The Pac-12 conference tournament will be played in Las Vegas, Nevada. It kicks off today with 4 first round games.
Check out the bracket here for a breakdown of the bracket and scheduled times.
According to ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan, the Arizona Wildcats, UCLA Bruins, and Oregon Ducks are considered locks for the NCAA tournament. They won’t need any help in the Pac-12 tournament to get in, but winning could help either of these teams in seeding.
The Ducks started off with a horrendous 3-8 Pac-12 conference record. They looked as if they had taken a huge step back from a year ago and were ready to call it quits. Then they ripped off 7 straight wins and are now considered a lock for the tournament – one of the best turnarounds of the season.
The Wildcats are an obvious lock for the NCAA Tournament with an impressive 28-3 record. They will likely land a number 1 seed as they are currently ranked as the nation’s number 4 team.
UCLA had the second best record in the Pac-12. That is usually good enough to land a tournament bid.
For Pac-12 teams not named Arizona, Oregon, or UCLA, they will need some help in the Pac-12 tourney to get to the big dance. Let’s take a look at the matchups for today and what is at stake for each team.
Washington Huskies vs Utah Utes
Both of these teams need a Cinderella run in the Pac-12 tournament to punch a ticket to the dance. I don’t see it happening for either. Whoever wins this game will have to face the Wildcats and I don’t like either of their chances in that game.
The Utes and Huskies split on the season, each team winning their home game. I’m taking the Utes in this one. They have looked better lately, with their last 3 wins being over Arizona State, Colorado, and California with a one point loss to Stanford and an overtime loss to Arizona rounding out Utah’s last five games.
Washington has had the same record over their last 5 (3-2), but the wins are over lesser opponents like Oregon State, Washington State, and USC. The losses come from UCLA and Oregon. The late games against some fairly tough opponents should have the Utes ready for this tournament.
USC Trojans vs Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado is a team on the bubble watch. An early exit in this one and some Cinderella magic from others could push them out of the NCAA tournament.
The Buffaloes potential matchup the next round against the California Bears should be a fun one to watch as their last game of the season ended in an overtime thriller. USC has a 2-16 conference record on the year and Colorado has something to lose here. I will take Colorado. I am also taking them in the following game versus California. Colorado gets their revenge on the 1 point OT loss from just a few days ago.
Oregon State Beavers vs Oregon Ducks
A rivalry game like this being played in the first round should be fun. The key for the Ducks is to contain the Beavers senior guard Roberto Nelson, who is averaging a conference high 20.6 points per game. The Beavers have their hands full trying to slow down this Ducks team. The Ducks are on a roll right now, coming into the tournament as the hottest team in the conference, winning their last 7 games.
The Beavers and Ducks split their season games with each team winning their home game. I’m taking Oregon and I expect Mike Moser of Oregon to have a good tournament as he return to a familiar place in Las Vegas (he played the past two years at UNLV). Oregon’s leading scorer Joseph Young has had some great games this year, and if he can get it going, they can go far in this one.
Washington State Cougars vs Stanford Cardinal
Stanford has too much to lose in this game. They currently sit in Joe Lunardi’s on the bubble list under the last four byes. An early exit could change their fortune for the worst. Washington State was an awful 3-15 in conference play. Stanford won’t lose this one.
The matchup between the Arizona State Sun Devils’ guard Jahii Carson and Cardinal guard Chasson Randle is a must watch in the second round. These guys can fill it up in a heartbeat.
Who Wins?
I love taking the hot team coming into tournaments like this. So for that reason, I have Oregon taking it home. Arizona is probably the favorite, but since the season ending injury to sophomore forward Brandon Ashley, they have had their struggles.
Arizona was the best team in the country before the injury. They were undefeated, but have lost 3 games since then and were challenged up to the end of the game in three other contests. They’re beatable.
I like UCLA as well. I think that will be Oregon’s toughest game in the tourney, and it takes place in the second round. If their two matchups this year are any indication of what is to come, I am excited. A 70-68 Bruins victory at Oregon in the first meeting and an 87-83 double overtime Ducks win at UCLA in the second meeting? Yes, give me some more of that series.
There should be some great games from start to finish. This is an evenly matched conference, with the exception of the bottom 3 or 4 teams. Enjoy.
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