Pac-10 notes

The foot injury that will cost center DeVon Hardin eight to 12 weeks will almost certainly cost his California team dearly. Hardin is one of the few true low-post threats in the conference. Without him, look for opponents to lock down on Cal’s perimeter players, making life tough for sharpshooters such as Ayinde Ubaka. … Every Pac-10 team enters conference play better than .500, and all but two, 8-5 Oregon State and 6-5 Arizona State, are at least four games better than the break-even point. … Freshmen occupy three of the top four spots on the conference’s points-per-game list. … Seventh-ranked Arizona will start Pac-10 play on a nine-game winning streak, the school’s best since 2002-03.