Pac-12 rewind: Oregon’s new coach, Wilcox’s decision, travel trouble for UCLA and Arizona, Heisman voting, USC’s move and more

2 years ago 309

Recapping a engaged play connected and disconnected the field, and tribunal …

Story of the week I: Oregon hires Dan Lanning

The Ducks recovered a replacement for Mario Cristobal successful a specified 5 days, hiring Georgia antiaircraft coordinator Dan Lanning. The 35-year-old was 1 of the hottest coordinators connected the market, but helium has nary ties to Oregon and constricted connections to the Pac-12, prevention for 2 seasons connected the Arizona State unit a decennary ago. He has ne'er been a caput manager and, successful Athens, had astatine his disposal a defence loaded with five-star recruits and aboriginal NFL Draft picks. In our view, the determination brings precocious hazard and reward for the Ducks. If Lanning succeeds, volition helium travel the aforesaid way arsenic Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal and caput backmost to the eastbound fractional of the country, leaving the Ducks to behaviour different hunt successful 3 oregon 4 years?

Story of the week II: Oregon’s connection rebuffed

According to a study by Oregonlive’s John Canzano, the Ducks opted for Lanning lone aft Cal manager Justin Wilcox, who was calved successful Eugene and played for Oregon, turned them down. Why would Wilcox cull a accidental to pb his alma mater? Perhaps helium was leery of the destiny that befell erstwhile manager Mark Helfrich, who was tarred and feathered conscionable 2 years aft taking the Ducks to the nationalist championship. Perhaps his plans for gathering a coaching unit wouldn’t suit Oregon’s preferences. Perhaps Wilcox wasn’t definite his recruiting benignant and philosophy, which is markedly antithetic from Cristobal’s, would beryllium good received. This is specified speculation, of course. Most likely, we’ll ne'er know.

Story of the week III: Heisman Trophy

Alabama backmost Bryce Young, who attended Mater Dei High School, won the grant Saturday night successful decisive fashion. In 4th place: Ohio State backmost C.J. Stroud, who attended Rancho Cucamonga. And successful seventh place: Ole Miss backmost Matt Corral, who attended Long Beach Poly. The West Coast was good represented, conscionable not by Pac-12 players. In fact, this marked the 3rd consecutive play successful which the league did not nutrient a top-10 finisher. (The past time: Washington State backmost Gardner Minshew successful 2018.)

Story of the week IV: Travel woes, roadworthy wins

Two men’s hoops teams traveled to the Midwest past week and encountered important problems. Arizona’s formation to Illinois was diverted to Indianapolis due to the fact that of weather, forcing the players and coaches to Uber the 2 hours to Champaign for what became an 83-79 victory. Meanwhile, UCLA was forced to marque an exigency landing successful Denver due to the fact that of a cracked windshield connected its aircraft. The Bruins spent the nighttime determination and yet made it to Milwaukee but had to hold the commencement of their crippled against Marquette. They emerged with a 67-56 victory.

Stat of the week: Arizona

The Wildcats (9-0) are the caller No. 1 squad successful the NET rankings that play a cardinal relation successful Selection Sunday decisions. However, they are 1 of conscionable 3 Pac-12 teams positioned for NCAA bids, on with No. 14 USC and No. 22 UCLA. Beyond that trio, lone No. 42 Washington State could beryllium viewed arsenic a bubble squad based connected its existent NET placement.

Surprising triumph of the week: Cal

In what the Hotline considers an outright upset, the Bears defeated Santa Clara 72-60 connected Saturday evening down 18 points from Andre Kelly. The effect was a uncommon head-to-head triumph for the Pac-12 implicit the West Coast Conference and pushed Cal implicit the .500 mark, for nevertheless agelong that lasts.

Tough nonaccomplishment of the week: Washington State

The Cougars stumbled astatine location against South Dakota State, which isn’t arsenic atrocious arsenic it looks: The Jackrabbits person a NET ranking of 87 and could beryllium the champion squad successful the Summit League. But the effect volition undermine WSU’s pursuit of an at-large berth and, consequentially, interaction the Pac-12’s hopes of sending much than 3 teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Shot of the week: Stanford

In what stands arsenic the champion decorativeness to a league crippled frankincense far, Jaiden Delaire’s 3-pointer astatine the buzzer bushed Oregon 72-69 astatine Maples Pavilion connected Sunday evening. The changeable came seconds aft Oregon defender Will Richardson missed a hard changeable with capable clip remaining to let Stanford to rebound, telephone timeout and beforehand the shot from the backcourt to Delaire, who buried a standard-range jumper from the near wing. Oregon’s ascent to the NCAAs is becoming much hard by the week.

Staff determination of the week: USC

New shot manager Lincoln Riley is expected to clasp adjunct Donte Williams, who served arsenic the Trojans’ interim caput manager and is considered 1 of the apical recruiters successful the Pac-12. Had Williams opted to leave, helium would person been flush with occupation offers from different programs. Instead, USC was capable to support a captious portion of what mightiness beryllium the champion lineup of recruiters successful the conference. At worst, Riley’s unit should beryllium exponentially much effectual than its predecessor nether Clay Helton.

Game of this week: Oregon State vs. Utah State (LA Bowl)

The archetypal of six vessel games for the Pac-12 and a hard spot for the Beavers, who are coagulated favorites against a Mountain West hostile plentifulness susceptible of winning outright — aft all, the Aggies bushed Washington State to unfastened the play and battered San Diego State successful the MW championship. Kickoff is Saturday astatine 4:30 p.m. connected ABC.

Theme of past week: Transparency

The Hotline voted for respective awards past week. In the involvement of transparency, present are the applicable details from our assorted ballots:

AP Player of the Year: 1) Alabama backmost Bryce Young, 2) Pittsburgh backmost Kenny Pickett, 3) Michigan State tailback Kenneth Walker

AP Coach of the Year: 1) Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, 2) Baylor’s Dave Aranda, 3) Utah’s Kyle Whittingham

AP Comeback Player of the Year: 1) Michigan antiaircraft extremity Aidan Hutchinson, 2) Notre Dame backmost Jack Coan, 3) Utah backmost Cam Rising

Heisman Trophy: Same arsenic AP POY

AP All-Americans (Pac-12 players): USC receiver Drake London, Oregon antiaircraft extremity Kayvon Thibodeaux, Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie and Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd were first-team selections; UCLA violative tackle Sean Rhyan, Oregon State halfway Nathan Eldridge, UCLA choky extremity Greg Dulcich, Oregon information Verone McKinley and Arizona punter Kyle Ostendorp were our second-team picks.


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