ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Tournament Roundtable

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Arizona Wildcats celebrate with the championship trophy (L) and Deandre Ayton’s Most Outstanding Player trophy after defeating the USC Trojans 75-61 to win the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Who Will Win?

Sometimes talent isn’t all that’s needed in order to cut down the nets. The importance of cohesion has grown exponentially in recent memory. In Seattle, the continuity in Washington’s senior trio of forward Noah Dickerson, guard David Crisp and Matisse Thybulle is evident in the way the team plays together.

Add in the Pac-12’s Player and Coach of the Year in Jaylen Nowell and Mike Hopkins, and the Huskies are built for success. Their 2-3 zone is seldom decoded and they’ve got a variety of ways to wear down opponents. All things considered, it would be no surprise to watch purple confetti litter the floor at T-Mobile Arena. – ZP

I could probably list reasons why several teams could cut down the nets at T-Mobile Arena. But when it comes to Washington, there is only one:

Defense carries over in March.

Now, the Huskies haven’t executed lately. In their last four games, the opposition has shot 36 percent from beyond the arc, a considerable rise from the 28.5 percent they allowed in their 10-0 league start.

But when you have a disruptor like Thybulle and the Pac-12 Player of the Year (Jaylen Nowell) on the opposite wing, those are the factors that will differentiate late-game possessions. There’s a reason why UW is 7-3 in games decided by five points or fewer.

Remember how Syracuse got to the Sweet 16 last season? That is what Washington is capable of. I see them becoming Pac-12 regular season and Tournament Champions. – TB

For Oregon, talent hasn’t translated to as many wins as Duck fans hoped prior to the 2018-19 season. But the Ducks are winners of their last four and heading into Vegas with talent and momentum, a deadly combination.

Between Payton Pritchard, Louis King, Paul White and Kenny Wooten, Oregon is possibly the most well-rounded team in the conference. In the Ducks’ four-game winning streak, the experienced core has co-existed better than it had all season.

It would likely take wins over Arizona State and Washington to win the crown, but with how talented Dana Altman’s squad is, it’s more than possible. – CF

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