ANAHEIM – Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield said he didn’t find out about his head coach Lon Kruger’s long back history with Oregon head coach Dana Altman until one of his teammates gave him the low-down while stretching at the team’s shoot around.

The two coaches first came together back in 1986 when Kruger took over Kansas State and decided to bring Altman, a young coach from Moberly (Mo.) Junior College at the time, along as his assistant. It was Altman’s first gig at the Division I level.

Kruger and Altman have been close ever since and will be going head-to-head for the first time as opposing head coaches with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

“We talk all the time, so when opportunities have come up, we’ve bounced different things off each other,” Kruger said. “We’ve got a handful of coaches that are best friends and, certainly, Dana’s one of them, without question.”

Altman mirrored Kruger’s sentiments.

“He’s been a great friend and mentor for 30 years, and we’ve never played each other for a reason: We didn’t want to play,” Altman said. “If we are fortunate to win, I’m sure he’ll be happy for us, and if we lose, I know I’ll be happy for him.”

The more Hield, the front-runner for national player of the year, started to think about the history between the two long-time coaches who will meet tomorrow night in the Elite Eight, the more he couldn’t help but light up with interest.

“It’s cool; I didn’t know that (before). Good history.”

Like his teammates, Hield had some time last night to watch film on Oregon. The more he watched, the more he could see how similar the two teams were.

“It’s kind of weird watching them because you kind of watch yourself out there.”

Hield had a point.

Oregon and Oklahoma do have a lot in common — at least more than you would expect. A lot of that probably has to do with the shared principles and views of the game between Kruger and Altman. The rest of it falls on the shoulders of players who prioritized learning and developing under two renowned teachers of the game.

“You can tell that Coach Kruger taught him and he’s carried it over, too,” Hield said. “The system is working.”

You look at a senior in Hield and you see an older version of sophomore Dillon Brooks: both are skilled, emotional leaders for top-tier programs who play with a passion for the game that the national media eats up, and both always teeter the line between hyperbole and enthusiasm when in front of a camera.

Oregon forward Dillon Brooks talks with media members the day before Elite Eight matchup with Oregon (Hayden Kim/ Emerald).

“I can tell he’s very emotional,” Hield said about Brooks. “He’s their team energy. Having a guy like him helps the team, just like me. My team feeds off my energy too. It’s going to be a fun matchup.”

You hear about Oregon’s mantra of “make plays for each other” all season long — sometimes it’s you, other times it’s me, it’s always us — then you hear all five of Oklahoma’s starters at the podium uttering and repeating the same phrase minutes later.

You watch both teams play, and you see programs that succeed through their athleticism, shot-blocking ability, sharpshooting and speedy guard play.

“They spread it out, they like to get in transition, a lot of them can shoot, they like to drive, pass to each other and that’s what we kind of what we base ourselves off of,” senior forward Ryan Spangler said.

Need more proof? Look at the side-by-side stats for yourself.

Their similarity in unselfish ball movement and camaraderie on and off the court are uncanny.

“They’re just like us,” Hield said. “They’re tough. They’re one of the best teams in the country.”

Kruger and Altman’s even-keel demeanors are almost identical; both creating interactive, positive classroom-like environments that cater to their players rather than a totalitarian regime.

“Never seen him mad,” Spangler said about Kruger. “He never yells, never curses at us. We get after it, but at the same time, he’s going to stop and tell us what we need to do better or what we’re doing wrong.”

Earlier today, Kruger put Altman’s name into the hat for national coach of the year along with Kansas’ Bill Self. Two days ago, he declared Oregon the “best team in the country.”

When No. 1 seed Oregon meets No. 2 seed Oklahoma tomorrow afternoon in the West Regional Final — second meeting all-time since the Ducks beat the Sooners in their 1939 Final Four matchup en route to winning their one and only national title — it will be more than the Pac-12 outright champions facing up against Big-12 heavyweights.

It will be a Final Four-deciding reunion between two long-time friends who despise the idea of having to play each other at this stage of the season.

“Hopefully the teacher will win,” Hield joked.

