After getting swept at Oregon to end the regular season a year ago, Arizona coach Chip Hale thought his team needed to win a few games in the Pac-12 Tournament to ensure a spot in the NCAA tourney.
There’s no such uncertainty this time around. The Wildcats have to win the conference’s automatic bid in order to make the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.
But unlike a year ago, the Pac-12 tourney doesn’t allow room for error. Gone is the 8-team, double-elimination format from the inaugural event, replaced by a 9-team field featuring three 3-team pools.