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March Madness 2017: Pac-12 Tournament Preview, Bracket and Conference Postseason Awards

UCLA v Oregon

EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 28: Lonzo Ball #2 of the UCLA Bruins tries to get around Dillon Brooks #24 of the Oregon Ducks late in the game at Matthew Knight Arena on December 28, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

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Pac-12 Player of the Year: Lonzo Ball, UCLA

The Pac-12 Player of the Year award had a bit of controversy to it, as Dillon Brooks received the honor from the league despite the fact that he was injured and played poorly during the early part of the season. My best guess: He got the nod over Ball because he was much better during conference play than he was during the season at-large, and the Pac-12 almost never gives their award to a freshman.

Which is silly to be, because I didn’t think that there was any doubt that Ball was the best player in the league this season. He led the nation in assists, he jump-started the most dangerous offense in the country and he turned UCLA into a title contender. He unselfishness permeated the roster. Numbers don’t show you that.

Pac-12 Coach of the Year: Sean Miller, Arizona

Miller was actually my pick for National Coach of the Year. He took a team that lost Ray Smith, Terrence Ferguson and, for 19 games, Allonzo Trier to a Pac-12 regular season co-championship while relying on three freshmen, including two -- Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins -- who are consistently inconsistent.

First-Team All-Pac-12:


  • Lonzo Ball, UCLA (POY)
  • Dillon Brooks, Oregon: Brooks totally changes that Oregon team offensively, and he made three game-winners during the regular season.
  • Lauri Markkanen, Arizona: Markkanen was the steadying for on the Arizona roster that needed it through some trying times in December and January.
  • T.J. Leaf, UCLA: Leaf was an unexpected gift for the Bruins this season, providing them an elite stretch four on a team that thrives playing uptempo small-ball.
  • Markelle Fultz, Washington: I normally don’t like giving first-team all-league honors to a guy from a bad team, but Fultz was just so good this year.

Second Team All-Pac-12:


  • Derrick White, Colorado
  • Reid Travis, Stanford
  • Bryce Alford, UCLA
  • Allonzo Trier, Arizona
  • Ivan Rabb, Cal

RELATED: Player of the Year | Coach of the Year | NBC Sports All-Americans

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The Bracket

When: March 8-11

Where: Las Vegas

Final: March 11th, 8:00 p.m.

Favorite: Oregon Ducks

The Ducks caught a break getting the No. 1 seed -- they held the tiebreaker over Arizona thanks to their win over the Wildcats -- which means that they won’t have to play another one of the elite teams in the conference until the title game. If seeds hold, Arizona and UCLA will square off in the semifinals. Oregon also has the benefit of having Dillon Brooks on their roster. I don’t know if there’s anyone in the league I’d want taking a big shot more than him.

And if they lose?: UCLA Bruins

I actually think UCLA is the best team in the league. When they play their best basketball, I am not sure there is another team in the country that can beat them. Their best occurs when they actually are getting stops, and the Bruins have proven in recent games against Arizona and Oregon that they can get stops when they have to.

Oregon State v Oregon

EUGENE, OR - JANUARY 14: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after scoring in the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Matthew Knight Arena on January 14, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

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Other Contenders:


  • Arizona Wildcats: Sean Miller is the best coach in the league and he has as much talent on his roster as any team in the country. Allonzo Trier and Lauri Markkanen will carry the Wildcats, but they are going to be at their best when Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins show up. That’s never a guarantee.

Sleeper: USC Trojans

The Trojans have a little UCLA in them. They play fast, they shoot a lot of threes and they have terrific point guard play. The Trojans are also going to be playing for their tournament lives. No matter the bracket you look at, USC ends up someone on the list of last four in or last eight in.

The Bubble Dwellers:


  • USC: The Trojans have to win at least one game in the dance, and if they want to avoid sweating out championship week, they are probably going to want to beat not only Washington in the first round but UCLA in the quarterfinals as well.
  • Cal: The Bears need quality wins. I think that the lack of depth in the league means Cal needs to get to the Pac-12 final to be able to make up the ground to get an at-large bid.

Defining moment of the season: Dillon Brooks’ game winner against UCLA in Eugene was the sign that Oregon is back:

CBT Prediction: UCLA cuts down the nets in Las Vegas, beating Arizona and Oregon to get there.