Roundup: 4 men's teams dancing; selection Monday for women
Four Pac-12 teams made the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, with tourney champs Arizona nabbing a No. 2 seed. Up first for the ‘Cats is a date with Texas Southern (11:10 a.m. Thursday, TNT), and Bruce Pascoe writes that Arizona could have some interesting matchups in its bracket, including a potential Elite Eight rematch with Wisconsin.
Kurt Kragthorpe points out that Utah drew the “dreaded” No. 5 vs. No. 12 seed matchup as the No. 5 seed in the South region. A very dangerous Stephen F. Austin team awaits the Runnin’ Utes (4:27 p.m. PT/5:27 p.m. MT Thursday, TruTV).
The Ducks earned a No. 8 seed and will face Oklahoma State for the second time in three years in the round of 64. Tyson Alger writes that Oregon knows it will have a tough game against Oklahoma State (3:50 p.m. Friday, TBS).
Many thought the Bruins didn’t deserve to get a bid, but UCLA wants to prove its doubters wrong, notes Jack Wang. The 11th-seeded Bruins have SMU up first (12:10 p.m. Thursday, TruTV).
Meanwhile, Stanford will play UC Davis in the NIT (8 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN2), and Jeff Faraudo has some reaction from the Cardinal.
A second-half surge landed Arizona State in the NIT as a No. 5 seed. The Sun Devils visit UCONN Wednesday (4 p.m. on ESPN2).
Colorado is head to the CBI for a bout with Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, but the Buffs will be playing without Askia Booker, who has decided not to play with the team in the CBI. No official reason was given for his decision.
No postseason for the Cougs (on the men’s side at least; women’s fate TBD), but Jacob Thorpe writes that Washington State has clearly improved under Ernie Kent.
The women’s basketball selection show is Monday, and Oregon State figures to be a major player. Gina Mizell notes that Oregon State is using the extended break before the NCAA tournament. It will be about two weeks in between games for the Beavers when they finally take the court for their first-round game.
Meanwhile, Chantel Osahor and the Washington women’s basketball team await their NCAA tournament fate, pens Jayda Evans. The Huskies are expected to be dancing for the first time since 2007.
Cal softball coach Diane Ninemire won her 1,200th game in Berkeley as Cal defeated Arizona 7-4 Saturday. Cheyenne Cordes went 3-for-4 with a two-run dinger for the Bears.
Former USC cornerback Shareece Wright signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal worth $3 million and the chance to make $4 million with incentives.