“That’ll probably be a hard one right there,”  Oregon assistant coach Tony Stubblefield said about Altman and Kruger having to go up against one another. “You don’t want to go up against one of your best friends to get to the Final Four. If they had to probably pick a different route to get there, I’m sure they would choose a different route.”

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim 

 ANAHEIM – Out of all the moments from Oregon’s Sweet 16 win over Duke last night, the spotlight was lit on the alleged interaction between Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Ducks forward Dillon Brooks as they shook hands after the game.

It all sprouted when Brooks drained a three-pointer from 30 feet out with mere seconds remaining in the game.

Here’s what you need to know:

The shot clock was winding down, and the game was firmly in hand for Oregon. At the time, it did appear excessive considering no Blue Devils players had any intention of contesting the shot.

But for Oregon, who will appear in the Elite Eight for just its sixth time — and first since 2007 — it felt, if anything, like it was a harmless act that got blown out of proportion simply because it was one the last memories of the game.

So, as Brooks rattled in the three from no man’s land with the buzzer ringing, Coach K, according to Brooks, told the sophomore, “You’re too good of a player to be showing off at the end,” while they shook hands near the scorer’s table.

In typical Coach K fashion – if we accept the Vine showing him mouthing these very words as fact – he did so with a smile on his face.

After the game, reporters followed up with Coach K and asked him point blank if this allegation was true. For reasons unknown, he denied it.

“I didn’t say that. You can say whatever you want,” Krzyzewski said. “Dillon Brooks is a hell of a player. I said, ‘You’re a terrific player.’ And you can take whatever he said and then go with it, all right?”

Brooks, on the other hand, owned up to his late game act: “He just told me that I’m too good of a player to be showing out at the end. And he’s right. I’ve got to respect Duke.”

Dana Altman even appeared on the The Herd this morning and took the blame away from his player.

“That was my fault,” Altman said. “There was a difference of about six or seven seconds on the shot clock, and [Brooks] was 30 feet from the basket. I just told him to shoot it so we wouldn’t have a turnover. I didn’t think he’d hit it. … So if anybody is upset, they should be upset with me — not Dillon Brooks.”

The problem with this whole ordeal is that there is no ordeal. Giving Coach K the benefit of the doubt, regardless of what he actually said, he ultimately respects Brooks and congratulated him on the win.

Isn’t that all that matters, especially coming from a five-time national champion and the winningest coach in NCAA history?

Oregon was the better team last night, and Brooks played a fine game. That’s about it. The fact that he had to apologize about hitting a shot from near the half court line with the shot clock winding down and his coach giving him the green light to launch a shot he didn’t think he’d make just seems silly and unnecessary.

Now, Grayson Allen was seen refusing a hug from Brooks as the clock expired.

With his recent history of tripping players and seemingly sore attitude after losses, this should have been highlighted, if anything. But, really, neither of these two acts should have been a topic. Players at all levels of the game, for one reason or another, have refused to shake hands before. Same goes for running up the score or attempting shots that won’t change the outcome of the game.

That doesn’t excuse them, but it does show how silly this whole ordeal truly was.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

ANAHEIM – Top-seeded Oregon will continue its NCAA tournament run following an 82-68 win over Duke in the Sweet 16. Up next will be an even tougher task with the nation’s leading scorer Buddy Hield and No. 2 seed Oklahoma.

The Elite Eight West Regional final is set for a 3:07 PST start time on Saturday at the Honda Center.

Here’s what you need to know about the Sooners:

Oklahoma 

Record: 28-7

Conference record: 12-6; finished third in Big-12

Wins in the tournament: 82-68 win over No. 15 CSU Bakersfield, 85-81 win over No. 10 VCU, 77-63 win over No. 3 Texas A&M

Coach: Lon Kruger (Fifth season at Oklahoma, 110-56, 589-360 overall)

Players to watch:

Buddy Hield: 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, senior guard

Stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 46 3P%

Dropping 30 points or more at the Division I level is no easy task. Buddy Hield has done it 11 times. A front-runner for National Player of the Year, Hield is going to be the most refined scorer Oregon will have faced this season. In what many considered to be the regular season game of the year against No. 1 ranked Kansas, Hield topped out at 46 points in a triple overtime loss. On a team that hangs its hat on deadly outside shooting, Hield is the maestro.

