Six teams could take Pac-12 title in 2016
Six teams have enough oomph to win the Pac-12 basketball title this season. That includes USC. That’s my New Year’s prediction.
Never, dating to Lute Olson’s Arizona debut in 1983-84, have I thought more than four had a realistic chance (and usually only two or three).
On Friday, Sean Miller said yes and nodded his head when asked if the Pac-12 champ is likely to have five losses. That has happened just three times since the Pac-12 began playing 18-game league schedules in 1978-79.
So prepare for 10 weeks of deep-dish trouble, beginning Sunday in Tempe.
UA fans almost believe it is their birthright to win at Wells Fargo Arena but that’s a dated philosophy. Olson went 19-5 in Tempe but since he retired the Sun Devils have taken control, going 5-3 at home.
ASU has beaten Arizona teams ranked Nos. 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 in Wells Fargo Arena dating to 1992 and, for drama, the ASU-UA game in Tempe has become what the UA-Stanford showdowns at Maples Pavilion, and the UA-UCLA Armageddons at Pauley Pavilion used to be.
How’s this for a classic series: Over the last 11 games at Wells Fargo, the point differentials have included gasp-type finishes of 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 and 5. Two have gone to overtime.
The UA-ASU series in Tempe used to be the most lopsided of all Pac-12 basketball rivalries. But Arizona’s lead over other conference rival games has diminished. Since Olson began 32 years ago, Arizona is 22-10 in Tempe. UCLA is 18-14 at USC; Washington is 17-15 at WSU; Stanford is 16-16 at Cal; Oregon is 15-17 at Oregon State.
Here’s my pick of the Pac-12’s Big Six:
1. Oregon. The Ducks have all the offensive pieces and go 10 deep with interchangeable parts.
2. Arizona. If Arizona can go 9-0 at McKale and extend its home winning streak to 56, Miller might cut down the nets again.
3. USC. Few teams in the country have a more compelling out-of-nowhere story.
4. Cal. In this league, No. 4 could be No. 1 and vice versa.
5. Utah. Yes, Jakob Poeltl is the league’s most feared player, but the rest of the cast are a level or two below.
6. UCLA. One of those on-a-given-night-they-can-beat-anybody groups.
