2013 NCAA Tournament: Pac-12-Seeds and an Overrated Mountain West

Allen Crabbe and #12 Cal are moving on after taking down #5 UNLV

After many witnessed #12 Oregon's high-octane offense take down #5 Oklahoma State yesterday, another Pac-12 12-seed quietly took care of business as the Cal Bears took down #5 UNLV, 64-61. Overall, it was a good day for the conference and for the two 12-seeds NOT named Akron (the Zips were dismantled by VCU, 88-42).

Oregon used a late 5-0 surge to close out the first half and take an 11-point lead into the half and was never really threatened the rest of the way. They cruised to a 69-54 win over the Cowboys, who were a two-point favorite. I had that one pegged as the 12-5 upset special of the day. Oregon's leading scorer, E.J. Singler, managed only eight points but got plenty of help from his teammates, as four Ducks scored in double figures, let by Damyean Dotson's 17.

California had similar thoughts as their Pac-12 brethren. I picked UNLV and they, as well as the rest of the Mountain West Conference, let millions of bracketologists down. Cal looked in control the whole game while the Runnin' Rebels hoisted up three after three and wound up just 6-20 from deep. The Pac-12's leading scorer, Allen Crabbe, is someone many people know very little about, but UNLV found out quickly how good the Pac-12 Player of the Year actually is. Crabbe poured in 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds and four assists to help the Bears to a three-point win.

Were Pac-12 teams snubbed in the Big Dance? Not all of them, but Oregon and Cal were seeded a little lower than they should have been. #6 Arizona buried #11 Belmont, 81-64 and will meet #14 Harvard, who pulled the biggest upset of the day in knocking out the MW champion and 3-seed New Mexico Lobos. If #6 UCLA and #10 Colorado win today, the Pac-12 can improve to 5-0 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

The Mountain West, meanwhile, isn't faring quite as well. Many thought New Mexico would make a run in the tournament, but as we all found out, that didn't happen, as the Lobos were stunned by the Ivy League champ Harvard Crimson, 68-82. Another MW team, #13 Boise State, lost in the First Four against LaSalle, eliminating them from the tourney. I already mentioned UNLV's loss to Cal. #8 Colorado State supplied the conference with their only win, an emphatic 84-72 win over #9 Missouri. Overall, a 1-3 record was not what any experts and pundits picked.

If today is anything like yesterday, I can't wait to glue myself to the computer and then television to take it all in.