Isaiah Cousins: 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, senior guard

Stats: 12.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 42 3P%

When Dana Altman signals his players to pressure Oklahoma with its tight full court press, it will have to do so against a veteran point guard. An All-Big-12 Conference guard, Isaiah Cousins can do it all: shoot the three, attack the rim, and clean the glass. Against Duke, Oregon, at times, took advantage of playing against an unconventional team without a true point guard. Saturday afternoon, that won’t be the case.

Jordan Woodard: 6-foot, 187 pounds, junior guard

Stats: 13.0 PPG, 3.4 APG, 46 3P%

Rounding out the deadly trio of guards Oklahoma poses, Jordan Woodard might be the hottest. In the tournament, Woodard has combined for 45 points — 17 against VCU, 22 points last night against Texas A&M — as Oklahoma’s third scoring option. If Oregon can manage to slow down Hield and Cousins, it will still have its hands full with Woodard.

Key stat to the game: In the tournament, Oregon has been unforgiving against the three, holding teams to 31 percent. But keeping this up against Oklahoma, a team that made a sixth-best 364 3-pointers on a second-best 42.6 percent, will be a different ball game. Thursday, Oregon held Duke to 7-of-22 from beyond-the-arc.

Oregon will have the chance to play in the Final Four for the first time since 1939.

Follow Hayden Kim @HayDayKim

ANAHEIM – Exactly 38 seconds remained on the clock at the Honda Center when Dillon Brooks pulled down his ninth and final rebound. A couple ticks later, he held the ball in his hands near the half court line as a section of Oregon fans behind the team’s bench let out everything they had.

With the shot clock running down, the game in hand, Brooks stared into the eyes of defeated Duke players who had already dropped their arms to the ground, surveyed the floor one last time and launched a shot from well beyond the 3-point line. It rattled in.

Immediately after, Brooks, who finished with a team-high 22 points, scrunched his lips and formed his best mean mug as Oregon officially advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2007 with an 82-68 win over five-time national champion Mike Krzyzewski and Duke.

“It’s been a great season; I’m loving what’s going on,” Brooks said. “It feels great. Never going to forget any of these guys. I’m going to share this moment with them.”

To label this a historic win for a program that hasn’t reached the Final Four since 1939 was appropriate, especially with what Oregon has accomplished this season.

“It means a lot,” said assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who has been with Altman since he arrived in 2010. “We knew the sky was the future; we just had to put it together.”

Program-best 31 wins? Check.

Dana Altman’s first trip to the Elite Eight? Check.

“For any coach who gets there, that’s an honor, and you don’t know if you’re ever going to get there again,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s a really good coach.”

Tonight was another opportunity for this program to prove that it belongs.

“So surreal,” Dwayne Benjamin said. “We felt like we could make it this far.”

That doesn’t mean the team is satisfied.

“We’re not done,” Benjamin said. “We still feel like we got a lot to do and we still feel like we can play a lot more basketball this year.”

Oregon guard Elgin Cook attacks the basketball late in the second half. The Oregon Ducks face the Duke Blue Devils on March 24, 2016 in the Sweet 16 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Kyle Sandler/Emerald)

Even with future hall of famer Kobe Bryant in the crowd. Even with Duke’s universally recognized history dominating headlines. Even with the winningest coach in college basketball sitting on the sidelines, Oregon played its game and acted like its been here before.

“Duke’s a great program, but we wanted to come out and show that we’re confident in ourselves,” Benson said. “To get a win against a program like that is special for our team. It’s another steppingstone to where we want to get to.”

One run early in the second ended up being the difference. Sparked by back-to-back Casey Benson triples – he finished 3-for-5 from deep for 11 points. Oregon, who led at the half, got in rhythm and eventually out ran Duke in transition.

Like it’s done all season, Oregon adjusted to the opponent at hand, and attacked the basket until easy looks became consistent.

“We lost to a hell of a team,” Krzyzewski said.

Brandon Ingram, who dominated the first half and finished with a game-high 24 points, wasn’t enough.

All-American and Duke’s leading scorer Grayson Allen, who entered the game averaging 21.8 points, was held to 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

As a team, Duke, normally a big threat from the outside, was held to 7-of-22 from beyond the arc.

