5 thoughts on the Pac-12’s first revamped season

In what has seemed like a decade-long saga, which began with two Southern California schools looking for greener pastures in the Midwest. We are days away from a historical moment in college basketball.

It’s not often you get to see the creation of a new NCAA conference. Well, technically, what you’ll see next month is more of a remodel-underway sort of deal. But still, the Pac-12 is back and currently equipped to be one of the toughest conferences in the western half of the United States.

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Though before things are officially tipped off this weekend, we’ll take a look at five thoughts surrounding one of two “new” conferences making debuts this season.

This isn’t your grandfather’s Pac-12

Great use of “Star Wars” style graphics aside. No, this will not be the Pac-12 you nor I grew up watching on late nights. Yes, “Pac-12 after dark!” will still be a tagline used all season — now available in the Central Time Zone, funny enough. Yes, there are a few holdovers in Oregon State and Washington State. But the majority of this conference’s membership is new to the league.

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The way I see it, the situation feels similar to what the Big East went through over a decade ago. Yes, the new Big East didn’t sponsor football anymore. And the teams they added to join the Catholic Seven from the original conference were mid-major powerhouses at the time, with multiple conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances under their belt before joining. Several of the Pac-12’s new additions fit that same mold. Boise State’s recent track record stands out, while Utah State has become a springboard for eventual high-major coaches.

The Big East moves benefited those programs, as they enjoyed immediate success in their new conference. Since then, all three have combined for just two regular-season titles, and none have won a conference tournament title.

Will the new Pac-12 programs find a similar struggle? Well, unlike the Big East, there are fewer “high-majors” to challenge right…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/5-thoughts-pac-12-first-224500806.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-30 22:45:00

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