The PAC-12 Conference showed out this year in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. More than anyone expected. By a long shot. The conference boasted three teams in the men’s Elite 8 with the women having a PAC-12 matchup in the national championship between Stanford and Arizona. I’m not sure what they were feeding the teams this year but whatever they were doing, they need to do it again next year.
With Stanford women’s team winning the national championship today, the PAC-12 has won 533 national championships, two more than any other conference. The issue isn’t putting together good teams. It’s winning in the “important sports”. For instance, the last time a PAC-12 team won a national championship in football was 2004. The last time they won a national championship in basketball was in 1997. I was not even born yet.
I’m convinced that the PAC-12 will never get the respect it’s deserved until football and men’s basketball bring home trophies. It’s not good enough to just make the Final Four or the football playoff. There needs to be winning. And until that happens, the conference will be seen as the place to go to win in the “less” important sports.
Do I think it’s right? Not at all. But it’s the reality of the situation. People gauge success based on football and basketball. What Stanford did in the women’s tournament this year was phenomenal. Arizona making it to the top two was another great feat. Hats off to them. UCLA making it to the Final Four was good too. But good isn’t enough. In the conference of champions, national titles are what count.
I’m rooting for you PAC-12. And I hope you get the respect you deserve.
Caleb Michael 