Duke’s Marshall Plumlee ended up being a non-factor after picking up two early fouls in the first half.

Forget Chris Boucher and Tyler Dorsey having off nights. Instead, remember the career night that Jordan Bell had.

“It surprised me, too,” Ennis said as he laughed. “He was due for a big game like that. Things he was doing, it was unheard of.”

Bell took full advantage of playing in front of his relatives with 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

“We needed a great game from everybody,” Bell said. “I just knew I had to bring it. We played one of our best games this year. Everybody, not just me.”

Back in October, local media members took the floor at Matthew Knight Arena for the first practice of the season.

At the time, Oregon was projected to finish fourth in the conference by voters and had received just one nod to win the Pac-12. The program had just lost one of its best in reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Joseph Young to the NBA.

One of the first players to get his face on camera was graduate student Ennis. Fresh off his transfer from Villanova, the fifth-year senior, who immediately became a media favorite with his vibrant personality, was asked to take a couple steps forward as the lights flashed on him for the first time in an Oregon uniform.

That October afternoon, he was asked about his initial impression of the team.

“People should be excited about Oregon basketball,” he said.

Apparently it wasn’t just optimism.

“Maybe it’s a surprise to everybody,” Ennis said after Thursday’s win. “I watch ESPN, I’m online and I see everybody thinking we’re going to get upset every single round. We don’t take that kindly. At the start of the year, when I thought I was playing to when I went out, I knew this team was one of the top in the country. We’re proving that now.”

All season long, Oregon has played with a chip on its shoulder. But now, regardless of what its national perception is, as Oregon now prepares for the nation’s leading scorer Buddy Hield and Oklahoma, this program will have a shot at making some more history.

“It’s a dream come true to play in games like these,” Benson said. “This is what you play for. So to have a shot at the Final Four is really exciting and we’re looking forward to it.”

There’s a reason why Altman wasn’t overtly pumped up in the locker room after the win.

Altman told the media Wednesday that Oregon doesn’t have a great history and it is working hard to change that.

“We know we can make history,” Dorsey said. “Oregon doesn’t have many teams that have made the Final Four; it’s been forever. Knowing this team can make history gives us even more of a chip on our shoulders to put that banner up.”

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

ANAHEIM – When Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked to point out the biggest challenges about playing Oregon Wednesday afternoon, he highlighted the team’s athleticism, versatility and effort.

His All-Americans Grayson Allen and Matt Jones, who sat side-by-side with the five-time national champion, nodded their heads in agreement.

“You look at them, you can argue they’re one of the most athletic teams in the country,” Allen said. “Their guys attack you. It’s a tough team to defend.”

Sure, Duke (25-10) and many other east coast schools haven’t had time to watch much tape on Oregon but that doesn’t mean Duke doesn’t know what its Sweet 16 opponent is capable of.

“We don’t watch – you know, we watch our own neighborhood,” Krzyzewski admitted. “What I have learned a lot in watching them now is just how athletic they are. They play off each other very well. They play with a great verve. “

Oregon (30-6) does present matchup nightmares for opposing defenses with its unique skill sets.

Oregon has been notorious for outworking teams on the glass and barricading the rim with its shot blockers.

It’s why it finished the season second in ESPN’s RPI standings and entered the NCAA tournament as one of four No. 1 seeds.

So, while college hoops nation hypes up the narrative of a traditional powerhouse going up against an up and coming west coast program — Duke is 0-4 all-time in NCAA tournament when playing in the Pacific time zone — the real story on Thursday night will rest with whether or not Altman’s most accomplished roster can continue its historic run.

“Obviously we feel blessed to be here, but anybody who is in front of us, we approach it the same way,” Dylan Ennis said.

Oregon’s approach all season has been simple, and it’s been one that Altman has been preaching daily since he arrived in 2010: “make plays for each other.”

During Oregon’s open practice for fans and media members Wednesday afternoon, Altman was encouraging just that, repeating that very phrase over and over while his players went through routine drills to the tune of the school’s marching band.

What Oregon has done well this season is collectively exploiting other team’s weaknesses.

Most times that means forcing turnovers and protecting the rim.

