The Pac-12. The league of bright lights and no truck stops. The only league that ever mattered.
I loved this league. It was perfect in the most deeply flawed ways. Others, closer to coasts with more television sets and media execs, with schedules friendlier to those unwilling to stay up late, drew the headlines, but it was the Pac that came with the narratives. I would compare the more successful conferences out east to a paint-by-numbers prime-time network drama with a nearly unlimited budget, and the Pac-12 to the web-only series run on a shoestring, but which told a much better story. There were hubris-ridden coaches with outsized egos and outrageous personalities; heroes and villains could be found at every turn on the court, with many players eager to lean into the pantomime; the worst officiating in the country kept all the plates spinning, adding comedic value to every game; an entire program was built on the back of nepotism for the better part of a decade, and no one seemed to find that strange; every 'name' program loved to find ways to trip over themselves when competing for titles; hell, the FBI even showed up at one point for a Keystone Cops-eque cameo. Night in, night out, the league delivered, even if it was just Bill Walton bellowing to no one about how close he's been to an active volcano. At least we'll always have the 2021 Tournament...
With the 13th, and final, season of league play about to start next week, I thought it appropriate to give the Pac-12 a sendoff. Herein, I'll name and honor those who warmed the gyms of the West, celebrating a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Team of all-time greats (10 each, presented in alphabetical order, with a coach). Afterward, I'll dump my list, throwing out the remaining Honorable Mentions, before concluding with a team... less deserving of acclaim.
Consider these the final Rumblin' Awards (as always, a strictly black-tie affair).
I'm sure others will do this in the coming months. However, my methodology will probably not mirror theirs - only years in the Pac-12 are considered, and I *mean* the Pac-12. Anything prior to the 2011-2012 season doesn't count, and won't be considered (keep this in mind, particularly for all-time stat discussions and "years played" notations). Further, I weigh longevity and consistency heavily. A single, great season (like from, say, Deandre Ayton), without additional context, means less to me than a guy who bossed the league for multiple years. This is about guys who *impacted* the league, and who spring to mind when I think back on the conference that was, not just the guys with the most talent.
Without further adieu, click below for the list...
