#PAC12MBB STARTING FIVE:
1st - At 14-1 overall and 4-0 in the Pac-12, ARIZONA is off to its best overall start since 2014-15 (14-1) and best league start since 2018-19 (4-0). The Wildcats last started better in Conference play in 2016-17 (10-0 league).
- The Wildcats are in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 for the first time since capturing the league title outright at 14-4 in 2017-18.
- At No. 3 in the AP Top 25, Arizona owns its highest national ranking since appearing at No. 2 on Nov. 20, 2017.
#3 vs. #9 - The Pac-12 has three rescheduled games among 13 league contests slated this week with ARIZONA STATE at USC on Monday, Jan. 24, followed by COLORADO at OREGON and No. 3 ARIZONA at No. 9 UCLA on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
- Should the rankings hold, Tuesday’s meeting between the Wildcats and Bruins would be the league’s first between AP Top 10 programs since the 2017 Pac-12 title game (#7 ARIZ 83, #5 ORE 80) and the 40th in Conference history.
3 - Pac-12 Men’s Basketball has been historically strong at the top so far in 2021-22 with the trio of ARIZONA, UCLA and USC currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
- It marks 10 consecutive weeks with three AP Top 25 programs, the longest stretch of three ranked teams for the Conference since 2016-17 (all 19 weeks).
- Three Pac-12 teams appeared in the AP Top 10 for five weeks this season (12/13/21 - 1/10/22), the third-longest total of top-10 teams for the Conference in poll history (since 1949), bettered only by totals of seven weeks in 2016-17 and 1997-98.
5 - OREGON currently owns the Pac-12’s longest win streak at five games, including three straight road victories against teams which reached the 2021 NCAA Elite Eight (at Oregon State, at UCLA, at USC).
- The Ducks became the first Pac-12 program since 1964-65 (start of travel partners) with a road sweep against AP Top 5 opponents with their wins at No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 USC.
- The recent string of road victories has propelled Oregon from #91 on Jan. 9 to its current NET ranking of #62.
10.9 - Through 34 league games as of Jan. 17, the average scoring margin in 10.9 points.
- 16 games have been decided by single digits
- 7 games have been decided by one possession (3 pts. or less)
- 2 overtime games (2 OT periods)
- 3 decided on team’s final possession (ASU at ORE; STAN vs. ORE; ASU vs. UTAH)
- 16 games have been postponed (3 rescheduled and played)
PAC-12 TIPOFF
700 CLUB: With the win at UCLA on Jan. 13, OREGON head coach Dana Altman became the 46th coach in NCAA Men’s Basketball history and 32nd in Division I history to reach 700 career victories.
- Altman is only the second coach with any tenure in the Pac-12 to reach the milestone (Lute Olson).
SERIES STREAK WEEK: Four of the top 10 longest active Conference series win streaks will be on the line this week (BOLD, team with win streak listed first):
- 11 - USC vs. Washington State
- 9 - Arizona vs. California; Oregon vs. California; UCLA vs. California
- 8 - Oregon vs. Utah
- 7 - Colorado vs. USC; Oregon vs. Arizona; USC vs. California
- 5 - Arizona State vs. Washington; Colorado vs. Arizona State; Oregon vs. Washington; Oregon State vs. Utah; UCLA vs. Arizona
NATIONAL AWARDS CANDIDATES
AP PRESEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
NABC NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Watch List
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
NAISMITH TROPHY NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Watch List
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Will Richardson, Oregon
WOODEN AWARD NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Midseason Top 25
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Watch List
Tyger Campbell, UCLA
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Will Richardson, Oregon
NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME AWARDS
Watch Lists
Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year
Tyger Campbell, UCLA
Will Richardson, Oregon
Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year
De’Vion Harmon, Oregon
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year
Marcus Bagley, Arizona State
Harrison Ingram, Stanford
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Jabari Walker, Colorado
Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year
Quincy Guerrier, Oregon
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year
Myles Johnson, UCLA
SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Top 30 Candidates
Evan Battey, Colorado
Jules Bernard, UCLA
Myles Johnson, UCLA
PAC-12 MEN'S BASKETBALL INITIATIVES
YEAR 2 of 20-GAME SCHEDULE IN 2021-22; NEW 10-YEAR ANNUAL ROTATION
- The Pac-12 transitioned to a 20-game league schedule in 2020-21 in an effort to add more competitive and higher quality regional games to schedules and to elevate the national branding of Pac-12 men’s basketball. In addition to the second season of 20 league games, the Pac-12 unveiled in May 2021 a new 10-year annual opponent rotation for 2021-31. More details at pac12.me/21-22MBBsched.
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE STANDARDS
- The Pac-12 implemented non-conference scheduling standards beginning with the 2020-21 season with goals of improving out-of-league schedule strength and increasing the number of NCAA Tournament selections. The standards include: (i) a non-Conference five-year trailing average of opponents’ NET ranking must be 175 or less, (ii) no participation in road buy games, (iii) no regular season games against non-Division I opponents and (iv) no road games versus a non-conference opponent with a five-year trailing average of 200 NET.