Other times, it’s a matter of feeding the hot hand against favorable match-ups.

Oregon has no reason to overcomplicate or overhype up a game that, in the general eye, is a Sweet 16 matchup between old school and new school; the incumbent versus the challenger.

There’s no denying how much it would mean if Altman, who has never got past the Sweet 16, and Oregon could beat a storied program like Duke.

“Any time you get an opportunity to play someone that’s as well established as Duke, Coach K, it’s a great opportunity,” Altman said. “Our basketball tradition isn’t great.”

A win over Duke this late in March would do wonders for Oregon’s national perception.

“This is a point in our time that we need to play well,” Altman said. “We need to play well on the national stage against someone that is very good and has proven themselves.”

But that doesn’t mean Oregon will be looking to make this game any bigger than it already is, which is an opportunity to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2007.

In the Oregon locker room, freshman guard Tyler Dorsey was asked about what this win would mean to this team.

“If we keep winning, Oregon basketball will keep rising,” he said.

If Oregon wants to stay in Anaheim for a couple more nights and continue its historic season, its best bet is to approach this game like any other, however hard that may be.

“It’s pretty amazing and I never thought it would happen,” Dwayne Benjamin said about playing Duke. “They have a lot of good history. It’s kind of special for me because a lot of people I know are very big Duke fans.”

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

One by one, Oregon players and coaches carefully stepped up the ladder at the south end of MGM Grand Garden Arena to cut themselves a piece of history.

“It was the greatest feeling in my life,” Chris Boucher, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, said.

Casey Benson let out a roar.

Dillon Brooks lifted an “O” to the remaining fans.

Dylan Ennis, boot and all, crawled up and let out a big smile.

“It was weird,” Ennis said about stepping up the ladder with a cast on his foot. “You don’t think that your senior year, you’re going to be cutting down Pac-12 tourney nets with a cast on your foot. But being able to share that with them, besides my injury, it was the moment that I’m never going to forget.”

Last, but not least, three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year Dana Altman cut his piece before turning to family, friends and fans, thanking them for their support throughout the year.

Selfies were taken. Dwayne Benjamin and Jordan Bell made confetti angels at center court.

Single strings of net were tied around the plastic snaps of the Pac-12 branded hats.

“I didn’t want to put it in my pocket and forget about it,” Ennis joked.

Top-seeded, No. 8 ranked, NCAA tournament-bound Oregon (28-6) made history on March 12 by winning both the outright regular season and tournament title. Oregon ran Utah out of the gym 88-57 at Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The margin of victory was the largest in Pac-12 Tournament Championship game history, breaking the mark set by Arizona in its win over Oregon a year ago.

Turnovers were forced — 20 to be exact. Points were scored off those turnovers — 28 to be exact. Team defense was unforgiving — Utah finished the game 19-of-44 from the floor (43.2 percent). The ball was shared — Tyler Dorsey (23 points), Brooks (18 points), Boucher (15 points) and Elgin Cook (11 points) all finished in double figures.

“It was really just teamwork,” Boucher said. “We won as champions. We’re champions as a team.”

Most notable, Oregon limited Pac-12 Player of the Year Jakob Poeltl to 13 points on six shot attempts. Poeltl, Utah’s leading scorer and only player in double figures, also coughed up the ball five times.

“We lost this game basically in the first half, at the end of the first half,” said Poeltl. “We didn’t have the energy or focus to come back from those easy baskets we gave them from the mistakes we made.”

Cliché or not, Oregon realized the simple importance of playing for one another heading into the season, and turned that mentality into a memorable finish to the conference season in March.

There is a reason why Cook was named Pac-12 Tournament MVP. There is a reason why four of Oregon’s five starters were named to the All-Tournament team: Dorsey, Cook, Boucher and Brooks.

“It means we’re a good team, and when we work together, we can do great things,” Boucher said. “We always said that from the beginning.”

This team utilized its many weapons — Boucher’s blocking, Dorsey’s three-point shooting, Brooks’ mastery of the mid-range game, Cook’s finishing touch at the rim — and manipulated its opponents all season.

These diverse skills made them difficult to guard and allowed them to win their second conference tournament title in four years.

