Pac 12 Tournament 2012 Bracket and Schedule: Complete Guide and Preview

As March Madness starts to actually become a reality, many Pac-12 teams will be fighting for that automatic bid in this year's conference tournament.

The Pac-12 hasn't been all that impressive this season, as not a single team in the conference is even featured in the Top-25.

Perhaps the closest team to being ranked is the Washington Huskies, as they currently stand at a conference leading recored of 21-9 (14-4). But, that doesn't guarantee them as the clear front runners for their conference tourney, as a lot of the teams can make a run here for the chance to make the Big Dance.

Where: Staples Center/Galen Center Los Angeles, CA

When: March 7-10

Watch: FSN (7-9) and CBS (Final)

Live Streaming: ESPN3.com

Bracket Info

With 12 teams in the conference, the top four teams receive byes. The Pac-12 tournament bracket can be seen here, and the standings is as follows:

1. Washington Huskies 21-9 (14-4)

2. California Golden Bears 23-8 (13-5)

3. Oregon Ducks 22-8 (13-5)

4. Arizona Wildcats 21-10 (12-6)

5. UCLA Bruins 18-13 (11-7)

6. Colorado Buffaloes 19-11 (11-7)

7. Stanford Cardinal 20-10 (10-8)

8. Washington State Cougars 15-15 (7-11)

9. Oregon State Beavers 17-13 (7-11)

10. Arizona State Sun Devils 10-20 (6-12)

11. Utah Utes 6-24 (3-15)

12. USC Trojans 6-25 (1-17)

Schedule (All Times PST)

First Round: #8 Cougars vs #9 Beavers (12 PM); #5 Bruins vs #12 Trojans (2:30 PM); #7 Cardinal vs #10 Sun Devils (6 PM); #6 Buffaloes vs #11 Utes (8:30 PM).

Second Round: #8/9 vs #1 Cougars (12 PM); #5/12 vs #4 Wildcats (2:30 PM); #7/10 vs #2 Golden Bears (6 PM); #6/11 vs #3 Ducks (8:30 PM).

Third Round: #8/9/1 vs #5/12/4 (6 PM); #7/10/2 vs #6/11/3 (8:30 PM).

Final: 3 PM

Surprise Team to Win: Oregon

After never really being in considering for the NCAA Tournament, the Ducks may finally have a shot at making the Big Dance by winning this automatic bid.

They have a relatively easy path to this tourney's final, with either Colorado or the Utah facing them in their first game—the latter of which they just defeated 94-48 to finish out the year.

Their second-round matchup between either Arizona State, Stanford or California will be a little more tough, but those other teams may beat each other down and Oregon could walk through.

Their biggest challenge would come in the final. But, Oregon has only lost to Washington and Oregon State.

First Favorite to Fall: Arizona

Arizona been pretty strong for the majority of the season, but unfortunately they have UCLA heading their way in the second round—that is, if they don't trip up against a USC team that won just six games this past season.

UCLA can never be dismissed, as both of these teams had very close games against each other this season.

The Bruins are also coming off of back-to-back impressive wins over both Washington State and Washington, while Arizona is coming off of a disappointing loss to Arizona State to close out the year.  

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