CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The Pac-12 Tournament.
For the final time in history, the Pac-12 Tournament wrapped up and gave college basketball fans a chance to see the teams square off as conference opponents.
In the Pac-12 Tournament preview, I predicted Arizona would defeat Colorado in the title game. While the Buffaloes advanced to the championship, it was Oregon they would square off against for a chance to secure the automatic qualifying bid.
There were two big upsets in the Pac-12 Tournament as Stanford knocked off Cal in overtime in the first round of play while Oregon shocked Arizona in the semifinals. As a result, the Wildcats lost any and all chance of being a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon and Colorado went toe-to-toe for much of the contest, but it was ultimately the Ducks who pulled away in the end and won 75-68.
CBB Review Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
N’Faly Dante, Oregon
Dante scored 20+ points in two of the three games in the Pac-12 Tournament for Oregon, including a career-high 25 points for the senior center. In the championship against Colorado and the quarterfinals against UCLA, he put the offense on his back and made multiple plays on both ends of the floor when his team needed it the most. And let’s not forget he was a perfect 12-12 from the floor against the Ducks as well. Congrats, N’Faly Dante.
CBB Review All-Pac-12 Tournament First Team
- G: KJ Simpson, Colorado – 3 GP (19.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 47.4 3P%)
- G: Dylan Andrews, UCLA – 2 GP (27.5 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 58.3 FG%, 52.9 3P%)
- G: Jackson Shelstad, Oregon – 3 GP (16.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 BPG)
- F: Spencer Jones, Stanford – 2 GP (21.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 3.5 SPG, 51.9 FG%, 50.0 3P%)
- C: N’Faly Dante, Oregon – 3 GP (20.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 83.3 FG%)
Oregon’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 32
This is a tough Oregon team to create a prediction for based on how the season went. Nobody expected the Ducks to be in this situation, but they found a way to dig deep and pull off the wins. This is a team that could go as far as the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 or lose in the first round if the wheels fall off completely.
I have the Ducks making it to the Round of 32 as a “safe” option (and use that loosely). This Oregon team is more than capable of winning the opening game, especially against a South Carolina team that has a high ceiling and a low floor.
The offense for the Ducks is going to have Dante lead the way with Jermaine Couisnard and Shelstad behind him. The problem rests behind those three as the other six players who appeared in the Pac-12 Championship combined for 19 points. Stopping the main trio is easier said than done, but depth scoring could certainly improve. One thing for certain is that Dana Altman will have his team prepared for whoever they face in the opening round.