Utah @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2018 ) California 43, Utah 77

Utah began a two-game trip west Thursday with a milestone win, beating Stanford at Maples Pavilion for the first time since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. Now, the Runnin’ Utes have their sights set on a sweep as they visit a skidding California squad Saturday night.

With the 70-66 comeback win over the Cardinal, Utah has won a season-best three straight and four of its last six. Senior guard Sedrick Barefield scored a team-high 18 points, with 12 coming in the second half, as the Utes improved to 4-2 in Pac-12 play. “I told Sedrick at halftime to button it down, and from a personal point of view, get me a win,’" Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said in his post-game news conference. “He led us offensively, that’s for sure.” Cal, meanwhile, saw a second-half rally come up short Thursday in a 68-59 loss to visiting Colorado, and the Golden Bears’ eighth straight loss overall leaves them as the Pac-12’s only winless team at 0-7 in conference play.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT UTAH (10-8, 4-2 Pac-12): Barefield is pacing the team with 15.9 points and 3.8 assists per game and is shooting 41.6 percent from 3-point range and 84.7 percent from the free-throw line. And over his last two outings, Barefield’s averages have increased as he’s scored a total of 40 points while connecting on 9-of-16 3-pointers in wins over Colorado and Stanford. Forwards Donnie Tillman (11.2 points) and Timmy Allen (10.3) also are averaging double figures and combine for an average of 10.2 rebounds per outing.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (5-14, 0-7): Including a first-round Pac-12 Tournament loss to Stanford last March, the Bears have lost 15 straight to Pac-12 foes. Forward Justice Sueing and guard Paris Austin scored 13 points apiece in the loss to Colorado, but poor overall shooting (38.9 percent) and rebounding issues (a 37-24 deficit on the glass) continue to haunt Cal. Darius McNeill (11.6) and Matt Bradley (10.4) join Sueing (14.0) and Austin (13.1) with double-digit scoring averages, but the Bears rank last in the conference in scoring (70.2), field-goal percentage (43.3), assists per game (10.1) and rebound margin (minus-6.3).

TIP-INS

1. Utah has won seven of the last 10 meetings overall but has dropped four of the last five meetings in Berkeley.

2. The Utes are tops in the Pac-12 in 3-point accuracy at an even 38 percent and rank second in overall field-goal percentage (46.8).

3. Despite their myriad woes, excessive turnovers aren’t among them as the Bears average the fewest turnovers per game in the conference with 11.4.

PREDICTION: Utah 78, California 67