Tourney Time Pac 10

Pac-10: The Best Conference in America…period.
Some might say the ACC is the best conference in America, some might even say the Big-10 or SEC tops the conference rankings, but they would all be wrong. No conference has had 6 “locks” for the NCAA tournament for a longer stretch than the Pac-10. The conference boasts the best team in the nation: Youclah. The most surprising team: WAZZU. The most dangerous sleeper: ‘Zona. And 3 other teams all capable of making a sweet 16 run: Oregon, USC, and Stanford. The conference also possesses a likely NIT Final Four team in Washington. The reason why most people don’t recognize the Pac-10 as the “best conference in America” is because the games are shown on the NCAA equivalent of the Lifetime channel: Fox Sports. It’s a shame really, because Pac-10 basketball is a “different” brand of basketball that has received a bum rap over the past 15 years for being soft. Sure, the conference has more scoring than the Big East or Big 10, but does that make the Pac-10 soft or does it make those other conferences boring? Obviously to the East coast media (ESPN) who shows those games on their networks and has an interest in their well-being sides with the Big East and Big 10 because evidently “that is how basketball should be played.” Well, I think the tables have turned this year because there is no way any analyst worth his salt would classify UCLA, WAZZU, USC, or Stanford as soft…Oregon and Arizona? Okay, soft…but talented. As for how the rest of this season will play out? Let’s take a look at the conference:

UCLA will eventually win the Pac-10 tournament because after the loss to Washington, they will need to win out to definitely secure the overall top seed in the tournament. Any loss along the way WILL NOT bump them from a 1 seed, but will move them down the 3rd or 4th #1 seed.

WAZZU has proved a lot of people wrong. They will again prove people wrong as they will make it to the finals of the PAC-10 tourney, but will eventually lose to a much more talented UCLA ball club. Final prediction: #3 seed.

USC is in a 3 way tie for third with Arizona and Oregon. Surprised? Me too, it seems like they were a better team than both AZ an OU, but have come back to the pelaton late in the season. This might hurt USC’s seeding in the NCAA tournament, because as of today I have them as a #7-8 seed. USC will lose to Stanford in the opening round of the tournament, which will make them a lock for the 8-9 game. Tough team to play though in the second round.

Oregon has overachieved all year. Well, maybe they have underachieved…I don’t really know. They have loads of talent, a lot of big wins, one long winning streak, and a dangerous style of play. BUT, for the past couple of years have not been able to do much in terms of winning consistently. This year seemed different after wins at Georgetown and Arizona. Now they are slumping late in the season and seemed destined for an early round exit. On the other hand, they have great shooters who can fill it up, so would you want to play them? No is the correct answer. If the can beat Arizona in the first round of the tournament, then they could be a surprise team in Atlanta, if not, they could be a surprise team in Eugene come next Saturday.

Arizona WAS one of the best teams in the country. Many “smart” analysts had them in their Final Four at the beginning of the season. Now, you can’t even find them in the top 25. Much like Oregon, if they win their opening in the Pac-10 round expect them to use that win to catapult themselves deep into the NCAA tournament. Lose it, and you will find fans thinking of Jerryd Bayless in a Wildcat uniform sooner rather than later. Speaking of Wildcat uniforms, Arizona, along with OSU, Florida, and one other team will wear new Nike uniforms for the NCAA tournament. The new uniforms are supposed to be made of lighter mesh. Maybe this will help Mustafa stop turning the ball over or help Chase play some defense…probably not, but here’s to hoping…

Stanford has the Lopez twins; that’s all you need to know. Wait, they now have a walk-on sophomore that did his best Nick Robinson impression on Saturday by going 9-15 and hitting a game-tying 3 against Arizona. Too bad they lost, because it was a great comeback. Stanford is technically on the bubble and a loss to USC will put more and more pressure on the bubble. Even with a loss I think they are in (probably as a 10-11 seed). A win and they could move up to an 8. Another tough match up for a 1 seed because no matter who the 1 seed is, they will be scared going up against 2 seven footers.

Washington needs to win the Pac-10 tournament to get in. Simple as that. I think if Washington played in the Big-12 or Big East, they would be a lock right now, but they don’t. They are the most underachieving team in the Pac-10…yes, more so than Arizona. They have all the talent in the world, but it’s young. This team will be dangerous come next year…especially if Hawes decides to stay.

California had a disappointing year because of injuries and early departures. Imagine line-up of Ubaka, Wilkes, Anderson, Powe, and Harden. They had 2 of those players for the whole year this year. That line-up would be a 5 seed right now.

Oregon St. and ASU are the reason why some believe the Pac-10 to be the second best conference in America. But, are they worse than Wake Forest or Miami. NO. The only reason people think the ACC is better is because they have 106 teams in their conference. The bottom is just as bad in the ACC as the Pac-10. OSU will continue to struggle next year, while ASU is on the rise as they get 1 transfer from Duke and 1 McDonald’s All-American.

As for individual players, the Pac-10 awards came out this year and there were no real shocks…

POY: Aaron Afflalo
FOY: Chase Budinger

One surprise this year is that Marcus Williams made the All-Pac-10 team while Luc Richard Mbah Moute did not. Why is this important? Well, last year Lute Olson felt Williams was hosed out of the FOY award by Mbah Moute…Now Williams is on the All-Pac-10 team while Luc Richard is not…Does that say anything?

As for my Final Four predictions:

I can’t really pick the four considering the brackets are not out yet, but let me say I will not be shocked if we saw 2 Pac-10 teasm in Atlanta this year.

That’s it for me!
-Nick Kennedy