Handicapping A Potential Dark Horse Contender In The Pac-12 Tournament

The PAC-12 logo is displayed on the traction mat used in front of the scorer’s table of the Events Center before the final conference regular-season NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By 750 THE GAME STAFF

The time has come. It is time for the men’s Pac-12 basketball tournament from Las Vegas. There is a clear favorite to win the tournament in Arizona. But it does feel like numerous teams could make a run to the semi-finals or championship game.

Arizona is a big favorite according to Betonline.ag as a -160 favorite. Colorado at +425 and Washington State at +500 are the only other teams with a less than +1000 odds. Oregon is at +1100. Utah is +1600, USC is +1800, Washington is +3300, UCLA is +4000, Stanford is +6600, Cal is +10000, Arizona State is +15000, and Oregon State is at +30000.

John Canzano (Afternoons 3-6 p.m.) spoke about the upcoming tournament which tips off Wednesday. Canzano thinks that Arizona should be the favorite, but there are others who could compete.

“Arizona could win the thing,” Canzano said on 750 The Game. “They are good enough. I could see that. They’ve got the horses. They’ve got the wins. You could see it happening. Washington State could win it. They are big, physical, long, and they’re kind of freaky on the defensive end of the court. They give teams problems, particularly teams that shoot from the three point arch. I could see Colorado maybe winning it. Certainly USC, they beat Arizona, maybe they’re playing well. You could see Bronny James and USC getting to the title game. Maybe they have a puncher’s chance to win the thing. I don’t know.”

This was supposed to be a bounce back season for Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks. But it hasn’t worked out that way. Canzano mentions how the Ducks can make the NCAA tournament.

“Certainly Oregon would have to win the thing,” he said. “I just have a hard time seeing them piece it together, but would love to be surprised there.”

It’s a very tricky Pac-12 tournament. It feels wide open, but also closed at the same time. Canzano thinks there are four teams who can win the tournament. But based off of their play this season Canzano thinks there is room for a surprise team to make a run.

“Beyond that (4 teams), that’s kind of it,” he said. “Maybe Mick Cronin and UCLA could interrupt and beat anybody in a given game, but I haven’t seen them play with consistency. And then everyone else is kind of a fall of (after that). But I do think the thing is kind of wide open.”

The Pac-12 Tournament starts on Wednesday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Oregon State will play their first tournament game on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. against UCLA where the winner will take on the Oregon Ducks on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

Listen to the full show of the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano by clicking the podcast below. Catch the Bald Faced Truth live weekdays 3-6 p.m. in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game.