Pacific 10 Fortunes Are on the Rise

Don’t call it a comeback for the Pacific 10 Conference, which has had a solid decade overall.

Of course, even a brief downturn can seem like a century in these fast-paced times, and perception is hard to change.

The conference is better than last season, Pac-10 coaches say, and it has the nation’s second-highest Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), according to Internet sites that attempt to re-create the formula used by the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Whether the selection committee views the Pac-10 similarly remains to be seen.

Coaches figure that at least four Pac-10 schools -- Arizona, Stanford, UCLA and Washington -- deserve bids to this season’s tournament after only three conference teams were included in last season’s 65-team field, and the RPI factor should help.

RPI, however, is among many criteria the NCAA uses in selecting the field, so nothing is guaranteed.

And despite its accomplishments this season, the Pac-10, which received six bids for the 2002 tournament and five for 2003, nationally still is not perceived to be in the elite company of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East.

Regional bias aside, though, quality basketball has been played in the Pac-10 this season, and the selection committee could soon provide validation.

“We deserve a minimum of four [bids],” Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “When you look at the RPI and at the conference overall, there really isn’t any question about that.

“And if Arizona State can somehow finish strong this week against Arizona and maybe win one game in the conference tournament, well, then maybe you have to give them consideration too. But four definitely is the starting number.”

Eleventh-ranked Arizona and No. 10 Washington were voted first and second, respectively, in a Pac-10 preseason media poll, and they’ve set the pace throughout the season.

Washington, 23-4 overall and 13-3 in the Pac-10, defeated Arizona last Saturday and could clinch at least a share of its first conference title since 1985 if it sweeps California and Stanford in road games this week.

Arizona (24-5, 14-3) would win the championship outright if it defeats Arizona State in a season finale and Washington loses either of its final two games.

Regardless of how they finish the regular season and fare in the Pac-10 tournament, whose winner receives the conference’s automatic berth, Arizona and Washington have secured NCAA tournament bids based on their strong seasons.

Arizona has the nation’s eighth-highest RPI, and its strength of schedule also is rated eighth.

The Wildcats’ impressive nonconference schedule included Wake Forest (ranked No. 1 when the teams met in the Preseason National Invitation Tournament championship game), Mountain West Conference champion Utah and Mississippi State.

The Huskies also contributed to the Pac-10’s high RPI with nonconference victories over Oklahoma and Utah. Washington also had the Pac-10’s biggest nonconference victory, 68-64 over then-No. 9 North Carolina State on Dec. 19.

“Since conference has started, Arizona and Washington have kind of separated themselves a little bit, and everyone else has been beating up each other,” Romar said. “Maybe that gives the impression that the league isn’t that good, but it is good.

“I’m sure everyone has their own way of deciphering and deducing as to why someone is good or not good. All I can say is that we’ve gone out as a conference and scheduled at a high level. We’ve won our share of games with that type of schedule, so the proof is there.”

While Arizona and Washington are expected to receive high seedings in the NCAA tournament, things aren’t as clear for the rest of the Pac-10.

Third-place Stanford (16-10, 10-6) and fourth-place UCLA (16-9, 9-7) seemingly have put themselves in good position to receive bids.

Stanford rebounded from an abysmal 6-7 start, including a three-game losing streak to open Pac-10 play. The Cardinal eventually adjusted to losing many key members, including longtime coach Mike Montgomery to the Golden State Warriors, from last season’s 30-2 team that won its first 26 games.

First-year Coach Trent Johnson, who guided Nevada to the Sweet 16 last season, has impressed in leading Stanford back to strong consideration for an at-large berth. With an RPI of 36 and the game’s 25th strongest schedule, the Cardinal appears to be in good shape.

UCLA also is looking good.

Coach Ben Howland has done an outstanding job in his second season with the young Bruins, who have three freshmen in the starting lineup. UCLA, coming off successive losing seasons for the first time since the 1940-41 and 1941-42 seasons, appears to be on the verge of its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 2001-02 season.

UCLA strengthened its position Sunday with a 75-65 nonconference victory over Notre Dame at South Bend, Ind.

Defeating a team from the deep Big East, which might receive as many as seven bids, should help UCLA, especially considering the selection committee for the first time will use a weighted version of the RPI that puts greater emphasis on road victories. With an RPI of 31 and the nation’s 16th-strongest schedule, the Bruins might have an even stronger case than Stanford.

“The Pac-10 doesn’t get a lot of credit, but it deserves credit,” Howland said. “There are really good players in this league, very good coaches and tough venues to play, and I would be surprised if we didn’t get a minimum of four [bids], and maybe more, from the standpoint of the RPI and our strength of schedule.

“What universities are being told to do is play difficult schedules, play the top teams and play ‘em on the road. Obviously, the top teams in our conference are Arizona and Washington, and they’ve done a great job in that respect, and we’ve also played a difficult schedule.”

Fifth-place Oregon State (16-11, 8-8) might be left out of the NCAA tournament because of its schedule. The Beavers, who play UCLA tonight at Pauley Pavilion and close the regular season Saturday against USC at the Sports Arena, are 103rd in RPI and 122nd in strength of schedule.

By comparison, sixth-place Arizona State (18-11, 7-10) has an RPI of 59 and the nation’s 37th-toughest schedule. The Sun Devils, however, have struggled in the Pac-10 after going 11-1 in nonconference play.

Arizona State’s bubble probably will burst unless it defeats Arizona on Saturday and reaches the Pac-10 tournament championship game.

“Everybody can say what they want to through the media about which conferences should get the most [bids], but it comes down to the criteria that the selection committee sets forth to start the season,” Howland said. “When you look at that, it’s clear the Pac-10 ranks among the best conferences. That’s the bottom line.”

A Sad Situation

Temple officials plan to wait until after the season to determine the future of hall of fame Coach John Chaney.

Chaney, 73, has acknowledged his terrible mistake for ordering rough play from one of his players (whom he described as a “goon”) during a game last week, which resulted in St. Joseph’s senior forward John Bryant’s having suffered a broken arm in a fall when fouled.

When the extent of Bryant’s injury was revealed, Temple decided Chaney’s self-imposed one-game suspension wasn’t enough and barred him from the Owls’ final three regular-season games.

On Monday, Chaney announced he would not coach in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, and the president of St. Joseph’s accepted Chaney’s apology, though he criticized Temple and the Atlantic 10 for their handling of the situation.

The matter, however, is far from resolved.

Temple has come under fire nationally for the perception it should have taken sterner disciplinary action against Chaney from the outset, there’s the possibility of Bryant’s family pursuing legal action, and Chaney’s future with Temple is still at issue.

Chaney has done many good things off the court for others in 23 years at Temple and 33 in college basketball. He has helped to develop young men, using a tough-love approach that stresses accountability, and no coach takes stronger stances on important issues.

Those calling for Chaney’s resignation/firing should look at the person in totality and acknowledge his long commitment to college basketball. His legacy has been tainted, but Chaney deserves a chance to return next season and leave the game with his head held high.