Paths to Phoenix, NYC begin for seven Pac-12 teams this week
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#PAC12HOOPS STARTING FIVE
3x3 - Of the Pac-12’s four NCAA Tournament teams, three earned a No. 3 seed or better, marking the fourth time in league history three teams were seeded as high.
>> 1981: #1 OSU, #2 ASU, #3 UCLA; 1992: #1 UCLA (E8), #2 USC, #3 ARIZ; 2007: #2 UCLA (F4), #3 ORE (E8), #3 WSU; 2017: #2 ARIZ, #3 ORE, #3 UCLA.
3x29 - For the first time in Conference history, three teams have reached at least 29 overall victories. It was also the first time three teams reached the 25-victory plateau during the regular season.
>> Should USC reach 25 wins, it would tie the Conference record of four 25-win teams in a single season (2006-07). Only once have multiple teams reached 30 wins (1997-98: ARIZ & STAN, both 30).
3 - Three consecutive years the Pac-12 has advanced a team to the Elite Eight - the only conference in the country to accomplish the feat (2014 - ARIZONA; 2015 - ARIZONA; 2016 - OREGON).
>> The Pac-12 has also had a Sweet 16 participant in each of the last four seasons.
3 - Three Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 10 of this week’s AP Top 25 poll in #4 ARIZONA, #8 UCLA and #9 OREGON - joining the ACC as the only conferences in the nation with three in the top 10.
>> It marks the seventh week this season the league placed three teams in the top 10, equaling the longest stretch in league history:
1997-98: 7 weeks (12/23/97 - 2/3/98); 2016-17: 7 weeks (1/23/17, 2/6/17 - 3/13/17)
7 - The Pac-12 placed seven teams in postseason play, with four teams earning berths in the 2017 NCAA Tournament (#2 ARIZONA, #3 OREGON, #3 UCLA, #11 USC) and another three being selected for the 2017 National Invitation Tournament (#1 CALIFORNIA, #3 UTAH, #5 COLORADO).
>> It marks the fourth time in the past five years that seven-or-more Pac-12 teams reached the NCAA or NIT fields.
PAC-12 TIPOFF
WELCOME BACK: The NCAA Final Four will return to the West for the first time in 22 years when Pac-12 member ARIZONA STATE hosts at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., April 1 and 3. The last time the event was staged in the West was in 1995 in Seattle where UCLA won its record 11th national championship.
In addition, the Pac-12 Conference will serve as a tournament site host for the first time at the West Regional in San Jose’s SAP Center. League member UTAH will host the First and Second Rounds in Salt Lake City.
WOODEN WATCH: The Pac-12 leads the country with four of the 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Award:
>> Lonzo Ball, Fr., UCLA
>> Dillon Brooks, Jr., OREGON
>> Markelle Fultz, Fr., WASHINGTON
>> Lauri Markkanen, Fr., ARIZONA
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Seven of the 16 Pac-12 Player of the Week awards went to freshmen, tying the most in a season since the award was created in 1983, matching the seven rookie selections from a 2007-08 campaign that featured the likes of future NBA lottery picks Jerryd Bayless, James Harden, Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo.
PAC-12 IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Pac-12 Conference has won more NCAA basketball titles (16) than any other conference in the country . . . Oregon’s Tall Firs won the first NCAA Championship in 1939. Stanford claimed the national title in 1942, followed by Utah in 1944 and California in 1959 . . . UCLA established a basketball dynasty that included 10 titles in 12 seasons and a winning streak of seven consecutive NCAA crowns . . . In 1997, Arizona became the sixth different Pac-12 institution to capture the NCAA basketball title.