THE ALLIANCE
- On Aug. 24, the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced an historic alliance that will bring 41 world-class institutions together on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling. The alliance – which was unanimously supported by the presidents, chancellors and athletics directors at all 41 institutions – will be guided in all cases by a commitment to, and prioritization of, supporting student-athlete well-being, academic and athletic opportunities, experiences and diverse educational programming. More details at pac12.me/Alliance.
PAC-12 TITLE GAME MOVES TO FOX
- The 2022 Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, March 12 will be broadcast by FOX for the first time. The title contest will tip off at 6 p.m. PT with a lead-in from the BIG EAST Championship. It will mark the title game’s first airing on a broadcast network since 2012 (CBS).
PAC-12 US LBM COAST-TO-COAST CHALLENGE
- After having the planned 2020 quadrupleheader canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference launched the Pac-12 US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge in 2021 – a unique non-conference scheduling event designed to provide opportunities for its programs against quality opponents in marquee markets around the country. More details at pac12.me/C2CChallenge21.
2021 Pac-12 US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge
Sunday, Dec. 19 - T-Mobile Arena - Las Vegas
12:00 p.m. PT - #17 Texas 60, STANFORD 53 (men) - ABC
2:30 p.m. PT - #11 Texas 74, San Diego 58 (women) - ESPN2 (ARIZONA DNP due to COVID protocols)
PAC-12, SWAC CREATE PARTNERSHIP
- In 2022-23, the Pac-12 and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will launch an educational and scheduling agreement featuring first-of-its-kind home-and-home series. The men’s and women’s basketball partnership is aimed at creating both a forum for competition, as well as promotion and education around issues of anti-racism and social justice. The partnership is set to begin in Nov. 2022, with six matchups for the initial men’s cycle determined. More details at pac12.me/Pac-12-SWAC.
MCLENDON MINORITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
- In July 2020, every head men’s basketball coach from the Pac-12 Conference pledged his support to participate in the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative to provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership, and Mentorship.
PAC-12, CHASE CENTER TO HOST NCAA WEST REGIONAL IN 2022 & 2025
- The Pac-12 Conference, Chase Center and the Golden State Warriors will serve as hosts for this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship West Regional March 24 & 26, 2022. The groups also will serve as West Regional hosts in 2025.
- It will mark the first time the NCAA Tournament will be played within the city of San Francisco since the West Regional was staged at the California Coliseum on Treasure Island in March 1939. Daly City’s Cow Palace (1955, 1958-60), Oakland’s Oracle Arena (1990, 1995, 2006) and San Jose’s SAP Center (1997, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019) are among the other Bay Area venues to host the tourney.
- Additionally, ARIZONA STATE will serve as host of the 2024 NCAA Final Four at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)
Teams | Pac-12 Record | Overall Record |
#3 Arizona | 4-0 | 14-1 |
#9 UCLA | 3-1 | 11-2 |
#16 USC | 4-2 | 14-2 |
Colorado | 4-2 | 12-4 |
Oregon | 4-2 | 11-6 |
Stanford | 3-2 | 10-5 |
Washington | 3-2 | 8-7 |
Washington State | 3-3 | 10-7 |
Arizona State | 2-3 | 6-9 |
California | 2-5 | 9-9 |
Oregon State | 1-5 | 3-13 |
Utah | 1-7 | 8-10 |
WEEKLY SCHEDULE (All games, tip times & TV broadcasts are subject to change)
For the most up-to-date schedules, visit Expanded Schedule
Thursday, Jan. 20 | TV | Time (PT) |
#15 USC at COLORADO* | PAC12 | 4:30 p.m. PT |
#3 ARIZONA at STANFORD* | ESPNU | 8:00 p.m. PT |
#9 UCLA at UTAH* | FS1 | 8:00 p.m. PT |
WASHINGTON at OREGON STATE* | PAC12 | 8:30 p.m. PT |
Saturday, Jan. 22 | TV | Time (PT) |
#16 USC at UTAH* | PAC12 | 3:30 p.m. PT |
WASHINGTON STATE at OREGON STATE* | ESPNU | 5:00 p.m. PT |
#9 UCLA at COLORADO* | PAC12 | 6:00 p.m. PT |
ARIZONA STATE at STANFORD* | FS1 | 8:00 p.m. PT |
Sunday, Jan. 23 | TV | Time (PT) |
#3 ARIZONA at CALIFORNIA* | PAC12 | 12:00 p.m. PT |
WASHINGTON at OREGON* | FS1 | 7:00 p.m. PT |
Monday, Jan. 24 | TV | Time (PT) |
ARIZONA STATE at #16 USC* | ESPN2 | 8:00 p.m. PT |
Tuesday, Jan. 25 | TV | Time (PT) |
COLORADO at OREGON* | PAC12 | 7:00 p.m. PT |
#3 ARIZONA at #9 UCLA* | ESPN | 8:00 p.m. PT |
PAC-12 PERFORMANCE AWARDS PRESENTED BY NEXTIVA
NATIONAL WEEKLY HONORS
Week of | Award - Recipient |
Dec. 13 | NCAA.com National Player of the Week - Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona |
Dec. 14 | USBWA National Player of the Week - Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona |