{"id":4045,"date":"2013-03-16T19:07:10","date_gmt":"2013-03-16T23:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4045"},"modified":"2013-03-16T21:29:09","modified_gmt":"2013-03-17T01:29:09","slug":"2013-ctc-the-pac-12-conference-313","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4045","title":{"rendered":"2013 CTC: The Pac-12 Conference (3\/16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It looks like the Pac-12 might be on the rebound from some seriously down seasons. \u00a0But, they probably will never be the dominating West Coast league that they were for so long because of the budding programs in the Mountain West, WCC, and even the WAC. \u00a0But, this year was a lot better, albeit a little bizarre.<\/p>\n

\"\"Somehow, UCLA<\/strong> ended up as the outright regular season champs, even though there were memorial services for them all through the months of November, December, and even into January. \u00a0But, the Bruin freshmen came together and won the league. \u00a0The three-way tie for second between Arizona, Cal, <\/strong>and Oregon<\/strong> is strange, as Arizona was #1 in the country for several weeks, but Cal and Oregon looked like NIT teams, at best, for a lot of the season. \u00a0But, that is the story of the Pac-12 this year – every team seems to have transformed – sometimes several times – over the course of this single season. \u00a0Colorado<\/strong> looked like an elite team, nationally, at times, while at others, they looked like an NIT team. \u00a0Arizona St.<\/strong> was competing for a conference title – out of NOWHERE – and now they have a ton of work to do just to get in the tournament. \u00a0Utah<\/strong> looked like a low-major team for a while, and then just started beating people. \u00a0USC<\/strong> had an even wider spread, from looking absolutely dreadful at times and then world-beaters at others. \u00a0Oh, and did I forget to mention Washington<\/strong>? \u00a0They had an embarrassing non-conf performance, but then won their first 5 Pac-12 games. \u00a0But, in the end, they came back to the pack and showed their true “mediocre” colors. \u00a0Or, maybe all these teams aren’t as good or bad as they seem and they just all keep beating each other to bring the “good” ones down and the “bad” ones up. \u00a0Maybe…<\/span><\/p>\n

CHAMPIONSHIP (March 16th – 60 points)<\/h1>\n

#1 UCLA vs #3 Oregon<\/strong>
\nThe top-seeded Bruins won two tough games against the Arizona schools to get to the finals on Saturday night. \u00a0Oregon had a brutally tough quarterfinal with Washington, which they won in OT, and then cruised past Cinderella Utah in the semis. \u00a0It looks like UCLA’s Jordan Adams (honestly, their most consistent offensive player, despite being so unheralded) won’t play in this one, so maybe that’s why Vegas actually installed the Ducks as a 2-point favorite here.<\/p>\n

Dave, GrossSr, Lazarow, and PapaCim have Oregon here. \u00a0Cheryl, Doogan, Lohse, LohseJr, Primm, and Waters have UCLA. \u00a0The other 14 people have no shot at points here. \u00a0Doogan’s very impressive Pac-12 has already clinched him at least a share of this year’s Pac-12 CTC crown no matter what happens tonight. \u00a0He can win it outright with a UCLA win (which would give him 345 points in this league), or split it with Lazarow and PapaCim, if Oregon wins (winning even a share without the champion is very impressive).<\/p>\n

SEMIFINALS (March 15th – 40 points each)<\/h1>\n

#1 UCLA vs #4 Arizona<\/strong>
\nThere are a TON of great games today, but this one is among the best.\u00a0 The Bruins, led by the super-freshmen, Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson, snuck past a game Arizona St. team on Thursday, setting up another battle with the Cactus State on Friday, after the Wildcats beat Colorado.\u00a0 With Cal out and Oregon a little shaky, the winner of this game will probably be the clear favorite in the title game on Saturday.<\/p>\n

This is not only a big game, basketball-wise, it’s a huge <\/em>game CTC-wise.\u00a0 Dave is the only one without a horse in the race here, as he had Colorado.\u00a0 Of the other 23, 10 of them have Arizona in the upset (Alex, Alexi, Bry, Gersh, GrossJr, GrossSr, J, Mac, PapaCim, Rikey, RDoc, Scoot, and Stumpf), with all but Gersh and PapaCim picking the ‘Cats to win this title.\u00a0 Of the 13 that picked UCLA here, six of them (Cheryl, Doogan, Lohse, LohseJr, Primm, and Teddy) took the Bruins to win this tournament.<\/p>\n

#3 Oregon vs #10 Utah<\/strong>
\nThe overused glass slipper metaphor can be thrown in here to describe the Utah Utes, who have actually looked very good lately.\u00a0 They won their last four regular season games before coming to Vegas and knocking off #7 USC on Wednesday and #2 Cal in overtime on Thursday.\u00a0 Now, they will try to continue their crazy run on Friday against #3 Oregon.\u00a0 Bubble teams everywhere are Duck fans tonight, hoping that Utah doesn’t steal the auto-bid.<\/p>\n