| School (Seasons, not including 2017) | Yrs | W-L | Pct. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Arizona (1951, 76-77, 85-09, 11, 13-16) | 33 | 54-32 | .628 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Arizona State (1958, 61-64, 73, 75, 80-81, 91, 95, 03, 09, 14) | 14 | 13-15 | .464 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| California (1946, 57-60, 90, 93-94, 96-97, 2001-03, 06, 09-10, 12-13, 16) | 19 | 20-19 | .513 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Colorado (1940, 42, 46, 54-55, 62-63, 69, 97, 2003, 12-14, 16) | 14 | 10-16 | .385 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Oregon (1939, 45, 60-61, 95, 00, 02-03, 07-08, 13-16) | 14 | 19-13 | .594 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon State (1947, 49, 55, 62-64, 66, 75, 80-82, 84-85, 88-90, 2016) | 17 | 12-20 | .375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Stanford (1942, 89, 92, 95-05, 07-08, 14) | 17 | 23-16 | .590 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| UCLA (1950, 52, 56, 62-65, 67-81, 83, 87, 89-02, 2005-09, 11, 13-15) | 47 | 104-40 | .722 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| USC (1940, 54, 60-61, 79, 82, 85, 91-92, 97, 01-02, 07-09, 11, 16) | 17 | 12-19 | .387 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Utah (1944-45, 55-56, 59-61, 66, 77-79, 81, 83, 86, 91, 93, 95-00, 02-05, 09, 15-16) | 29 | 38-32 | .543 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Washington (1943, 48, 51, 53, 76, 84-86, 98-99, 04-06, 09-11) | 16 | 18-17 | .515 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington State (1941, 80, 83, 94, 07-08) | 6 | 6-6 | .500 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 329-245 | 0.573 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
Records of the following schools were later voided by the NCAA: UCLA (1980 – 5-1), OSU (1980 – 0-1, 1981 – 0-1, 1982 – 2-1), CAL (1996 – 0-1).
Note: Several current Pac-12 members competed in the NCAA Tournament while members of other conferences. Those teams and their records are Arizona (2-3), Arizona State (7-7), Colorado (9-12), Oregon (2-2), Oregon State (5-4), Utah (35-30).
PAC-12 IN THE POSTSEASON NIT
The Pac-12 has had considerable success in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), as five current members have captured the NIT crown - Colorado (1940), Utah (1947), UCLA (1985), Stanford (1991, 2012, 2015) and California (1999). Colorado also finished second in 1991, as did Utah in 1974. Meanwhile third-place finishes were turned in by Oregon in 1975 and 2004, Colorado in 1955 and 2011, Utah in 1992, and Washington State in 2011. The league now stands at 99-81 (.550) in America's original postseason tourney. The records of all Pac-12 members in the NIT:
| School (Seasons, not including 2017) | Yrs | W-L | PCT | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Arizona (1946, 50-51, 12) | 4 | 0-4 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona State (1983, 90, 92-94, 98, 00, 02, 05, 08, 10, 13, 15) | 13 | 7-13 | .350 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| California (1986-87, 89, 99-00, 08, 11, 14) | 8 | 14-7 | .667 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado (1938, 40, 91, 95, 99-00, 04, 06, 11) | 9 | 12-8 | .600 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Oregon (1975-77, 84, 88, 90, 97, 99, 04, 12) | 10 | 13-11 | .542 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Oregon State (1979, 83, 87, 05) | 4 | 3-4 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stanford (1988, 90-91, 94, 06, 12-13, 15) | 8 | 18-5 | .783 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UCLA (1985-86) | 2 | 5-1 | .833 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USC (1973, 93-94, 99) | 4 | 2-4 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah (1944, 47, 49, 57-58, 70, 74, 87-88, 92, 01, 14) | 12 | 11-11 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington (1980, 82, 87, 96-97, 12-13, 16) | 8 | 7-8 | .467 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington State (1992, 95-96, 09, 11) | 5 | 7-5 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 99-81 | .550 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Note: Arizona (0-3), Colorado (12-8), and Utah (11-10) combined to post a 23-21 record while not Conference members. Thus, Pac-12 representatives’ record in the NIT is now 76-60 (.559). Pac-12 members also combine for a 96-78 (.552) record in NIT games which did not match two Conference members.
RECORD WATCH
ARIZONA’s Sean Miller is the 21st coach in league history to reach 100 career Conference victories. His .743 winning percentage in league games (107-37) is third to only John Wooden (.810) and Lute Olson (.764) among those to reach 100 wins.
OREGON (6.8 bpg, 2nd in NCAA) has already set a new single-season league record with 226 blocked shots, eclipsing the previous mark of 225 set by WASHINGTON last season.
ARIZONA STATE (328) and UCLA (327) are only the fourth and fifth teams in league history to reach 300 made three pointers in a season along with OREGON (350 in 2007, 304 in 2002) and WASHINGTON (305 in 2011).
