Pac-12 Weekly Preview: USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford Set For Weekend Carousel

Photo Courtesy: USC Swimming/Facebook

By Dan D’Addona.

Sometimes it is quality over quantity.

There are only five swim meets in the Pac-12 this week, but they are five great ones, giving the conference an exclamation point on the regular season before things move toward the Pac-12 Championships.

Check out these matchups:

USC at Cal, then at Stanford (Women)

One of the greatest rivalries in the pool reloads when Cal faces USC. The Cal women are ranked No. 6, while the USC women are No. 4. This will be a battle of Cal’s elite vs. USC’s depth, though USC has some elite and Cal has some depth.

USC is a team that has kept under the radar for most of the season despite being a top five team for much of the season and will look to make a statement on Friday at Cal.

The USC women then head to Stanford for a dual meet the following day.

It will be a brutally tough weekend, but rewarding in the long run for the Trojan women, who are looking to sneak in to the top five at the NCAA meet.

UCLA at Stanford, then at Cal

No. 2 Stanford hosts No. 19 UCLA in this women’s meet on Friday, part of a double dip for the Cardinal.

UCLA is in a similar position as USC this weekend and will look to gauge where things look heading into the Pac-12 meet. The Bruins aren’t as good as Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel and company, but are a good team and will have some say in the Pac-12 championship.

The Bruins will really have a gauge after the weekend because after Friday’s meet at Stanford, UCLA sims at Cal, another powerhouse.

Arizona at Texas

The Texas women are No. 1 and continue their upstart season. The Longhorns knocked off Georgia and Auburn on the road this month and defeated Cal on the road early in the season. The only loss the Texas women have had is to Stanford.

On Friday-Saturday, the Longhorns host an Arizona team that has had a strong season, but has shuffled through the rankings between the 20s and No. 10. This meet should be another victory for Texas, but will be important for Arizona as the Wildcats look ahead to NCAAs.

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Careful Observer

7 years ago

UCLA is 9-25* all-time in dual meets vs Cal, 3-32* vs Stanford. Things won’t get better for the Bruins this weekend. (*according to UCLA 2016-17 S&D Media Guide)