The Official 12 Pac basketball thread

[SeattleUte]

It wouldn't be the first time an underachieving team got hot at the right time. And the Bruins are coming off a win against Washington. And for the Pac-12 to get five teams, Arizona must make the final, and it and UCLA can only meet in the final. Stranger things have happened.

My precedent is Larry Brown's UCLA team that was "in ruins" to quote SI, and then went to the NCAA title game and lost at the wire.

[SeattleUte]

Also, the tournament is in LA, UCLA may still be the best coached and most talented team in the conference, and the SI article may have a paradoxical psycological benefit. Today's win over Washington, which was playing for an OCC, was a huge rebound for UCLA. An impressive show of character by UCLA and their coach.

[CJF]

It wouldn't be the first time an underachieving team got hot at the right time. And the Bruins are coming off a win against Washington. And for the Pac-12 to get five teams, Arizona must make the final, and it and UCLA can only meet in the final. Stranger things have happened.

That isn't part of my confusion. My confusion is that he thinks the PAC-12 will get 4 or 5 teams in because UCLA might make a run. I don't understand that logic. The selection committee now add additional conference teams based on the off chance an underachieving squad might get hot?

[Top Ute]

That isn't part of my confusion. My confusion is that he thinks the PAC-12 will get 4 or 5 teams in because UCLA might make a run. I don't understand that logic. The selection committee now add additional conference teams based on the off chance an underachieving squad might get hot?

Well, the idea that UCLA will make a deep run in the NCAAs was the one part of SU's post that had me baffled.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I don't know what to think about Arizona. Its resume is worse than Oregon's, and Bracketology has 'Zona in, Oregon out, which I'm having a hard time grasping. Oregon beat Arizona at McKale -- 'Zona didn't play in Eugene -- and the Ducks' SOS and RPI is about 20 points higher.

What is it about Arizona that screams it should be in? I'm not finding it, and it's there where I draw the line on Pac-12 invites. But 'Zona's resume is good enough that it can play its way to an at-large. Making it to the Pac-12 final would move the Wildcats to the right side of the bubble.

I've had Arizona as in, more on reputation than resume, however it seems that many of the media types are starting to cool on Arizona getting in because "they are Arizona and have 20 wins".

One of Oregon or Arizona are going to get in, but I think both still have work to do. Since they are on opposite sides of the P12 bracket, by both reaching the final it could get both in.

[Top Ute]

I've had Arizona as in, more on reputation than resume, however it seems that many of the media types are starting to cool on Arizona getting in because "they are Arizona and have 20 wins".

One of Oregon or Arizona are going to get in, but I think both still have work to do. Since they are on opposite sides of the P12 bracket, by both reaching the final it could get both in.

Well, if I said Arizona could play its way into the tournament, then it stands to reason it could play its way out of the tournament. Losing to Arizona State pretty much seals the deal on 'Zona's at-large fate.

If Arizona was keeping Oregon out of the tournament, I think this loss bumps the Ducks in. Solidly.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Losing to Arizona State pretty much seals the deal on 'Zona's at-large fate.

Pop!

[SeattleUte]

CONGRATULATIONS WASHINGTON HUSKIES, 12 PAC OCC!

It's hard to believe the Utes beat Stanford and had a chance to beat Washington at the end.

[myboynoah]

It's hard to believe the Utes beat Stanford and had a chance to beat Washington at the end.

That's not at all difficult to believe. I predicted three conference wins for UofUtah. I was a believer.

[TripletDaddy]

UCLA will win the Pac 12 tourney and then go deep in the NCAA tournament. You heard it here first. Partly because of this the Pac will get 4 maybe 5 teams in.

[SeattleUte]

It's gratifying to know you're such a student of my posts.

[TripletDaddy]

It's gratifying to know you're such a student of my posts.

It is more gratifying for the student to embarrass the teacher in front of the entire class.

[PaloAltoCougar]

It's gratifying to know you're such a student of my posts.

In fairness, your pronouncement, "You heard it here first," was begging for attention. It's the journalistic equivalent of leading with one's chin.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Tad Boyle staked a claim as the best coach in the conference this weekend, and he did it by blazing a trail through the best (Mike Montgomery) and two well respected guys (Altman and Miller).

His teams played great defense this weekend, locking up shooters on Oregon and Arizona and completely shutting down P12 POY Gutierrez.

[Top Ute]

Three bids: Cal, Washington, Colorado.