While not on pace to break marks, UCLA’s offense has proven to be one of the most-prolific in modern Conference and Division I history as it would rank among the best of the past three-plus decades in several categories:
>> 90.4 PPG - highest in league since 1997-98 (ARIZ, 90.8), highest nationally since 2008-09 (VMI, 93.8)
>> 51.9% FG - highest in league since 1996-97 (UCLA, 52.0%), highest nationally since 2006-07 (Florida, 52.6%)
>> 21.5 APG - highest in league since assists became official NCAA stat in 1983-84, highest recorded in Conference since 1979-80 (OSU, 21.7), highest nationally since 1995-96 (Kentucky, 21.8)
>> 327 3FG - 3rd-most in a season in league history
At his clip of 23.2 points per game, WASHINGTON’s Markelle Fultz became the first freshman to lead the league in scoring since CALIFORNIA’s Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 1995-96 (Conference freshman record 21.1 ppg). Fultz is only the third freshmen to pace the league in scoring along with Abdur-Rahim and Cliff Robinson (USC, 1977-78).
With 254 assists, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball has shattered the Pac-12 freshman single-season assists mark and is fourth on the all-time single-season list. At 7.7 apg, he would need six more games to break the league record of 294 set by ARIZONA STATE’s Ahlon Lewis in 1998. Ball is on pace to be the first Conference player to average at least 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a season since CALIFORNIA’s Jason Kidd in 1993-94.
UCLA’s Bryce Alford has entered the Pac-12 career top 10 in three-point field goals as his 320 triples (5th active in NCAA) are fourth most all-time. Alford’s 1,887 career points are the second-most among active players from Power 6 programs (Josh Hart, Villanova) and rank 25th in Conference history.
ARIZONA STATE’s Torian Graham (108 3FG) and UCLA’s Bryce Alford (107 3FG) have cracked the Conference’s single-season top 10 in made threes, currently in sixth and seventh places, respectively. ARIZONA’s Salim Stoudamire set the mark of 120 set in 2005.
The 56 career double-doubles for WASHINGTON STATE senior Josh Hawkinson are the highest active total in NCAA Division I. Hawkinson is also fourth among active Division I players in rebounding with 1,015 career caroms, a total which ranks 12th in Pac-12 history.
OREGON junior Jordan Bell (219 blocks) has moved into sixth on the Pac-12’s career blocked shots list, while COLORADO senior Wesley Gordon (203 blocks) is just behind in eighth and OREGON’s Chris Boucher (189) is two shy of the top 10.
2017 PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
Allonzo Trier was named Most Outstanding Player in helping No. 7 Arizona outlast No. 5 Oregon 83-80 on Saturday, March 11 in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game. It marked the first Conference title game between two AP top 10 opponents.
The Wildcats and Trier - who missed three of Arizona’s four losses due to a 19-game suspension - got their payback by avenging their only two regular-season league losses to UCLA and Oregon en route to a sixth tourney title and second in the last three seasons.
In the event’s first year in Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena, the tournament set records for highest-attended quarterfinal session (18,153, Session 4), highest-ever single-session attendance (19,224, Session 5), and total all-session attendance (86,910).
FIRST ROUND
#8 ARIZONA STATE 98, #9 STANFORD 88 (OT)
#5 CALIFORNIA 67, #12 OREGON STATE 62
#7 COLORADO 73, #10 WASHINGTON STATE 63
#6 USC 78, #11 WASHINGTON 73
QUARTERFINALS
#1 OREGON 80, #8 ARIZONA STATE 57
#5 CALIFORNIA 78, #4 UTAH 75
#2 ARIZONA 92, #7 COLORADO 78
#3 UCLA 76, #6 USC 74
SEMIFINALS
#1 OREGON 73, #5 CALIFORNIA 65
#2 ARIZONA 86, #3 UCLA 75
CHAMPIONSHIP
#2 ARIZONA 83, #1 OREGON 80
2017 PAC-12 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Torian Graham, ARIZONA STATE
Derrick White, COLORADO
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
Tyler Dorsey, Oregon
Lauri Markkanen, ARIZONA
Allonzo Trier, ARIZONA - Most Outstanding Player
2016-17 PAC-12 AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dillon Brooks, OREGON
