Photos: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats put on a show, capture back-to-back Pac-12 Tournament titles
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats, led by another huge night by star freshman Deandre Ayton and a Rawle Alkins dunk that sparked a second-half surge, won back-to-back Pac-12 Tournament championships by defeating the USC Trojans 75-61.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ celebrates after a 75-61 win over Southern California in an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ celebrates after a 75-61 win over Southern California in an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins dunks over Southern California's Elijah Stewart during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins dunks over Southern California's Elijah Stewart during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
APTOPIX P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins dunks over Southern California's Elijah Stewart during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
APTOPIX P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Rawle Alkins celebrates after dunking against USC in the Pac-12 title game Saturday night. Alkins finished with only six points, but his slam helped UA take control.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Deandre Ayton (13) celebrates after the team won an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California in the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Deandre Ayton, center, leaps with teammates after the team's 75-61 win over Southern California in an NCAA college basketball for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s bench celebrates after a dunk during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Southern California for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
Players on Southern California's bench watch during the final minutes of an NCAA college basketball game against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins, right, blocks a shot from Southern California's Jordan McLaughlin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
Coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats have won three of the last four Pac-12 Tournament championships. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outscored USC 29-18 to end Saturday’s game.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
Southern California coach Andy Enfield reacts to a call during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Deandre Ayton dunks against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
Deandre Ayton added Pac-12 Tournament MVP to his conference player of the year and freshman of the year awards.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Parker Jackson-Cartwright reacts after a basket during the second half of against Southern California in an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Allonzo Trier shoots while Southern California's Nick Rakocevic defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 75-61.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ celebrates after a 75-61 win over Southern California in an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Allonzo Trier, left, defends on a shot from Southern California's Jonah Mathews during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins, right, defends on a shot by Southern California's Jordan McLaughlin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
Southern California's Jordan Usher looks for a shot as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Rawle Alkins, right, and Southern California's Jordan Usher reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Allonzo Trier, left, passes the ball as Southern California's Jonah Mathews defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Dusan Ristic, left, defends on a shot by Southern California's Jordan McLaughlin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Dylan Smith, right, passes the ball while covered by Southern California's Chimezie Metu during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Dusan Ristic, left, looks to pass the ball as Southern California's Chimezie Metu defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.
P12 USC ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Allonzo Trier enters the arena before the team's NCAA college basketball game against Southern California in the Pac-12 men's tournament final Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas.Â
Could Rawle Alkins' absence discount UA's Bahamian 0-fer in the selection committee's eyes? Alkins wonders.
Team seems to be peaking, just in time for basketball's biggest weeks.Â
Tournament MVP Deandre Ayton had 32 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Wildcats.
Romar is expected to remain with the Wildcats through March.
The Cats are back-to-back Pac-12 outright champions.Â
Star sports columnist Greg Hansen offers his opinion on recent sports news.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ might have to face Kentucky and Virginia just to reach the Elite Eight.
Download and print the Star's custom 2018 NCAA Tournament bracket. Included is every play-in game and first-round matchup, seeds, records, tip…
Miller and Alkins talked discussed ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s No. 4 seed in the South Region.Â