The Pac-12 expected to get six or possibly even a record-tying seven teams into last season’s NCAA Tournament.

The conference’s hopes were dashed when March Madness was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the pandemic-delayed 2020-21 season is set to start and the Pac-12 is again in position to have one of the toughest, deepest conferences in college basketball.

The conference has three teams in The Associated Press preseason poll, No. 18 Arizona State, No. 20 Oregon and No. 22 UCLA.