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Pac-12 Tournament Preview: What’s At Stake

By Alex Furrier

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Conference play is donezo. In the books. Gone but not forgotten. Sadly, many of our Pac-12 comrades will not be making the journey into March Madness. However, the Pac-12 tournament offers the last chance for a team to force its way onto Selection Sunday.

Group 1: Win and In

Teams: Washington, Washington State, USC, ASU, Colorado, Cal, Oregon State

For these teams, a loss spells the end of the ride. Any slip ups will cost a trip to the only post-season that truly matters. Without a serious case of divine intervention and/or Ed Rush coming back from the grave to dictate the tournament’s outcome, I don’t see the Washington, Washington State, USC, Cal, or Colorado cutting down the nets on Saturday.

The dark horses here are ASU and Oregon State. Both have shown tough streaks and a knack for upsetting teams. Herb Sendek and Wayne Tinkle coached their teams above expectations throughout conference play. All it takes is a little luck, a few blood sacrifices to the right deity, and next thing you know the NCAA committee is giving you a call on Sunday.

Of the two I’d give OSU the edge to pull the upset, as I have a feeling that a tournament match-up between Arizona and ASU would have the Wildcats playing full-on feral basketball in the revenge game. If OSU sniffs enough Tinkle pit sweat, they may have the fortitude to take down Oregon and Utah on their side of the bracket.

Group 2: Last Call for Cali

Teams: UCLA, Stanford

The tournament is the final chance for UCLA and Stanford to graduate from the kids table and stop riding the Struggle Bus. At various times throughout conference play, Stanford and UCLA have been considered the 3rd best team in the Pac, and yet now face the reality of a watching the tournament from their academically respected California universities.

Stanford responded to their fading tourney hopes after a loss to Oregon by dropping both games in Arizona. Things aren’t looking good for the Cardinal. UCLA took out the trash (Washington, WSU, and USC) but are likely out of the tournament without an upset of Arizona in the semifinals. Without an appearance in the tournament final, Stanford and UCLA will ride off into the Netherworld known as the NIT.

Group 3: Tournament Time

Teams: Oregon, Utah, Arizona

Dana Altman must have given his players some ‘special stuff’  back on January 22nd against USC.

That special stuff helped the Ducks rattle off 11 wins in 13 games. After playing their way into the tournament, Oregon find themselves in the same position as conference powers Arizona and Utah: playing for a cushy tournament seed.

With a good showing (re: finals appearance), the Ducks could propel themselves past the dreaded 7-10 seeds and avoid a second round matchup against a 1 or 2 seed. Utah likewise would enjoy climbing to a 3 seed to avoid the 1 seeds until the regional final, and Arizona just wants to end up west of the Mississippi and out of Kentucky’s bracket.

Pac-12 conference tournaments follow the same themes of the regular season: terrible referees and absolute bonkers results:

Each team knows where they stand, what their mission is, and that now is their last chance to prove themselves. Let’s enjoy watching them duke it out.

Next: Big East Tournament Preview: Will 'Nova Stay Atop?

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