Welcome to the Hotline’s assessment of Pac-12 basketball at the midway point of the conference season:
Top story I: March headwindsThe Pac-12’s poor non-conference showing predictably has led to a bleak outlook for Selection Sunday. Arizona and UCLA are the lone locks while a handful of teams are on various sides of the bubble. This could be a two-bid league, folks, unless Arizona State, Utah, USC, Oregon or Colorado — or a combination therein — gets hot down the stretch. Meanwhile, both the Big Ten and Big 12 are on pace for at least eight bids.
Top team: UCLAThe Bruins hold a two-game lead in the loss column but stand as the clear frontrunner for the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 tournament. No other team can approach their consistency — Arizona has lost three games by double digits — or their balance. They are solid on both ends of the court and equally capable of scoring inside and outside.
Top player: Arizona F Azuolas TubelisThe sophomore continues to thrive in coach Tommy Lloyd’s system, leading the conference in scoring and rebounding . And despite the high volume of shot attempts, his efficiency has been off the charts: Tubelis is shooting over 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. Add contributions on defense, and he’s doing it all. Also considered: Utah C Branden Carlson and UCLA F Jaime Jaquez Jr.
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