“Everybody works together and everybody is talented,” Boucher said

The day before the game, Brooks told a small circle of media members that he wanted to make history. After all the confetti had fallen, Brooks’ wishes had come true.

“It means so much,” said Brooks. “My name being in Oregon’s history is a beautiful thing. I can look back and I’ll remember every single one of these players, and every single one of the managers, and every single one of the coaching staff because this season was special.”

After losing in the semifinals, Arizona’s Sean Miller called Oregon “one of college basketball’s best teams” because of how well they play together.

For those that have been around the game, that is the ultimate compliment.

“What we did as a whole collective group, it’s a special thing,” Brooks said.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

LAS VEGAS – Before top-seeded Oregon advanced to tonight’s Pac-12 tournament title game against Utah, surviving Arizona in an semifinal overtime thriller, Dylan Ennis rode around his scooter during pre-game warm ups like usual.

What did he see?

He saw freshman Tyler Dorsey with a look in his eye that ensured Ennis that his freshman starter was primed for a big game.

“I knew from the start, he had the look in his eyes that he wanted to go out there and do everything for our team,” Ennis said.

Dorsey had just that.

For the second straight game, Dorsey, who finished with 19 points, rose to the occasion and hit shots — threes to be specific — at the most opportune times, making it difficult for Arizona to claw back into the game. He ended up 4-for-6 from deep.

Even if he wasn’t willing to admit it, Dorsey had some extra motivation to play well against the Wildcats: despite giving a verbal commit to Sean miller and Arizona before the ninth grade, Dorsey ultimately withdrew, choosing Oregon after getting cut by Miller’s Team USA U18 roster.

“I knew he was prepped for a big game when Arizona was on that ticket,” Ennis said. “Obviously, him committing to Arizona and decommitting to come here, it’s a personal game. You can’t get around that. But he didn’t allow that to take over his mind.”

Against Washington in the second round, Dorsey did much of the same, posting 17 points, and splashing home critical threes in the second half on three separate occasions when the game was within four points.

It’s rare you see Dorsey smiling in a game. A reserved player, Dorsey isn’t one to show express much emotion. But last night, in front of a red sea of rowdy Arizona fans, Dorsey couldn’t help but show his vibrant smile as he watched shot after shot splash through.

With 38 seconds remaining in overtime, Dorsey turned to Tony Stubblefield — the coached that helped recruit him to Oregon — and simply uttered the words “Oh my God.”

Moments later, the two were roughing around like two middle schoolers counting down the final seconds before summer break.

In the past two games, Dorsey has shot 7-for-13 from three for a combined 36 points. Oregon can only hope its freshman standout can continue this recent hot streak.

“It was just another win man,” Dorsey said after the Arizona game. “They were in the way, got to get the win, and that’s what we did.”

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

LAS VEGAS – Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak couldn’t have summed up the Pac-12 tournament semifinals any better in his post game presser following an 82-78 overtime win over California.

“What a day of basketball here at the MGM, really. First game overtime, our game overtime, all the top seeds winning games. It’s March Madness at its finest.”

Hours before, top-seeded Oregon survived a nail biter of its own, surviving No. 4 seed Arizona 95-89 with the help of Dwayne Benjamin’s late game heroics.

According to Oregonian beat writer Danny Moran, Benjamin has been walking around today with a walking boot, but said he’ll be good to go for tonight’s final.

Oregon forward Dwayne Benjamin is in the MGM Grand with a walking boot. He just smiled and told a fan, “I’ll be good.”

— Danny Moran (@DannyJMoran) March 12, 2016

The top two seeded teams will face off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 7 p.m. for the conference tournament final as the Pac-12 says its final farewell to this venue. As announced, the Pac-12 tournament recently signed a new three-year deal to host its tournament at the brand new T-Mobile Arena.

Media members take tour of new T-Mobile Arena that will open its doors on April 6 this year.

Fox Sports 1 will provide the coverage.

Just yesterday, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott told the media that he believed the conference was “on the verge of the most successful basketball season.” He couldn’t have asked for much better proof than last night as its top four teams showcased some of its best basketball in front of a packed house.

