CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday. Up next: The last Pac-12 Tournament.
It’s the final rendition of the Pac-12 Tournament, so make sure you enjoy this one a little bit more than the rest. The tournament kicks off on Mar. 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at T-Mobile Arena.
Arizona is the strong favorite to win the Pac-12 Tournament after claiming the regular season title, but don’t forget about Washington State and Colorado as both of them could get hot and cut down the nets.
2024 Pac-12 Awards
Player of the Year: Caleb Love, Arizona
Freshman of the Year: Isaiah Collier, USC
Transfer of the Year: Caleb Love, Arizona
Coach of the Year: Kyle Smith, Washington State
First Team:
- G: Caleb Love, Arizona (18.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- G: KJ Simpson: Colorado (19.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 45.1 3P%0
- G: Isaiah Collier, USC (16.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG)
- F: Keion Brooks Jr., Washington (21.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 39.5 3P%)
- C: Oumar Ballo, Arizona (13.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.0 BPG, 64.0 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Pelle Larsson, Arizona (13.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 53.5 FG%, 41.7. 3P%)
- G: Jaylon Tyson, Cal (19.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- F: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado (16.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SGP, 37.5 3P%)
- F: Isaac Jones, Washington State (15.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 58.0 FG%)
- C: Branden Carlson, Utah (17.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 BPG, 37.1 3P%)
Pac-12 Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 13
8. Washington (17-14, 9-11) vs. 9. USC (14-17, 8-12) – 3 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
These teams only met once in the regular season, and the Trojans were the better team throughout the contest. This game will be a battle of Keion Brooks Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler against Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis. I expect the latter to carry their team to victory.
Drew’s pick: 9. USC
5. UCLA (15-16, 10-10) vs. 12. Oregon State (13-18, 5-15) – 5:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
Even though UCLA started the season off poorly, the Bruins rebounded extremely well to finish .500 in conference play. Jordan Pope and Tyler Bilodeau will have solid games for the Beavers, but Mick Cronin’s group shouldn’t have any trouble with this one.
Drew’s pick: 5. UCLA
7. Cal (13-18, 9-11) vs. 10. Stanford (13-17, 8-12) – 9 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
Stanford started the season in the middle of the standings right behind the top four teams and Utah, but the Cardinal had a miserable collapse to end the season. I imagine Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq to lead the Golden Bears to victory.
Drew’s pick: 7. Cal
6. Utah (18-13, 9-11) vs. 11. Arizona State (14-17, 8-12) – 11:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
If you ask anyone associated with Utah, they will tell you finishing as the sixth seed is disappointing. This may not be as bad as the Utes expect, though. This play-in game against Arizona State will give them some momentum.
Drew’s pick: 6. Utah
Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 14
1. Arizona (24-7, 15-5) vs 9. USC – 3 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
USC will have some momentum after the opening-round win against Washington, but Arizona is the best of the best in this conference. The Trojans will keep it close for a little while, but the Wildcats will pull away in the end.
Drew’s pick: 1. Arizona
4. Oregon (20-11, 12-8) vs 5. UCLA – 5:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
The Ducks were the better team between these two in the regular season but if any matchup smells like an upset, this is the one. UCLA’s balanced offense will go toe-to-toe with Oregon’s offense and keep the Ducks in check.
Drew’s pick: 5. UCLA
2. Washington State (23-8, 14-6) vs 7. Cal – 9 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
As much as everyone would love to see a Cinderella run for Cal, this is where the story ends for the team that won just three games last season. Isaac Jones and Myles Rice will be the duo that leads the way for Washington State with Jaylen Wells right behind them.
Drew’s pick: 2. Washington State
3. Colorado (22-9, 13-7) vs 6. Utah – 11:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
What a matchup this will be in the Pac-12 quarterfinals! A rivalry game in a conference tournament is every fan’s dream come true, but it will be a small nightmare for Utah fans as KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva will lead the Buffaloes to victory.
Drew’s pick: 3. Colorado
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 15
1. Arizona vs. 5. UCLA – 8 p.m. on Pac-12 Network
Arizona won both regular season matchups between these two teams, and I don’t expect anything to be different in the third meeting. UCLA hung around in the matchup in Tucson, but Caleb Love and company will pull away with the game in the end.
Drew’s pick: 1. Arizona
2. Washington State vs. 3. Colorado – 10:30 p.m. on FS1
This matchup has a strong chance of needing more than 40 minutes as both offenses are dynamic and find ways to score. Even though Washington State has done surprisingly well this season, I’ve been high on Colorado since the first week. I see the Buffaloes winning by four or fewer points.
Drew’s pick: 3. Colorado
Championship – Sat., Mar. 16
1. Arizona vs. 3. Colorado – 9 p.m. on FOX
Two powerhouses in the Pac-12 this year meet for one matchup. Yes, Colorado lost by 47 to Arizona in January. No, I’m not concerned about a matchup from over two months ago. The Buffaloes have learned from that game, and you saw it firsthand with the second matchup being closer.
With that in mind though, Arizona is still Arizona. Tommy Lloyd continues to find ways to win, and I don’t see that changing in the championship. Barring something strange, I see the Wildcats winning their third-straight Pac-12 Tournament title.
Drew’s pick: 1. Arizona