14 people (Alex, Alexi, Cheryl, Dave, Doogan, GrossSr, Lazarow, LohseJr, Mac, PapaCim, Primm, RDoc, Stumpf, and Waters) have Oregon here.\u00a0 The other 10 have all already lost this game with Cal.\u00a0 Dave, GrossSr, Lazarow, and PapaCim have the most at stake here with the Ducks, as they have them winning this tournament.<\/p>\n

QUARTERFINALS (March 14th – 20 points each)<\/h1>\n

#1 UCLA vs #9 Arizona St.<\/strong>
\nA thrilling<\/em> opening round overtime win for the Sun Devils has them in a position to put themselves back into the bubble conversation with another win here against #1 UCLA.\u00a0 The Bruins – amidst a season of criticism and questioning – just kept on trucking, eventually turning a “shaky” year into a Pac-12 title-winning year.\u00a0 Good for Ben Howland.\u00a0 he completely changed his style – slow, methodical, defensive – to fit his personnel (athletic and offensive) and it worked.\u00a0 This could be a dangerous team because they have as much talent as anyone in the country.\u00a0 Then again, would anyone be surprised if they didn’t win a game in the Dance?<\/p>\n

Alex has already lost this game with Stanford, but Mac can get a HUGE upset here if ASU comes through.\u00a0 Everyone else has the Bruins, including Cheryl, Doogan, Lohse, LohseJr, and Primm, who all have them winning this tournament.<\/p>\n

#4 Arizona vs #5 Colorado<\/strong>
\nColorado survived a tough Oregon St. team in the opening round on Wednesday and now they earn themselves a shot at redemption against an Arizona team that flat-out stole one in Tucson in January. \u00a0The Wildcats were on top of the college basketball world for a while, but it was a bit of smoke and mirrors with lucky wins and soft scheduling. \u00a0But, just because they were ill-suited to be the #1 team in the country doesn’t mean they are a bad team. \u00a0In fact, they are a really, really <\/em>good team. \u00a0The problem is that Mark Lyons is not really as good as people may have thought, and the frontcourt is basically all freshmen. \u00a0But, and I’ve said this all year – this team is as good as Nick Johnson. \u00a0And, most nights, he is elite.<\/p>\n

Dave and Doogan are the only two with Colorado in the mild upset here. \u00a0Dave actually has them going to the finals. \u00a0Eight people (Alex, Alexi, Bry, Mac, RDoc, Rikey, Scoot, and Stumpf) have UA winning this tournament. \u00a0Five more (Gersh, GrossJr, GrossSr, J, and PapaCim) have the ‘Cats going to the finals.<\/p>\n

#2 California vs #10 Utah<\/strong>
\nThe Runnin’ Utes upset #7 USC Wednesday night in Vegas, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with the Cal Bears. \u00a0I gushed the other day about Larry Brown, but my coach-love for Mike Montgomery is even higher. \u00a0Honestly, I have no idea why Montgomery is so incredibly overlooked. \u00a0He just flat-out wins. \u00a0And, he has done it again this year. \u00a0This Bears team is weak in the frontcourt and not very deep, yet somehow, Montgomery has gotten this team that is basically based entirely on the backcourt of Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs to 2nd place in the Pac-12 and an assured tournament bid that looked very far-fetched even a month ago. \u00a0Now, they are in search of a tournament title.<\/p>\n

Doogan has this HUGE upset here, which, if he hits it, will net him a cool HUNDRED points on the rest of the field. \u00a0Dave and GrossSr have already lost this game with USC, but the other 21 people have Cal, with six people (Caleb, Gersh, GrossJr, J, Lynch, and Teddy) picking the Golden Bears to win this tournament.<\/p>\n

#3 Oregon vs #6 Washington<\/strong>
\nThe Huskies barely survived their in-state rivals Wazzu late last night to set up a border war with the Ducks. \u00a0This Oregon season has been impressive. \u00a0They probably would have won the league if point guard Dominic Artis hadn’t been injured. \u00a0But, this roster is really good for Coach Altman, including former Duke star Kyle Singler’s younger brother, E.J., and Rice transfer – and the best Iranian player ever – Arsalan Kazemi. \u00a0This is a good Oregon team and should be a tough out in both tournaments.<\/p>\n

J and Teddy have already lost this game with Wash St. \u00a0The other 22 people all have Oregon here, so a UW win would be a net zero. \u00a0But, it would be good for the minority of the field that doesn’t have Oregon going to the finals. \u00a0Dave, GrossSr, Lazarow, and PapaCim all have the Ducks winning this tournament, so they would like that they survive here.<\/p>\n

