The Pac-12 hasn’t produced a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match since Oregon earned the honors in 2016, however two groups are in place to finish the drought.
UCLA’s lofty perch halfway via the season comes as no shock. However Arizona’s stellar resume underneath first-year coach Tommy Lloyd is simply this facet of stunning. The Wildcats haven’t received a match sport in 5 years, a lot much less contend for a excessive seed.
In the intervening time, the outlook is vivid. They're 14-1 total, with two first-class wins and no unhealthy losses. They definitely look the a part of a No. 1 seed, and their resume is enjoyable to the algorithms that underpin the NCAA choice course of — therefore their No. 2 place within the all-important NET rankings.
In different phrases, the Wildcats go the attention check and the computational check.
As we see it, their Choice Sunday destiny relies upon largely on a fast-approaching, 12-day stretch that options three dates with UCLA (No. 20 within the NET) and USC (No. 28):
Jan. 25: at UCLA
Feb. 3: vs. UCLA
Feb. 5: vs. USC
Utilizing these three video games as the inspiration for a broader evaluation, the Wildcats should clear 4 hurdles with a purpose to stays in rivalry for a No. 1 seed:
1) Play the video games
Miserable because it might sound 22 months into the pandemic, no sport is assured till the individuals are on the court docket for tipoff. And since the Pac-12 has so few groups in rivalry for the NCAAs, resume-boosting alternatives for the Wildcats are few and much between.
They will dine on Utah and Washington all they need; these wins received’t get them to the No. 1 line.
Arizona must beat different tournament-bound groups, which can not occur until the combatants clear COVID protocols.
2) Win two of three
A 3-game sweep of the L.A. colleges isn’t essential for the Wildcats to stay heading in the right direction for a No. 1 seed.
Bear in mind, the opposite top-line contenders (Gonzaga, Baylor, Duke, Kansas, and so on.) will lose video games in convention play — the Blue Devils did simply that in opposition to Florida State on Tuesday night time, in reality.
However with two of the three at dwelling, Arizona wants two wins to validate its credentials. There’s no assure the Wildcats will face both L.A. workforce within the Pac-12 match, or that some other Pac-12 workforce will probably be worthy of an NCAA bid.
Their ultimate probability to go away an enduring impression on the choice committee simply may be Feb. 5.
3) Keep away from unhealthy losses
The Pac-12 schedule is fraught with opponents to date down the NET rankings that losses, particularly at dwelling, would undercut Arizona’s resume.
We’re talking particularly of upcoming dates in opposition to ASU, Cal, Stanford and Oregon State.
Lose in McKale Middle to any of the 4, and the injury may very well be irreparable.
4. Get assist from the Large Ten
Arizona’s finest win up to now is the four-point escape at Illinois, which presently owns a No. 11 NET rating. Not far behind is the evisceration of No. 53 Michigan.
The Wildcats want the Illini and Wolverines to carry their very own within the Large Ten and proceed crafting NCAA-worthy resumes.
And don’t neglect about Wyoming. Arizona’s early-December victory will improve its case for a No. 1 seed if the Cowboys are capable of keep their No. 27 place within the NET.
(The Wildcats’ 29-point wipeout is the perfect sneaky-good win of the season by any workforce within the Pac-12.)
All in all, we’d classify Arizona’s path to a No. 1 seed as reasonably troublesome.
The Wildcats are loads able to beating the L.A. colleges twice and avoiding any sinkhole losses, and their vanquished opponents within the Large Ten ought to help the trigger.
The chief impediment may very well be the one undefeated opponent left on the schedule: COVID.
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