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Pac-12 Men's Basketball Weekly Rundown - February 27, 2024

by Pac-12 Conference
Feb 27, 2024
Kelley L Cox/KLC fotos

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

#PAC12MBB STARTING FIVE

#1 - Pac-12 regular-season title clinching scenarios are in play for the first time as both league-leader ARIZONA and second place WASHINGTON STATE can clinch at least a share of the crown this week.

  • The Wildcats can win the title outright with two wins this week AND a pair of WSU losses, or secure a share via either two wins this week AND a WSU split; a split this week with a win over Oregon AND two WSU losses; OR a split this week with a win over Arizona State AND two WSU losses AND an Oregon loss to Oregon State.

  • The Cougars meanwhile can clinch a share with two wins AND a pair of Arizona losses.

  • Mathematically, six teams - Arizona, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, UCLA and California - remain in title contention entering this week.

#1-#4 - First-round byes for the 2024 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament are also in play for three teams this week.

  • ARIZONA - secures a top-4 seed with any win AND any loss by either Colorado or UCLA.

  • WASHINGTON STATE - secures a top-4 seed with any win AND any loss by either Colorado or UCLA.

  • OREGON - secures a top-4 seed with a pair of wins AND two losses by either Colorado or UCLA AND a loss by California. 

3 - Three Pac-12 standouts were named to the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Year Watch List on Feb. 27:

  • Caleb Love, ARIZONA - 1-of-14 in Division I averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists

  • KJ Simpson, COLORADO - 1-of-5 in Division I averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists

  • Keion Brooks Jr., WASHINGTON - 1-of-7 in Division I averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 49+% FG

+7 - CALIFORNIA is enjoying a bounceback campaign under first-year head coach Mark Madsen. The Golden Bears are currently a +7 in win total from 2022-23 (2-18) with an opportunity to break the Pac-12 era mark with wins in its final three regular-season games. 

  • Best win improvements in Pac-12 era: +9 UCLA 2016-17; +8 USC 2012-13; +8 WASH 2017-18; +7 CAL 2023-24; +7 ARIZ 2021-22; +7 WASH 2021-22.

11.4 - Through 99 league games as of Feb. 24, the average scoring margin is 11.4 points.

  • 56 games have been decided by single digits

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

  • 7 overtime games (10 OT periods)

  • 7 games decided on team’s final possession (ORE at WASH; WASH at CAL; OSU vs. ARIZ; CAL at WASH; ORE at OSU; UTAH at UCLA; WASH at ASU)

OFF THE BENCH

WHEATFIELD UNDERDOGS: Picked 10th in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and currently second in the league standings, Naismith Coach of the Year candidate Kyle Smith has WASHINGTON STATE set to equal or break its own mark of outperforming predictions.  

  • Since Pac-12 preseason polls began in 1984-85, WSU currently holds the largest margin between predicted and actual finish:
    WSU - +8 (10th/2nd, 2006-07)
    ASU - +7 (10th/T-3rd, 1992-93)
    ARIZ - +7 (8th/1st, 1985-86)

THE BIG MAPLE: CALIFORNIA’s Fardaws Aimaq currently leads the Pac-12 and is fifth in NCAA Division I with 18 double-doubles this season.

  • Aimaq’s 18 are tied for the fifth-most of any Conference player in the Pac-12 era: 
    Deandre Ayton, ARIZ - 24 (2017-18)
    Andre Roberson, COLO - 20 (2011-12)
    Josh Hawkinson, WSU - 20 (2015-16)
    Josh Hawkinson, WSU - 20 (2014-15)
    FARDAWS AIMAQ, CAL - 18 (2023-24)
    Thomas Welsh, UCLA - 18 (2017-18)

PAC-12 AWARDS CANDIDATES

JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
LATE SEASON TOP 20 WATCH LIST
Caleb Love, Arizona
KJ Simpson, Colorado

MIDSEASON TOP 25 WATCH LIST
Caleb Love, Arizona
KJ Simpson, Colorado

PRESEASON WATCH LIST 
Oumar Ballo, Arizona 
Tristan da Silva, Colorado 
N’Faly Dante, Oregon 
Adem Bona, UCLA 
Isaiah Collier, USC 
Boogie Ellis, USC

NAISMITH MEN’S COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR
TOP 15 WATCH LIST
Kyle Smith, Washington State

NAISMITH NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MIDSEASON TOP 30
Caleb Love, Arizona
KJ Simpson, Colorado

WATCH LIST
Oumar Ballo, Arizona 
Caleb Love, Arizona 
Tristan da Silva, Colorado 
Adem Bona, UCLA 
Isaiah Collier, USC 
Boogie Ellis, USC

NAISMITH DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WATCH LIST
Adem Bona, UCLA

USBWA OSCAR ROBERTSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TOP 40 WATCH LIST
Caleb Love, Arizona
KJ Simpson, Colorado
Keion Brooks Jr., Washington

NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME AWARDS  
Watch Lists/Top 10 Finalists

Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year  
Isaiah Collier, USC

Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year  
Caleb Love, Arizona (Top 10 Finalist)
Boogie Ellis, USC (Top 10 Finalist)

Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year  
Jaylon Tyson, California (Top 10 Finalist)
Keion Brooks Jr., Washington (Added as Top 10 Finalist)

Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year  
Keshad Johnson, Arizona  (Top 10 Finalist)
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 (Top 10 Finalist)

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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