OPENING ROUND (March 13th – 10 points each)<\/h1>\n

#8 Stanford vs #9 Arizona St.<\/strong>
\nA great season for ASU has fallen apart recently, but I guess when you rely so much on a freshman point guard, that’s what can happen, even with a terrific coach like Herb Sendak. \u00a0Stanford looked like they were also heading to the tournament in early February, when they ran off a nice 4-game winning streak, but they haven’t kept that momentum and now they probably need at least a run to the finals to make the Dance. \u00a0This is clearly an elimination game for these two teams. \u00a0The winner will get an important crack at #1 UCLA on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Eight people (Bry, Dave, Lazarow, Mac, PapaCim, Primm, Stumpf, and Waters) have the Sun Devils in a mild upset here. \u00a0Mac has the Devils beating UCLA in the quarters. \u00a0Alex has the most at stake with Stanford, as he has them beating UCLA.<\/p>\n

Arizona St. 89 – Stanford 88 (OT)<\/em>
\nA really entertaining game to start the Pac-12 tournament here, as ASU’s stud freshman Jahii Carson stepped up on the big stage with 34 points, pretty much dominating all 45 minutes of this game. \u00a0The Sun Devils were up 4 in regulation with :38 seconds left when Aaron Bright hit a three and was fouled. \u00a0He completed the 4-point play to tie the game, eventually forcing overtime. \u00a0Stanford’s star Dwight Powell went for 23 points, 9 boards, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in the loss. \u00a0The Cardinal is now heading to the NIT with a disappointing fade down the stretch. \u00a0ASU, who has also faded, is still alive and might get themselves in with a win over UCLA on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eight people hit this mild upset pick, with Mac keeping alive a semifinalist. \u00a0Alex took the biggest hit here, losing a semifinalist of his own.<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

#5 Colorado vs #12 Oregon St.<\/strong>
\nWhat a disaster of a season for an Oregon St. team that had upper-le-ague aspirations. \u00a0I guess the loss of current Dallas Maverick Jared Cunningham was a lot bigger than people realized. \u00a0As for Colorado, I really like this team – a lot. \u00a0But, they just can’t get any consistent play outside of Boulder. \u00a0It doesn’t make sense because they have some great pieces. \u00a0Andre Roberson is an NBA rebounder and interior defender right now. \u00a0And, their backcourt of Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker is very underrated. \u00a0This team could be pretty dangerous in next week’s tournament – if they get there. \u00a0The winner here will get the 4th-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the quarters.<\/p>\n

Seven people (Alex, Bry, Caleb, Cheryl, GrossJr, Lynch, and PapaCim) took a shot at a big upset with OSU. \u00a0Caleb has the Beavers beating Arizona in the quarters. \u00a0Surprisingly, only Dave and Doogan have the Buffs going to the semis. \u00a0Dave actually has them in the finals.<\/p>\n

Colorado 74 – Oregon St. 68<\/em>
\nThis OSU team’s season is over just like that, and it ends with a last-place finish and a first-round exit in the conference tournament. \u00a0It was the Colorado defense, particularly a ten-minute stretch at the end of the first half and beginning of the second, which turned a small deficit into a comfortable lead against a live ‘dog here in the first round. \u00a0An important win for the Buffs probably puts them into the Dance, but a win Thursday over Arizona would help a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Colorado win on Thursday would also help Dave and Doogan a lot, as they have them beating ‘Zona. Dave has the Buffs in the finals. \u00a0Seven people missed a big upset pick here, with Caleb losing a semifinalist.<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

#7 USC vs #10 Utah
\n<\/span>Two teams that are very hard to figure out. \u00a0Maybe jettisoning Kevin O’Neill from the USC sidelines had to be done because they have been a lot better without him. \u00a0And, with the talent – or lack thereof – on this Utah team, it’s amazing that they won 5 conference games and were legitimately better than two other Pac-12 teams. \u00a0I have no idea what to say about this game – anything is possible with these two teams. \u00a0The winner will get #2 Cal in the quarters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seven people (Alex, Bry, Cheryl, Doogan, GrossJr, Lynch, and PapaCim) have Utah in the upset. \u00a0Doogan has the Utes with another upset over Cal in the quarters. \u00a0Dave and GrossSr both have USC going to the semis.<\/span><\/p>\n

#6 Washington vs #11 Washington St.<\/strong>
\nOne of the better rivalries in the conference chock-full of good ones will write another chapter right off the bat in the 2013 Pac-12 tournament. \u00a0The Huskies swept WSU this year, but both games were really tight and down to the wire. \u00a0By the way, is it me or is Lorenzo Romar\u00a0really\u00a0overrated? \u00a0I mean if we can kill Rick Barnes for recruiting studs and then not doing anything with them, why can’t we do the same for Romar? \u00a0Think of the STUDS that have come through UW in the past couple of seasons? \u00a0The winner here will get a border war with #3 Oregon in the quarters.<\/p>\n

13 people saw a lot of value in taking Wazzu in this upset, as only 11 (Alexi, Cheryl, Gersh, LohseJr, Lynch, Mac, PapaCim, Primm, Rikey, Scoot, and Teddy) have UW. \u00a0J and Teddy actually have Wazzu beating Oregon in the quarters. \u00a0Nobody has Washington going past the quarters.<\/p>\n

CTC UPDATE<\/span><\/p>\n

Championship Picks<\/strong><\/p>\n