For Arizona — and every team trying to improve its NCAA Tournament placement this week – it’s may not be about winning the conference tournament as much as beating the right teams along the way.
Before the Pac-12 Tournament tipped off Wednesday, NCAA selection committee chair Mark Hollis made that message clear during a media conference call.
“The conference tournaments provide an opportunity to play quality opponents on a neutral site, and that can improve your resume,” Hollis said. “It’s no different than a regular-season game at a neutral site.”
Therefore, since UA has only one win over a Top 25 RPI team (at UCLA on Jan. 21), the Wildcats can benefit by playing and beating the Bruins again if they get the chance on Friday and by doing the same with Oregon on Saturday – if both the Wildcats and Ducks make it that far.
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Oregon entered the week with the No. 8 RPI ranking while UCLA was at 15 and UA at No. 9.
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
