[llperez]

PAC 12 looking strong this year. As of right now, according to lunardi’s bracketology, the conference has 6 teams in(zona, ucla, cal, asu, Colorado, Stanford) and 1 team on the bubble in Oregon. I truly think all 7 could get in and would be in as of today. Here’s some info on each of these 7 teams and my opinions on them.

I’m ranking them in order of how good I think they are.

1- ucla (21-5…rpi 12…SOS 16…quality wins: none)

The bruins are on a tear recently. Winners of 7 of their last 8, they are blowing teams out by double digits on the regular. Anderson and Jordan Adams might have surpassed zona’s Johnson in a two person race for conference player of the year. No huge wins, but they definitely pass the eye test as of now and could potentially run the table down the stretch.

2- Arizona ( 24-2…rpi 2…SOS 2…quality wins : ucla, duke, San Diego st, michigan)

Zona clearly has the best resume as of now and would certainly be a 1 seed if selection day was now. But, this team just hasn’t looked the same in recent weeks since losing starter Brandon Ashley. They have lost twice since losing him and almost every game has been a dog fight inducing last second wins vs Stanford, cal, Oregon and Utah winning all 4 by 4 points or less since Ashley’s injury. They are having trouble scoring points and Arron Gordon in particular has become a liability on offense where teams are playing off him. Still the best rebounding/ defensive team in the conference if not the country.

3-Stanford ( 16-8…rpi 48…SOS 57…quality wins: uconn)

Stanford doesn’t have a particularly strong resume right now but has a chance to get a quality win this weekend when ucla visits. I just really like the talent on this team and they have had some tough losses. Lots of work to be done still but if coach Dawkins cant get this talented squad led by Dwight Powell, chasson randle, and josh huestis to the tourney, then he is not much of a coach.

4- Oregon ( 17-8…rpi 38…SOS 33…quality wins: none)

The ducks were once 13-0 and ranked top 10. They then went into a tailspin in conference play. But they seem to have righted the ship lately and should improve to 18-8 this weekend as they play the conferences worst team in wazzu. The ducks have a ton of perimeter talent and can push the tempo and score with the best of them. Defense has been the weakness.

5- Arizona st ( 19-7…rpi 31…sos 47…quality wins: Arizona)

The sun devils have a some really fun players to watch. Pg jahii Carson is as quick as anyone in America. 7-2 center Jordan bachynski is averaging close to 5 blocks per game on the year and impacts countless shots in the paint. Transfer sg Marshall who played at penn st last year is the go to wing scorer where he is a very crafty player. This squad is a threat to anyone every night out.

6- cal (17-9…rpi 50…SOS 52…quality wins: Arizona)

Cal is really hit and miss. They have a tremendous leader in pg justin Cobbs who averages 16pts and 6apg. A nice big man duo in Richard Solomon and David kravish. The key for this team is the wings of Mathews, klekow and bird who have been very inconsistent.

7- Colorado ( 20-7…rpi 23…SOS 27…quality wins Kansas)

This squad was ranked 15th and looked like a real threat to win the PAC 12 before their best player and potential lottery pick spencer dinwiddie went down with a season ending injury. An immediate slide occurred but the buffaloes have rebounded since winning 4 of their last 5 with the one loss being to ucla on the road. This is a team I keep expecting to fall apart, but they just keep on moving along led by sophomore center josh Scott who is a skilled double double machine.

[TRC1991Participant]

 Oregon’s putrid conference record should automatically disqualify them from the field of 68. 

[TRC1991Participant]

 Oregon’s putrid conference record should automatically disqualify them from the field of 68. 

[llperez]

 5-8 right now with wazzu next which should move them to 6-8. Then they have a real tough stretch to close the year with road games vs ucla and USC and then home vs zona and asu. I think 8-10 in conference play might get them in, the rpi/SOS are both solid and you can’t ignore running the table out of conference. 

[llperez]

 5-8 right now with wazzu next which should move them to 6-8. Then they have a real tough stretch to close the year with road games vs ucla and USC and then home vs zona and asu. I think 8-10 in conference play might get them in, the rpi/SOS are both solid and you can’t ignore running the table out of conference. 

[ph90702]

Wyoming ran the table in the OOC last year.  How did that work for them? 

[ph90702]

Wyoming ran the table in the OOC last year.  How did that work for them? 

[llperez]

what’s your point? Oregon’s resume for getting into the tourney shouldn’t include the ooc schedule because Wyoming ran the table last year?

[llperez]

what’s your point? Oregon’s resume for getting into the tourney shouldn’t include the ooc schedule because Wyoming ran the table last year?

[ph90702]

You shouldn’t be allowed in the tournament if you can’t do well in your conference.  

[ph90702]

You shouldn’t be allowed in the tournament if you can’t do well in your conference.  

[llperez]

if they were to go 8-10 as I commented which is very possible, that’s not terrible. Comitte is supposed to look at resume as a whole. If the ducks finish 20-10 have a top 35 rpi and top 35 sos (those numbers could actually climb considering how tough the home stretch of their schedule is), that should get them in. Plus the selection committee owes them after boning the ducks last year.

[llperez]

if they were to go 8-10 as I commented which is very possible, that’s not terrible. Comitte is supposed to look at resume as a whole. If the ducks finish 20-10 have a top 35 rpi and top 35 sos (those numbers could actually climb considering how tough the home stretch of their schedule is), that should get them in. Plus the selection committee owes them after boning the ducks last year.

[juforre6Participant]

 Not sure how you think uvula is better than arizona winning close games can be a good thing come tourney time shows arizona can finish games

[juforre6Participant]

 Not sure how you think uvula is better than arizona winning close games can be a good thing come tourney time shows arizona can finish games

[juforre6Participant]

 

*ucla

[juforre6Participant]

 

*ucla

[llperez]

 Just how they are playing right now, my money would be on ucla. Zona is not a good shooting team and they have little depth. And nick Johnson who is the only dynamic scorer on the team is slowing down big time. Over the last 5 games, he is just 19/70 (27%) from the field. He is struggling big time. Ashley was the teams floor spacer and one of the best on the team at creating points. Close games from time build character, but when it’s every single game almost without being able to put teams away, there are reasons for concern. Meanwhile ucla is surging. 

[llperez]

 Just how they are playing right now, my money would be on ucla. Zona is not a good shooting team and they have little depth. And nick Johnson who is the only dynamic scorer on the team is slowing down big time. Over the last 5 games, he is just 19/70 (27%) from the field. He is struggling big time. Ashley was the teams floor spacer and one of the best on the team at creating points. Close games from time build character, but when it’s every single game almost without being able to put teams away, there are reasons for concern. Meanwhile ucla is surging. 

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