phoenix 13 23 .361 15 L.A. Lakers 11 21 .344 15 Sacramento 12 22 .353 15 ——— Wednesday’s Games Boston 102, Charlotte 91 Dallas 98, Indiana 94 Atlanta 113, Washington 99 Chicago 92, New York 87 Minnesota 128, Denver 125, OT New Orleans 128, Brooklyn 113 Oklahoma City 124, Toronto 107 Sacramento 109, Cleveland 95 Memphis at L.A. Lakers, late finish Utah at Golden State, late finish Thursday’s Games Detroit at Orlando, 4 p.m. Houston at Boston, 5 p.m. Minnesota at Milwaukee, 5 p.m. New York at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Portland, 7:30 p.m. NCAA Men’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Wednesday’s Games No. 1 Villanova 103, DePaul 85 No. 6 Xavier 91, Marquette 87 Thursday’s Games No. 25 Creighton at No. 23 Seton Hall, 3:30 p.m. (FS1) Pacific at No. 20 Gonzaga, 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Women’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Monday-Wednesday No games scheduled. Thursday’s Games No. 19 Green Bay at Wright State, 1:30 p.m. Illinois at No. 15 Maryland, 3 p.m. Penn State at No. 21 Michigan, 3 p.m. Syracuse at No. 2 Notre Dame, 4 p.m. No. 3 Louisville at Georgia Tech, 4 p.m. Jacksonville at No. 13 Florida State, 4 p.m. No. 9 West Virginia at TCU, 4:30 p.m. No. 24 Oklahoma State ate Texas Tech, 4:30 p.m. Miss. Valley State at No. 5 Mississippi State, 5 p.m. No. 6 Baylor at Kansas State, 5 p.m. No. 8 Texas at Oklahoma, 5 p.m. No. 12 Ohio State at Nebraska, 5 p.m. No. 18 Villanova at Creighton, 5 p.m. SMU at No. 22 Texas A&M, 5 p.m. No. 23 Iowa at Wisconsin, 5 p.m. Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Tampa Bay 35 26 7 2 54 133 87 Boston 35 20 10 5 45 106 90 Toronto 37 22 14 1 45 122 104 Montreal 37 16 17 4 36 99 117 Florida 36 15 16 5 35 103 119 Detroit 36 13 16 7 33 97 116 Ottawa 35 11 16 8 30 93 119 Buffalo 37 9 20 8 26 80 123 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey 36 22 9 5 49 116 104 Columbus 38 22 13 3 47 109 104 Washington 38 22 13 3 47 114 108 N.Y. Islanders 37 20 13 4 44 133 129 N.Y. Rangers 37 20 13 4 44 118 104 Carolina 36 17 12 7 41 102 110 Pittsburgh 38 19 16 3 41 109 122 Philadelphia 36 15 13 8 38 99 103 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Nashville 36 22 9 5 49 118 100 Winnipeg 38 21 11 6 48 125 108 St. Louis 39 23 14 2 48 114 96 Dallas 38 20 15 3 43 112 110 Minnesota 37 19 15 3 41 106 108 Chicago 35 17 13 5 39 103 94 Colorado 36 17 16 3 37 113 116 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 35 24 9 2 50 123 101 Los Angeles 37 22 11 4 48 109 85 San Jose 34 19 11 4 42 95 84 Anaheim 18 16 14 8 40 102 113 Calgary 36 18 15 3 39 101 106 Edmonton 37 17 18 2 36 111 117 Vancouver 37 15 17 5 35 98 121 Arizona 39 9 25 5 23 88 134 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ——— Wednesday’s Games N.Y. Islanders 3, Buffalo 2, OT Carolina 3, Montreal 1 Boston 5, Ottawa 1 Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 4, SO New Jersey 3, Detroit 1 Nashville 2, St. Louis 1 N.Y. Rangers 1, Washington 0, SO Minnesota 4, Dallas 2 Winnipeg 4, Edmonton 3 Arizona 3, Colorado 1 Vegas 4, Anaheim 1 Thursday’s Games Philadelphia at Florida, 4:30 p.m. Boston at Washington, 4:30 p.m. Montreal at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Toronto at Arizona, 6 p.m. Vegas at Los Angeles, 7 p.m. Chicago at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Calgary at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA y-New England 12 3 0 .800 432 290 Buffalo 8 7 0 .533 280 343 Miami 6 9 