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Lonzo Ball, UCLA
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Bell, OREGON
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Chimezie, Metu, USC
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Josh Hawkinson, WSU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Sean Miller, ARIZONA
ALL-PAC-12 FIRST TEAM
| Bryce Alford | UCLA | G | Sr. | 6-3 | 185 |
| Lonzo Ball | UCLA | G | Fr. | 6-6 | 190 |
| Dillon Brooks** | ORE | F | Jr. | 6-7 | 225 |
| Markelle Fultz | WASH | G | Fr. | 6-4 | 195 |
| Kyle Kuzma | UTAH | F | Jr. | 6-9 | 221 |
| TJ Leaf | UCLA | F | Fr. | 6-10 | 225 |
| Lauri Markkanen | ARIZ | F | Fr. | 7-0 | 230 |
| Ivan Rabb | CAL | F | So. | 6-11 | 220 |
| Reid Travis | STAN | F | Jr. | 6-8 | 245 |
| Derrick White | COLO | G | Sr. | 6-5 | 200 |
** two-time All-Pac-12 First Team honoree
ALL-PAC-12 SECOND TEAM
| Kadeem Allen | ARIZ | G | R-Sr. | 6-3 | 205 |
| Jordan Bell | ORE | F | Jr. | 6-9 | 225 |
| Josh Hawkinson | WSU | F | Sr. | 6-10 | 230 |
| Chimezie Metu | USC | F | So. | 6-11 | 225 |
| Allonzo Trier | ARIZ | G | So. | 6-5 | 205 |
Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Jabari Bird (CAL, Sr., G), Chris Boucher (ORE, Sr., F), Tyler Dorsey (ORE, So., G), Drew Eubanks (OSU, So., F), Torian Graham (ASU, Sr., G), Jordan McLaughlin (USC, Jr., G), Thomas Welsh (UCLA, Jr., F)
PAC-12 ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM
| Rawle Alkins | ARIZ | G | 6-5 | 220 |
| Lonzo Ball | UCLA | G | 6-6 | 190 |
| Markelle Fultz | WASH | G | 6-4 | 195 |
| TJ Leaf | UCLA | F | 6-10 | 225 |
| Lauri Markkanen | ARIZ | F | 7-0 | 230 |
Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Malachi Flynn (WSU, G), Charlie Moore (CAL, G)
PAC-12 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
| Kadeem Allen | ARIZ | G | R-Sr. | 6-3 | 205 |
| Marcus Allen | STAN | G | Sr. | 6-3 | 190 |
| Jordan Bell | ORE | F | Jr. | 6-9 | 225 |
| Chris Boucher** | ORE | F | Sr. | 6-10 | 200 |
| Derrick White | COLO | G | Sr. | 6-5 | 200 |
** two-time All-Defensive Team honoree
Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes): Lonzo Ball (UCLA, Fr., G), Aaron Holiday (UCLA, So., G), Kyle Kuzma (UTAH, Jr., F), De’Anthony Melton (USC, Fr., G), Kingsley Okoroh (CAL, Jr., C)
PAC-12 AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS
ALL-AMERICANS - Outlet (Team)
Lonzo Ball, UCLA - USA Today (1st), Sporting News (1st), USBWA (1st)
Dillon Brooks, Oregon - USA Today (1st), Sporting News (2nd), USBWA (2nd)
Markelle Fultz, Washington - Sporting News (3rd)
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona - USA Today (3rd), Sporting News (3rd)
NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Lonzo Ball, UCLA - USA Today
JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD
FINAL 15 NATIONAL BALLOT (announced 3/4)
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
Lonzo Ball, UCLA
Markelle Fultz, Washington
>> Most selections of any conference in nation
NAISMITH TROPHY TOP 10 FINALISTS (announced 3/1)
Lonzo Ball, UCLA
OSCAR ROBERTSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR TROPHY & WAYMAN TISDALE NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS (announced 3/13)
Lonzo Ball, UCLA
LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD FINALISTS (announced 2/15)
Josh Hawkinson, Washington State
USBWA ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS
DISTRICT VIII
Kyle Kuzma, Utah
Derrick White, Colorado
DISTRICT IX
Lonzo Ball, UCLA (District Player of the Year)
Jordan Bell, Oregon
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
Markelle Fultz, Washington
TJ Leaf, UCLA
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Ivan Rabb, California
NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME POSITIONAL AWARDS FINALISTS (announced week of 3/6)
Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year
Lonzo Ball, UCLA
Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year
Bryce Alford, UCLA
Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
TJ Leaf, UCLA
NABC ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS TEAM
NOMINEES
Sam Singer, California
Stephen Thompson Jr., Oregon State