Arizona's blowout loss eliminates last Pac-12 team from tourney

Though 32 teams have yet to take the floor in this year's NCAA tournament, the dream is already over for the Pac-12 conference.

After a disappointing regular season, the conference sent just three teams to the Big Dance, and most figured it was up to No. 4 Arizona to save the Pac-12's name with a deep run.

That proved to be true even before play started Thursday, as both Arizona State and UCLA lost their play-in games, leaving the Wildcats as the conference's lone representative.

Arizona would have been better off just heading home with its conference counterparts, as the Wildcats were run off the floor in an embarrassing 21-point loss to Buffalo.

Not only is the Pac-12's performance awful in comparison to other major conferences this year, it's historically bad.

Many tabbed Arizona as a trendy pick thanks to a hot finish to the season and the Wildcats' Pac-12 tournament crown. Led by perhaps the most dominant player in the country - star forward Deandre Ayton - and a veteran backcourt, it looked like the Wildcats had the recipe for success in March.

Instead, they've already headed back to Tucson for a lengthy offseason that will likely focus on Sean Miller's job status following a tumultuous year on and off the court.