Pac-12 Approval

After agreeing to a TV deal worth $225 million dollars, the Pac-12 needs to be relevant. By Kristina Callahan

(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

There is one key component that the Pac-12 basketball can’t buy and that is relevance. With a new television deal in place, the Pac-12 basketball schools will see much more airtime. The conference added both Colorado and Utah but they lost a key player: former Arizona guard Derrick Williams. Williams led the wildcats to the Elite Eight before being drafted 2nd overall in the NBA draft. He emerged into the national spotlight during his sophomore campaign. Without him, the Wildcats will return 3 starters and are ranked 16th in the AP poll.

The conference’s other marquee program, UCLA, is right behind Arizona at 17th in the AP poll. The Bruins will have a hard time proving that they are better than Arizona. They failed to win a NCAA Tournament game last season and aren’t scheduled to play a ranked opponent this season. UCLA won’t even have the advantage of the Pauley Pavilion this year. While it undergoes renovations, the Bruins will have to play across town at the Sports Arena, which ironically used to be USC’s home court.

Neither Colorado nor Utah is expected to make an impact on the basketball court. Last year the two schools managed to win one conference game combined. In order to gain relevance, the conference must produce in the big time games along with make deep runs in both the Pac-12 tournament and the NCAA Tournament.