The Buzz on Pac 10 Basketball Tournament
The Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament started off last March 7, in Los Angeles for the sixth consecutive year, but some conference coaches are wondering if it's time for a change of scenery in order to maintain the event's vibrancy.
"I think it needs to be moved around so that there's enthusiasm everywhere that it goes," Arizona coach Lute Olson said. "And probably the best indication was last year; I don't think the enthusiasm in Los Angeles was very good, frankly."
The tournament's return in 2002 after an 11-year hiatus hinged on eight of 10 schools approving its return. Originally, just seven programs approved, with Arizona, Stanford and UCLA voting no. But the Bruins agreed to change their vote if the tournament would be held in Los Angeles.
It can't be ignored that UCLA lost in the first round in 2004 and it won the championship in 2006.
Oregon coach Ernie Kent said that playing in Los Angeles gives UCLA and USC a home court advantage, and that plenty of markets exist with the necessary hotels, media coverage and transportation requirements to pull it off.
