Arizona Won the Pac-12 Tournament Because It Isn't Fair To Have Deandre Ayton

I talked about how I liked this USC team. They were competitive. They were even winning at one point. But, then a couple things happened. Deandre Ayton continued to be the best player on the court in every game he’s played this year. Then Rawle Alkins decided to declare that he was now the president of USC with this dunk:

This was an important Pac-12 Tournament for Arizona though. The Wildcats are one of the 5-7 most talented teams in the country. However, they haven’t been one of the five-seven best teams obviously. But, the fact they were able to win the Pac-12 outright and then win the Pac-12 Tournament keeps the momentum going into the NCAA Tournament. This also potentially moves Arizona up to a 3 seed, keeps them out west and likely puts them in San Diego for the first two games of the NCAA Tournament. That’s huge.

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The story tonight though was Deandre Ayton. That guy is an absolute freak and recorded his 23rd double double this season. Arizona was able to slow it down, play through him and let him operate in the post. That resulted in a 32 and 18 stat line. Just unreal. He is the reason Arizona absolutely ran away in the second half. They will be a popular pick to get to the Final Four because of him.

At the same time New Mexico State and Stephen F. Austin also punched its NCAA Tournament berths. New Mexico State was able to hold off Grand Canyon while SFA played a wildly entertaining game against Southeast Louisiana.

26 in, 42 to go

NCAA Tournament bids handed out: 

UNC Greensboro (SoCon) – projected 12/13 seed
Iona (MAAC) – projected 15/16 seed
Michigan (Big 10) – projected 3/4 seed
Murray State (OVC) – projected 13 seed
Loyola (MVC) – projected 12 seed
Radford (Big South) – projected 15/16 seed
Lipscomb (A-Sun) – projected 15/16 seed
Wright State (Horizon League) – projected 14/15 seed
LIU-Brooklyn (NEC) – projected 16 seed
College of Charleston (CAA) – projected 13/14 seed
Gonzaga (WCC) – projected 3/4 seed
South Dakota State (Summit) – projected 13/14 seed
Bucknell (Patriot) – projected 13/14 seed
UMBC (America East) projected 14/15 seed
Kansas (Big 12 ) – projected 1 seed
NC Central (MEAC) – projected 16 seed
San Diego State (MWC) – projected 12/13 seed
Texas Southern (SWAC) – projected 16 seed
Villanova (Big East) – projected 1 seed
Buffalo (MAC) – projected 12/13 seed
Virginia (ACC )- projected 1 seed
Montana (Big Sky) – projected 14 seed
Marshall (C-USA) – projected 13/14 seed
Arizona (Pac-12) – projected 3 seed
New Mexico State (WAC) – projected 11/12 seed
Stephen F. Austin (Southland) – projected 14/15 seed