The Pac-12 Conference saw three teams survive two weekends in the NCAA Tournament led by UCLA, Arizona and the Oregon Ducks.
We know the story for the Oregon Ducks making the Sweet 16, but from the end of the Regular season, both Arizona and UCLA were primed to make runs of their own to a National Championship. All three teams have used the experience from the Pac-12 schedule to their respective advantage.
The Bruins are powered by youth, the Wildcats are setup with experience and the Oregon Ducks have a mix of both.
Lonzo Ball helped the UCLA Bruins to 50 percent shooting from the floor in upending Cincinnati on Sunday. The 3 seeded Bruins hot close to 40 percent from three-point range. Ball had 18 points off 7 of 10 shooting. UCLA also suffered from a poor start, similar to Oregon and managed a comeback. The Bruins had a team high 9 assists to make it to the Sweet 16.
The road for UCLA is not an easy one in the South Region. The four team pod for next weekend includes, North Carolina, Butler and Kentucky.
Another team that has post season experience, won the Pac-12 Championship in Las Vegas and is primed for a run is Arizona. Freshman Lauri Markkanen passed his season average with 16 points, but put 9 of 10 in from the free throw line in a 69-60 win over Saint Mary’s on Saturday. 2 Seed Arizona is just rolling with the punches.
The Wildcats are in the West Region and will face 11 Seed Xavier before taking on 1 Seed Gonzaga or 4 Seed West Virginia this weekend for their chance to reach the Final Four.
Next: NCAA Tournament: Oregon Survives Rhode Island, Moves On To Sweet 16
The Oregon Ducks meet the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday at 4:10pm Pacific Time on CBS in the Sweet 16.