Is McConnell Arizona's Sinatra? Pac-12 tournament preview

Hottest show in town has drama, comedy — and a disappearing act 

The thing that makes Las Vegas special is that it is completely unique.

This is a one-off town, a gem in the desert, known as much for its glitz and glamour as its dirt and grime, full steak dinners ranging anywhere from $1.99 to $999.99.

It is the perfect host for the Pac-12 tournament, and by now, the conference is getting used to it. The waiters know Larry Scott’s favorite dish.

As the Pac-12 descends upon its own version of madness, we’ll take a look at what makes the conference — and Las Vegas itself — so special: 

Gary Payton II is the Las Vegas Strip 

Of course, the son of the best pickpocket since the Artful Dodger would swipe his way to a league-leading 3.06 steals per game in Pac-12 play for Oregon State. The Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year has glue on his hands and a watchful eye; no one is safe. 

The Washington State offense is the pass line 

You might not expect this — check that, nobody would expect this — but Ernie Kent’s Cougars lead the Pac-12 in assists during conference play at 14.39 per game. That’s just … how do you account for that? The Cougars rank fifth in scoring and seventh in field-goal percentage, so it’s not like this offense is unstoppable. Plus, no Wazzu player ranks in the top 10 in assists. You have to hand it to Kent: That’s impressive. 

Stanley Johnson is a 'heater' 

They only last for minutes — maybe an hour at the craps table if you’re lucky — but there is nothing better than a hot streak in Vegas. It’s like a shooting star. So is the UA freshman; Johnson is soon off to the riches of the NBA, but not before he leaves a trail of gold dust. 

Chasson Randle is Carrot Top 

No one gets beat up like Carrot Top. Maybe only Randle, who leads the Pac-12 in free throws attempted during conference play with 121. Like the redheaded comedian, Randle delivers. The Stanford guard ranks second in Pac-12 free-throw shooting at 87.6 percent. He’s also pretty darn buff, like Carrot Top. I mean, have you seen him? Carrot Top is jacked. 

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as Liberace 

Of course. The best show in town. 

Bryce Alford is a $2.99 buffet 

So much quantity, so little quality for UCLA. Lots of mashed potatoes. 

USC is a Vegas bachelor party 

Only in Vegas for 48 miserable hours before they go home, bleary-eyed and woozy. 

Askia Booker is a casino floor ATM 

Automatic. Only sometimes, on some nights, you wish you never went to him in the first place. The Colorado star is averaging nearly 20 points in conference play, but also had 10 games this season in which he shot worse than 33 percent from the field. 

Nigel Williams-Goss is David Copperfield 

An illusionist, plain and simple. The Washington guard leads the league in assists at 5.86 per game and ranks sixth in scoring at 16.3 points. He also leads in minutes played, something the longtime Vegas veteran would know a thing or two about. 

Bill Walton is music in the club 

So loud, so, so loud. Bum, BUM, bum, BUM, bum, BUM. Endless noise. You just want it to stop. The screeching. Please make it stop. 

Joe Young in Bugsy Siegel 

The Pac-12’s Player of the Year is a sharpshooter, deadly from anywhere on the court, ruthless and dangerous. The Oregon senior averaged just shy of 20 points per game in conference play, tops in the league. Good luck stopping him in the tournament. 

Steve Alford is Andrew Dice Clay 

Huge in the ’80s, had a brief resurrection in Vegas and constantly looks stressed. 

Jakob Poeltl is the stratosphere 

This dude towers above the rest. Seven feet worth of pure Vienna beef, still raw and uncooked. The Pac-12 tourney very well may be the Utah player’s coming-out party to a national audience, not unlike Wisconsin center Frank Kaminisky’s goofy run to glory last year. Poeltl leads in shooting percentage during conference play by the margin of his wingspan, and is among the conference’s best in rebounding and blocked shots. 

UCLA is Don Rickles 

Longing for the 1960s, when everything was still fun. 

Sean Miller is Steve Wynn 

A long-term and short-term visionary, capable of building truly impressive rosters. The UA coach collects star recruits like Wynn collects expensive paintings. 

Bo Barnes is Sheldon Adelson 

Adelson is Wynn’s biggest rival, and Barnes is a thorn in Miller’s side. The Arizona State senior had a season-high 18 points in the Sun Devils surprising 81-78 win over the Cats on Feb. 7. 

Norman Powell is the Bellagio water show 

The star attraction. Powell has three conference player of the week honors this season, no small feat, and the UCLA guard is averaging 17.2 points per game in league play. One of the league’s best dunkers, he bursts to the rim like he’s one of those shooting streams. 

Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Mathews are Penn & Teller 

The league’s most intriguing duo has been sharing the wealth this season, with both averaging over 15 points per game in Pac-12 play this season. Problem is, the Cal twosome has a disappearing act, too. One of them can simply vanish at any time. 

Lorenzo Romar is the Jubilee at Bally's 

The longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12, meet the longest running show on the Vegas strip. The topless revue has been going nonstop since 1981; Romar has been coaching Washington since 2002, and in interviews, he’s just as revealing. 

The USC offense is the New York, New York roller coaster 

Up and down, up and down, and often nauseating. The Trojans hoisted 1,063 shot attempts during Pac-12 play, most in the conference, while only shooting 41.3 percent as a team. Andy Enfield’s “Dunk City” offense isn’t exactly translating. 

Shawn Kemp Jr. is "The Hangover Part II" 

Not as good as the original, but still watchable. The son of former NBA star Shawn Kemp averages almost 10 points per game this season and ranks among league leaders in offensive rebounding and field-goal percentage. 

The Utah defense is blackjack dealers, in general 

Unyielding and unfunny, rude and contemptuous, sneering and downright stingy. The Utes are allowing a league-best 56.4 points per game in conference play, and allowing opponents to shoot just 39.0 percent from the field. Oregon State may have gotten the early pub this the year for its defense, but the Pac-12’s most productive unit resides in Salt Lake City. 

T.J. McConnell is Sinatra 

The King of Vegas. The UA senior point guard toyed with Pac-12 foes this season, turning a poor nonconference start into a brilliant second act. Does he have a third act? No opponent wants to see that. He’s liable to pull Lady Gaga out of a hat to sing “Fly Me to the Moon.”