This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Disregard what you've heard – some of it, anyway – about the Pac-12 having a horrible NCAA basketball tournament. The men's event, yes. But not the women's competition. The Pac-12's phenomenal performance has produced two Final Four teams, playing Sunday in Indianapolis. Oregon State advanced through the tournament as a No. 2 seed and will meet powerful UConn (4 p.m. MDT); No. 7 seed Washington is the event's biggest surprise, having completed its run to the Final Four with a win over conference rival Stanford. The Huskies will meet Syracuse (6:30 p.m.). The women's showing comes in contrast to the conference's effort in men's basketball. A record seven teams from the Pac-12 received NCAA bids, but five lost in the first round and a sixth (Utah) fell in the second round. Oregon tried to salvage the conference's postseason as a No. 1 seed, but the Ducks lost to Oklahoma in the Elite Eight. The women's tournament is not known for unlikely stories, making Washington's effort especially notable. The Huskies (26-10) lost 88-83 to Utah at the Huntsman Center early in the conference schedule, although they played better at the end of the season, including a 73-60 defeat of the Utes in Seattle. Oregon State has been highly ranked all season, while holding Utah to 53 points in each of two victories. The Beavers have the unfortunate draw of UConn in the semifinals, however. UConn's trip to the Final Four included a 98-38 win over Mississippi State in the Sweet 16, as the Huskies led 85-20 at one point. – Kurt Kragthorpe