LAS VEGAS — Arizona paired its Pac-12 regular-season title with a conference championship on Saturday night after defeating USC 75–61 at T-Mobile Arena. Here are three thoughts from the tournament:
1. Arizona's endured a turbulent season to say the least, ranging from its reported involvement in the FBI-NCAA probe to Allonzo Trier testing positive for a banned substance and his ensuing suspension. Even on the court, the Wildcats have their worst-ranked defense (71st in KenPom defensive efficiency) since Sean Miller’s first season in Tucson in 2009. But over the past two nights, the Wildcats showed us the key reason they should still be treated as a title threat: Deandre Ayton.