0 .400 265 371 N.Y. Jets 5 10 0 .333 292 356 South W L T Pct PF PA y-Jacksonville 10 5 0 .667 407 253 Tennessee 8 7 0 .533 319 346 Houston 4 11 0 .267 325 414 Indianapolis 3 12 0 .200 241 391 North W L T Pct PF PA y-Pittsburgh 12 3 0 .800 378 284 Baltimore 9 6 0 .600 368 272 Cincinnati 6 9 0 .400 259 322 Cleveland 0 15 0 .000 210 382 West W L T Pct PF PA y-Kansas City 9 6 0 .600 388 315 L.A. Chargers 8 7 0 .533 325 262 Oakland 6 9 0 .400 291 343 Denver 5 10 0 .333 265 355 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA y-Philadelphia 13 2 0 .867 457 289 Dallas 8 7 0 .533 348 332 Washington 7 8 0 .467 332 370 N.Y. Giants 2 13 0 .133 228 378 South W L T Pct PF PA x-New Orleans 11 4 0 .733 424 295 x-Carolina 11 4 0 .733 353 305 Atlanta 9 6 0 .600 331 305 Tampa Bay 4 11 0 .267 304 358 North W L T Pct PF PA y-Minnesota 12 3 0 .800 359 242 Detroit 8 7 0 .533 375 365 Green Bay 7 8 0 .467 309 349 Chicago 5 10 0 .333 254 297 West W L T Pct PF PA y-L.A. Rams 11 4 0 .733 465 295 Seattle 9 6 0 .600 342 306 Arizona 7 8 0 .467 269 337 San Francisco 5 10 0 .333 297 370 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division ——— Week 17 Sunday’s Games N.Y. Jets at New England, 10 a.m. Washington at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, 10 a.m. Green Bay at Detroit, 10 a.m. Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. Houston at Indianapolis, 10 a.m. Cincinnati at Baltimore, 1:25 p.m. New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1:25 p.m. Kansas City at Denver, 1:25 p.m. Jacksonville at Tennessee, 1:25 p.m. Buffalo at Miami, 1:25 p.m. Arizona at Seattle, 1:25 p.m. San Francisco at L.A. Rams, 1:25 p.m. Oakland at L.A. Chargers, 1:25 p.m. Carolina at Atlanta, 1:25 p.m. NCAA Bowl Schedule WEDNESDAY Independence Bowl Shreveport, La. Florida State 42, Southern Mississippi 13 Pinstripe Bowl Bronx, N.Y. Iowa 27, Boston College 20 Foster Farms Bowl Santa Clara, Calif. Purdue 38, Arizona 35 Texas Bowl Houston Texas vs. Missouri, late finish THURSDAY Military Bowl Annapolis, Md. Virginia (6-6) vs. Navy (6-6), 10:30 a.m. (ESPN) Camping World Bowl Orlando, Fla. Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (9-3), 2:15 p.m. (ESPN) Alamo Bowl San Antonio Stanford (9-4) vs. TCU (10-3), 6 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl San Diego Washington State (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3), 6 p.m. (FOX) FRIDAY Belk Bowl Charlotte, N.C. Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (7-5), 10 a.m. (ESPN) Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas NC State (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5), Noon (CBS) Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. Kentucky (7-5) vs. Northwestern (9-3), 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) Arizona Bowl Tucson, Ariz. New Mexico State (5-6) vs. Utah State (6-6), 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN) Cotton Bowl Classic Arlington, Texas Southern Cal (11-2) vs. Ohio State (11-2), 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) SATURDAY TaxSlayer Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. Louisville (8-4) vs. Mississippi State (8-4), 9 a.m. (ESPN) Liberty Bowl Memphis, Tenn. Iowa State (7-5) vs. Memphis (10-2), 9:30 a.m. (ABC) Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Ariz. Washington (10-2) vs. Penn State (10-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Orange Bowl Miami Gardens, Fla. Wisconsin (12-1) vs. Miami (10-2), 5 p.m. (ESPN)