The bracket for what is guaranteed to be a competitive Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas is set. And that means awards season has arrived as well.

Keeping up the tradition of sharing my picks for the Pac-12’s major individual awards in a Conference loaded with talent and balance this season.

Player of the Year: Cameron Brink, Stanford

This was a very difficult choice and a razor’s edge decision over Utah’s Alissa Pili, whose stellar season propelled the Utes to a historic share of the Pac-12 regular-season title. Brink ranked in the top 10 in the conference in 13 categories, including finishing No. 1 in blocks (109 for the season so far) and free throws made, and she finished the regular season with 13 double-doubles. Pili was the Conference's leading scorer, ranking in the top 10 in five categories. There is no denying that Pili’s scoring numbers are better and that she made a huge impact on a Utes team that has gone to unprecedented places this season, but Brink’s overall contributions to the Cardinal’s success, including her ability to alter a game on the defensive end gave her the edge.

Coach of the Year: Lynne Roberts, Utah

This is a no-brainer choice, made even more so when the Utes captured a share of the program’s first Pac-12 regular-season title on Saturday against Stanford and likely a return to a top-five ranking. Last season, Utah made what can safely be called a surprise run to the Pac-12 Tournament title game and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. But the Utes had higher expectations on them this season and they met them, bringing in USC transfer Alissa Pili to anchor the post around a team full of shooters. Utah has been one of the nation’s best offensive teams all season and barely stumbled in Pac-12 play and they could have a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Defensive Player of the Year: Cameron Brink, Stanford

At the risk of sounding repetitive, it’s difficult not to give this award to the player that has collected 109 blocks this season (currently seventh in a single-season in Conference history and making her the storied program’s all-time blocks leader) and made driving into the paint a nightmare for opponents all season. She also ranks third in the Conference in defensive rebounding.

Freshman of the Year: Kiki Rice, UCLA

The Bruins freshman guard was the No. 2 recruit in the country this season and she was quickly thrown into the deep end for Cori Close’s team. Rice ranked second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), minutes played (27.9 mpg), was third in rebounding (4.7 rpg) and second in assists and steals. There is no denying the importance of Rice’s play to a UCLA team that moved into the national rankings early in the season, stayed there and will be back in the NCAA Tournament after missing the field last season. While there were two freshmen in the league with better offensive numbers — Oregon’s Grace VanSlooten and Oregon State’s Raegan Beers — Rice’s starring role on a nationally-ranked squad tipped the scales here.

Most Improved Player: Alissa Pili, Utah

Two years ago, Pili was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, so the fact that she is a talented, impact player is truly not a surprise. But Pili battled injuries that limited her time at USC last season to 19 games and just over 19 minutes a game. Her decision to transfer to Utah for a new start turned out to be a choice that has propelled her to the short list of elite players nationally. Pili jumped from 7.8 points a game last season to a Pac-12-leading 20.6 points a game this season, with 16 games in which she scored at least 20 points.

Sixth Player of the Year: Raegan Beers, Oregon State

The Beaver freshman has collected six games of at least 20 points, coming off the bench in a roller-coaster season for Oregon State. She is averaging 13.3 points a game, ranks second in the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage at 57.8 and has Conference-best 14 double-doubles. And Beers, who also ranks second in offensive rebounds with 95 on the season, has picked up her scoring again, hitting double figures in each of the last five games.

All-Pac-12
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Jayda Curry, California
Haley Jones, Stanford
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State
Rayah Marshall, USC
Quay Miller, Colorado
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Shaina Pellington, Arizona
Alissa Pili, Utah
Cate Reese, Arizona
Endyia Rogers, Oregon
Kadi Sissoko, USC
Tyi Skinner, Arizona State
Talia von Oelhoffen, Oregon State

All Defensive Team
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Rayah Marshall, USC
Quay Miller, Colorado
Helena Pueyo, Arizona
Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado

All Freshman Team
Raegan Beers, Oregon State
Lauren Betts, Stanford
Londynn Jones, UCLA
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Grace VanSlooten, Oregon