For a conference that may ultimately send half of its teams (conference record) to the upcoming NCAA tournament, tonight’s final will top off the impressive seasons that both No. 8 Oregon and No. 12 Utah put together.

Both teams are coming off nail biters in the semifinals.

Oregon, who went 2-for-7 at the free-throw line in the last few minutes, was fortunate to see Mark Tollefsen rim out his first free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into extra minutes.

“Arizona is a very tough team, a great team and they just prepared us for the team ahead,” Dillon Brooks said.

Utah’s bench lost it when guard Lorenzo Bonam went coast to coast with just seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime.

Tonight will provide both teams with an opportunity to continue to ride those wave of emotions and momentum to conclude the Pac-12 season.

“Both teams are probably running on fumes here a little bit, and I’m pretty pleased that we can represent our league in the final two,” Krystkowiak said. “I think we’ve taken a step forward for our program, but Oregon, there is a reason they finished first. They have an awful lot of firepower. Those kids play hard, and it’s going to be enjoyable to be a part of.”

Oregon is riding a seven-game winning streak, and has seen all of its starters flourish in different moments throughout the tournament. In game one, it was Chris Boucher’s 19-point, 11-rebound, three-block lead performance that sparked a comeback against a red hot Washington team. Last night, it was the quartet of Elgin Cook (22 points), Tyler Dorsey (19 points), Dillon Brooks (19 points), and Benjamin (12 points) that helped lift an ice cold Oregon team at the line past a resilient Arizona team.

“We’re going to figure out a way how to guard them,” forward Jakob Poeltl, who finished with a game-high 29 points against California last night, said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to guard their penetrations. We let them get to our basket way too easy in both of those games, especially Dillon Brooks.”

Utah has been even better than of late having won its last nine. Its last four have been within six points though. It will be focused on avoiding dropping its third straight against Oregon.

Said Krystkowiak: “We’ve got a great game plan but we can’t tell you about it.”

Oregon will have a shot to secure both the regular season and tournament title with the win. The tournament title would be Oregon’s second in four years. It is favored by two points.

“We’re just trying to make history, trying to be the best team we can be, and write our names in the history books,” Brooks said.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

LAS VEGAS – Dana Altman was focused on getting top-seeded Oregon mentally prepared for an overtime nail biter against fourth seeded Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals.

After going 2-for-7 at the charity stripe the last few minutes in front of a deafening MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd, Oregon had a meltdown and crept the door open just enough for lefty big man Mark Tollefsen to get fouled and have the game in his hands with 0.4 seconds left on the clock.

Tollefsen, who logged all of five total minutes, walked up to the line with Arizona trailing 77-76.

Behind him, a red sea of rejuvenated Wildcats fans lost their mind and voices as the Oregon bench helplessly watched from the sidelines. They couldn’t believe what had just happened.

“I’ve never been in a situation at the end of regulation like that,” Tyler Dorsey, who finished with 19 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep, said. “It was a crazy situation, but we know we couldn’t hang our heads.”

A nerve-racking silence blanketed the arena.

The first one rimmed out, the second swooshed through.

“He missed a free throw for us, so we knew we had to jump on them,” Dorsey said.

Overtime.

“We really made that tough on ourselves,” Dana Altman said. “They hit shots, they did a great job. But we hurt ourself.”

Let’s back up to the nine-minute mark in the second half when Oregon forward Dwayne Benjamin took a hard fall and landed awkwardly on his left foot. Slow to get up, a gingerly Benjamin limped through one more possession before hobbling to the locker room for examination. Based on Benjamin’s grimacing look on his face, it didn’t look good.

Even Benjamin said he didn’t think “at first” that he would return.

Awaiting a definite answer, Pac-12 Network Sideline Reporter Jill Savage initially reported Benjamin would be unlikely to return.

She was dead wrong.

“I know Dwayne, he’s tough,” Dylan Ennis said. “I knew he was going to come back and that’s what he did. He put that injury behind him, he came out and hit some big shots.”

All of five minutes on the game clock had ticked off before the Lafayette, Louisiana native, with the help of some Tylenol — two to be exact — and good taping, willed his way back to the Oregon bench.

“I took some Tylenol, I just decided that I’d try to play for my teammates,” Benjamin said. “Clay (Jamieson) taped me up right and he felt like I was good enough to go. I went back in.”

