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Pac-12 Men's Basketball Weekly Rundown - January 9, 2024

by Pac-12 Conference
Jan 9, 2024
Eric Becker

Complete Release (PDF) | Schedule | Standings | Pac-12 Statistics | NCAA Statistics | Pac-12 Record Book

#PAC12MBB STARTING FIVE

4-0 - ARIZONA STATE and OREGON are out to the early lead in the Pac-12 standings with both at 4-0. 

  • The Sun Devils are 4-0 in Pac-12 play for only the fourth time (2007-08, 1987-88, 1979-80) since joining the Conference and will be seeking to start 5-0 for the first time since 1979-80 (program-best 6-0 start) when it visits WASHINGTON on Thursday. 

  • The Ducks are 4-0 in league play for only the fourth time (2016-17, 2012-13, 1973-74) since returning to the Pac-8/AAWU in 1964-65 and will be seeking to start 5-0 for the first time since 2016-17 (program-best 8-0 start) when it hosts CALIFORNIA on Saturday.

10 - Week 3 of the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball slate brings 10 games, though none in the traditional travel-partner/rival format.

  • With an additional week in the 2023-24 college basketball calendar, the league contests that had been played in early December during the first two seasons of the 20-game format (2021-22, 2022-23) have been moved so that all 120 Pac-12 league contests are being played over the course of 11 weeks after the Christmas holiday.

  • Eight of the 11 weeks will follow the annual travel partner/traditional rival format, while three weeks will flex to either single-play opponents at home and on the road (Week 3), or traditional rival on the road paired with a home opponent (Weeks 8 & 10).

+79 - Riding five- and four-game win streaks, respectively, OREGON and ARIZONA STATE have combined to improve their NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings by 79 spots since late December. 

  • Oregon has improved 30 spots in the NET from #81 on Dec. 20 to #51 as of Jan. 9. With lengthy injury absences to First Team All-Pac-12 center N’Faly Dante and fellow frontcourt starter Nate Bittle, the Ducks are tied for the best overall record in the Conference despite having the smallest roster in the Pac-12 (#299 nationally) per KenPom.com. 

  • Arizona State has improved 49 spots in the NET from #150 on Dec. 21 to #101 as of Jan. 9. The Sun Devils’ surge coincides with the arrival of transfer Adam Miller, who is averaging 13.2 points in six games since debuting Dec. 16. 

208 - With 21 blocked shots this season, including nine through the opening four games of Pac-12 play, UTAH’s Branden Carlson has entered the Pac-12’s career top 10 in the category (8th, 208 blocks).

  • Carlson is the only men’s player in Conference history and 1-of-3 active NCAA Division I players (Johni Broome, Auburn; Drew Pember, UNC Asheville) to eclipse 1,500 points (1,524), 600 rebounds (696), 200 blocks (208) and 100 assists (146) in a career. (Assists became official NCAA statistic in 1983-84, Blocks in 1985-86). 

10.6 - Through 24 league games as of Jan. 6, the average scoring margin is 10.6 points.

  • 16 games have been decided by single digits

  • 4 games have been decided by one possession (3 pts. or less)

  • 1 game decided on team’s final possession (ORE at WASH)

OFF THE BENCH

DEVILS IN THE DETAILS: Three of Arizona State’s four Pac-12 wins have been decided by one possession (3 pts. or less).

  • The Sun Devils are a Pac-12-best 5-0 in one-possession games so far this season (rest of Pac-12 is 9-12).

THE BIG MAPLE: CALIFORNIA’s Fardaws Aimaq currently leads the Pac-12 and is tied for third in NCAA Division I with 10 double-doubles this season, more than double the next closest Pac-12 player.

  • Aimaq is also tied for third among active D-I players with 54 career double-doubles, trailing only North Carolina’s Armando Bacot (75) and Miami (Fla.)’s Norchad Omier (58).

  • Aimaq is the first Cal player with double-figure double-doubles since Ivan Rabb had a league-leading 17 in 2016-17.

PAC-12 AWARDS CANDIDATES

JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
WATCH LIST 
Oumar Ballo, Arizona 
Tristan da Silva, Colorado 
N’Faly Dante, Oregon 
Adem Bona, UCLA 
Isaiah Collier, USC 
Boogie Ellis, USC

NAISMITH NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
WATCH LIST 
Oumar Ballo, Arizona 
Caleb Love, Arizona 
Tristan da Silva, Colorado 
Adem Bona, UCLA 
Isaiah Collier, USC 
Boogie Ellis, USC

NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME AWARDS  
Watch Lists

Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year  
Isaiah Collier, USC

Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year  
Caleb Love, Arizona  
Boogie Ellis, USC

Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year  
Jaylon Tyson, California

Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year  
Keshad Johnson, Arizona  
Tristan da Silva, Colorado  
Adem Bona, UCLA

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year  
Oumar Ballo, Arizona  
N’Faly Dante, Oregon  
Aday Mara, UCLA  
Branden Carlson, Utah

PAC-12 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE  
First Team  
Oumar Ballo, R-Sr., C, Arizona  
Adem Bona, So., F/C, UCLA  
Keion Brooks Jr., Gr., F, Washington  
Branden Carlson, Gr., C, Utah  
Isaiah Collier, Fr., G, USC  
N’Faly Dante, Sr., C, Oregon  
Tristan da Silva, Sr., F, Colorado  
Boogie Ellis, 5th, G, USC  
Spencer Jones, 5th, F, Stanford  
KJ Simpson, Jr., G, Colorado

Second Team  
Fardaws Aimaq, 6th, F, California  
Kylan Boswell, So., G, Arizona  
Kobe Johnson, Jr., G, USC  
Caleb Love, Sr., G, Arizona  
Jordan Pope, So., G, Oregon State

Honorable Mention  
Kwame Evans Jr. (Fr., ORE), Pelle Larsson (Sr., ARIZ), Aday Mara (Fr., UCLA), Cody Williams (Fr., COLO).

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