UCLA Will Take On Arizona In The Pac-12 Championship Game

Mar 14, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Kyle Anderson (5) celebrates with guard Norman Powell (4) against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Cardinal 84-59. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It is time. The Pac-12 championship game is here. It is #1 versus #2. The UCLA Bruins take on the Arizona Wildcats in the final battle of the Pac-12 tournament with an automatic bid to the Big Dance on the line. Both teams, respectively, have their own bright spots on their NCAA resume and are locks for invites to the greatest tournament ever constructed, that is given. What this game signifies is who is the greatest Pac-12 team, NOW. Records: #2 UCLA Bruins 24-8, 12-6; #1 Arizona Wildcats 30-2, 15-5 TV: Fox Sports 1 Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada Tip-Off: 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET Ticket Information: http://pac-12.com/2014-pac-12-mens-basketball-tournament/tickets Previous Result: January 9th, Pauley Pavilion, Arizona 79-UCLA 75 Projected Starting Line-Ups: UCLA: Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams, Norman Powell, David Wear, Travis Wear Arizona: Nick Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Kaleb Tarczewski, TJ McConnell, Rondae Hollins-Jefferson Stat Leaders: UCLA Points: Jordan Adams, 17.5 Rebounds: Kyle Anderson, 8.7 Assists: Kyle Anderson, 6.6 Blocks: Kyle Anderson, 0.7 Steals: Jordan Adams, 2.8 Arizona Points: Nick Johnson, 16.1 Rebounds: Aaron Gordon, 7.8 Assists: TJ McConnell, 5.5 Blocks: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, 1.0 Steals: TJ McConnell, 1.8 Team Stats: UCLA Points Per Game: 82.0 Rebounds Per Game: 35.6 Assists Per Game: 17.3 Field Goal %: .486 Arizona Points Per Game: 73.4 Rebounds Per Game: 38.9 Assists Per Game: 15.0 Field Goal %: .469 Preview: This game means everything. For UCLA, it is a chance to prove that they are on their way back to Pac-12 dominance. For Arizona, it is a chance to prove that they are Top Cats in the conference. For one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball, this could not have come at a better time to show if there stability among the top program in the conference, or is an old regime on the rise again? The battle between the UCLA and Arizona is set. It is pretty fitting seeing as the new Pac-12 Conference schedule only had these two schools playing once this season. That game at Pauley Pavilion was intense until the very end, which makes this championship contest one of the biggest in recent Pac-12 history between the two storied programs. You know the players and you know the coaches. Arizona has Sean Miller who has shown Tucson what it is to be elite again. UCLA has a young upstart in Steve Alford who was seemingly hired out of nowhere and has whipped up an effective formula for success. Arizona has an electric squad lead by Pac-12 Player of the Year, Nick Johnson, and freshman phenom Aaron Gordon. The Bruins are lead by one of the best point guards in the nation, Kyle Anderson, and the team’s leaden scorer, Jordan Adams. If you have plans for tomorrow afternoon, cancel them. This will be a battle for the ages. Arizona has one of the best defenses in the conference, allowing only 58.7 points per game. UCLA has one of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-12, averaging 82.0 points per game. Something has got to give here, but which side it is, is hard to tell. This could be fate or random chance, but at the end of the day, we will all know who the best team in the west is. It will be a battle. Prediction: UCLA 66-Arizona 71 Mike W.R. Twitter: @TheBigDisco