At the 3:09 mark in overtime, the second coming of Willis Reed took the form of a banged up Benjamin as the senior forward quickly changed back into playing attire before checking in at the scorers table.

In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Knicks center Reed returned to the floor from “the bowels” of the locker room after tearing his right thigh muscle two games before, igniting the Knicks to its first title.

This wasn’t the NBA Finals. But this was Oregon’s most anticipated game of the year with title hopes on the line.

On his first offensive possession back, Benjamin caught a pass from Jordan Bell on the right corner, and without hesitation, knocked down a three that gave Oregon an 83-80 lead with 2:47 to play.

“My teammates did a good job of continuing to fight when one of went down,” an exhausted Benjamin said. “I just felt like I wanted to make a play for my teammates and Jordan got the ball to me. I just made the shot for him.”

The rest is history.

“It was ecstatic,” Dillon Brooks, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, said. “We were ready to play defense, ready to grab rebounds. When people hit big shots, it gets the whole team going.”

Before Oregon escaped its 9-of-20 shooting at the line in regulation and advanced to the conference tournament final via a 95-89 overtime win, Altman was planning to play without Benjamin. Then, Benjamin returned. Then, with the game on the line, he checked in with Altman just seconds before cementing himself in the minds of every present fan.

“It’s crazy man,” Ennis said. “If you could see of the sideline … it was wild when he hit that shot.”

As the buzzer echoed throughout an Arizona-dominated arena, all Benjamin could do was flash his million dollar smile and throw up an “O” to the small section of Oregon fans across the court. His teammates were right there with him to celebrate.

“It’s whatever,” Benjamin said about coming back from his toe injury. “It’s for these guys. I just put the team before myself and said anything I can do, I was going to do for them.”

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim

LAS VEGAS – Larry Scott took the podium to announce that the Pac-12 has reached an agreement with T-Mobile Arena and Las Vegas Events to keep the conference tournament in Las Vegas as part of a new three-year deal. The current deal with the MGM Grand Garden Arena expires this year.

T-Mobile Arena, Vegas’ newest sports venue, is set to open April 6.

The Pac-12 first made the move to host its conference tournament in Las Vegas back in 2012.

“Ultimately, we were convinced that the move to T-Mobile Arena would be an exciting and natural next step and progression for this event,” Scott said.

Scott and the Pac-12 partners are looking to expand not only seating, but also its fan experience via a brand new, state-of-the-art venue that hopes to provide a more integrated experience inside and out of the arena.

“Moving to this new 18,500-seat, state-of-the-art venue will allow more fans to have the opportunity to experience the Pac-12 basketball tournament, as well as take advantage of really state-of-the-art amenities and exciting opportunities for fans to participate in,” Scott said.

Scott was quick to point out the great year that the Pac-12 has experienced and even suggested 2015-2016 might have been its best yet. Specifically for men’s basketball, the Pac-12 has the possibility of sending up to six teams to the upcoming NCAA tournament, a feat Scott doesn’t take lightly.

“I believe we’re on the verge of the most successful basketball season that we’ve had,” Scott said. “I don’t think we’ve ever been as strong top to bottom as the conference is right now. The most we’ve ever had is six teams make the NCAA Tournament, and we very well may set a record and exceed that when selections are done on Sunday.”

The Pac-12 has been promoting and celebrating its 100th year of existence. With this move that took many months to settle on, the conference will be taking another calculated leap of faith.

Scott is confident this is another major move that will build on the successful fan experience that brought the first basketball game to the MGM Garden Arena four years ago.

“As you look at this year, it’s bursting at the seams,” President and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) Dan Beckman said. “All of the events are sold out, and it really is overwhelming what’s happening at the Grand Garden Arena. It’s not just the larger capacity that makes this a compelling move. The arena’s going to feature state-of-the-art technology, first-class amenities and hospitality opportunities that I think make T-Mobile Arena the ideal site to showcase the great tournament that this is for the Pac-12’s fans and corporate partners.”

Tomorrow afternoon, media members will take a tour of T-Mobile Arena.

Follow @HayDayKim for a first look at the next home of the Pac-12 tournament.