Pac-12 men's basketball seeks strong finish to non-conference play

COMPLETE RELEASE

#PAC12HOOPS STARTING FIVE

#3 & #18 - Associated Press national rankings for ARIZONA STATE, which has equaled its highest ranking in program history (1981, 1963), and ARIZONA, which climbed back into the top 20 after a three-week absence.
>> It marks the best combined AP ranking for the two Arizona programs since December 1994 (ARIZ #7, ASU #13).

6 --> 7? - Currently tied for the second-longest win streak in the Pac-12 (behind ARIZONA STATE’s 10-0 start) is OREGON STATE at six consecutive games, the longest for the program since 2004-05.
>> With a victory Thursday, the Beavers’ seven-game win streak would match their longest in 25 years (1992-93).

8 - The Pac-12’s final week of non-conference play will feature 20 games, including at least eight against opponents which reached postseason play in 2016-17.
>> USC, which will vie for the Pac-12’s record fourth multi-team event title of the season at the Diamond Head Classic, will face at least three, and potentially four, 2017 postseason opponents this week.

10-0 - ARIZONA STATE is one of four unbeaten teams remaining in NCAA Division I (Miami (Fla.), TCU, Villanova) and is off to its best start in program history.
>> Since the formation of the Pac-12, ASU is the eighth team to start at least 10-0. Six of the seven teams to reach that mark went on to play in the NCAA Tournament.

16 & 10 - The states of Arizona and Oregon are enjoying the lengthiest streaks in the Pac-12 entering the week.
>> ARIZONA STATE (10) and ARIZONA (six) have combined for 16 consecutive victories. Only the state of Texas has two teams with a longer combined win streak (TCU 15, Stephen F. Austin 6)
>> OREGON STATE (six) and OREGON (four) have combined for 10 straight victories.

PAC-12 TIPOFF

MTE CHAMPS x3: The three multi-team event (MTE) titles won by Pac-12 programs so far this season equal the most in league history (2012-13), with USC still to compete in the Diamond Head Classic this week.

MTE Champions
ARIZONA STATE - Las Vegas Invitational
COLORADO - Paradise Jam
WASHINGTON STATE - Wooden Legacy

GET BUCKETS: Seven of the nation’s top 100 scorers (as of Dec. 18) compete in the Pac-12, the most in the nation:
16. Reid Travis, STAN (22.2 ppg)
21. Allonzo Trier, ARIZ (21.7)
23. Tra Holder, ASU (21.6)
31. Don Coleman, CAL (21.1)
44. Deandre Ayton, ARIZ (20.3)
87. Shannon Evans II, ASU (18.6)
100. Robert Franks, WSU (18.3)

AY-TON OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES: ARIZONA’s Deandre Ayton has recorded nine double-doubles in his first 12 games as a collegian, tied for third-most in NCAA Division I. He’s currently ahead of the pace set by Conference freshman-record holder Kevin Love, who registered six double-doubles in his first 12 games at UCLA before finishing with 23 in 2007-08.
>> The NCAA record for double-doubles by a freshman is Kansas State’s Michael Beasley with 28 in 2007-08. He recorded 12 in his first 12 collegiate outings.

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS: Below is a list of national honors secured by Pac-12 players and teams during the 2017-18 season.
Dick Vitale Player of the Week (POW) - Allonzo Trier, Arizona (Nov. 13)
NBCSports.com POW - Allonzo Trier, Arizona (Nov. 13)
Dick Vitale Freshman of the Week (FOW) - Jaylen Nowell, Washington (Nov. 13)
NBCSports.com Team of the Week (TOW) - Washington State (Nov. 27)
Dick Vitale FOW - Deandre Ayton, Arizona (Dec. 4)
NCAA.com TOW - Arizona State (Dec. 11)
NBCSports.com TOW - Arizona State (Dec. 11)
Dick Vitale TOW - Arizona State (Dec. 11)
Dick Vitale FOW - Deandre Ayton, Arizona (Dec. 11)
Dick Vitale Coach of the Week (COW) - Bobby Hurley, Arizona State (Dec. 11)
NABC Team of Week (TOW) - Arizona State (Dec. 12)
USBWA POW - Shannon Evans II, Arizona State (Dec. 12)
USBWA FOW - Deandre Ayton, Arizona (Dec. 12)