Arizona Basketball: Zona Zealots Pac-12 Tournament predictions

The Zona Zealots crew brings you their Pac-12 Tournament predictions for Arizona Basketball prior to the opening round on Wednesday.

The regular season is over and now the real fun begins as Arizona Basketball enters post-season. Up first, is the Pac-12 Tournament as they face the Washington Huskies in the opening round on Wednesday at 2:30 pm MST in the T-Mobile area in Las Vegas. The Wildcats are more than likely making the NCAA Tournament, but if they are made to make a strong showing and possibly even win the Pac-12 Tournament, they could get a higher seed. See what our Zona Zealots writers predictions are for this upcoming week.

7. That is the number of times the men’s basketball program has won the Pac-12 tournament, with the latest being during the 2017-18 season and Deandre Ayton leading the way. Last season the Wildcats lost in the opening round of the tournament to the USC Trojans 78-65. This time around, they have a chance to make a run for the championship.

There are many things this team will need to do cut down the nets in Las Vegas. It’s not impossible for them to win 4 games in 4 days, but they do have their work cut out for them. Each team they can possibly face is no guaranteed win, starting with the Washington Huskies on Wednesday.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Here are our Zona Zealots predictions:

Eric Townsend

Prediction: Semifinals loss

Why: Because I don’t think Arizona has the leadership to get it done. Payton is clearly the difference-maker, and while Arizona has the talent to win, this team’s biggest flaw is there is no veteran guy or key guy to go to when they begin the struggle or someone to go to when they need someone to step up. This team should be 2-0 vs Oregon, but the reason why we lost us because we have no true leader, and in those moments we cower.

David Rosen

Prediction: Finals loss

Why: This prediction might surprise a lot of people, but Arizona been knocking on the door all season long in close games and in Las Vegas they will get through some, but not all. They will likely face the Oregon Ducks in the semi-finals and finally beat them. In the finals though, whether they face ASU or UCLA, they will come up just short as they have all season long. I hope I am wrong, but a loss in the finals would be fitting for how this season has gone.

Shereen Rayan

Prediction: Pac-12 Tournament Champions

Why: I think it’s revenge season. This Arizona team has what it takes to go all the way and win the Pac-12 Championship.  The question is can they pull it together now that the team will all be back together hopefully including Max, and can they execute and make their shots which seems to be one of the only reasons the Wildcats have lost some of these very close games. They have shown that they can win these games because they come so close, but the issue is I believe Sean Miller does not press early enough or cause distractions early enough in the game to win. Why we would wait to the last 30 some odd seconds to press against Washington when we could’ve been doing it for the last five minutes it’s something that I will scratch my head over. You can blame the players but there’s enough heart on this team between Zeke and Dylan and Nico and Josh to win games. I think other teams are going to feel superior and they might not know what’s coming on a neutral court, I think Arizona can seek is revenge against every team they’ve lost to and the rivals to get to the championship game.

Ryan Wohl

Prediction: Semifinals loss

Why: I think they will lose to Oregon in the semi-finals. They have enough talent to win a few games but in a big game, I believe that Sean Miller will be outcoached.

Eddie Aguirre Jr

Prediction: Quarterfinals loss

Why: Like most of this season, I believe we will win our first game and lose the next one. There’s just no consistency with this team unfortunately and by March, we just are what we are. Sometimes we space the floor & shoot the ball well, control the pace, limit our turnovers. And other times. The only common denominator for all our different years of struggles is coach Miller. He may have taken us as far as he can and 11 years is a good enough sample size to me.

Jake Faigus

Prediction: Semifinals loss

Why: The difference maker is Payton Pritchard. We have more talent but don’t have a veteran leader like him. I’d expect the team to get up and be ready to play against Oregon, but more of the same. The game will get close and we won’t be able to close it. Arizona on paper should win but this team is what it is so their time in Vegas ends with a semifinal loss to Oregon. Better coaching and experience are the difference

Here are highlights of the last time Arizona Basketball won the tournament during the 2017 Tournament:

At Zona Zealots, those are our predictions! Let us know your thoughts and what your predictions are. Hopefully, everyone, except for Shereen, will be wrong Arizona Basketball can find a way to be Pac-12 Champions. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!