TUCSON, Ariz. -- The standing ovation started with six minutes, 17 seconds left in what was Arizona's biggest blowout of the season.
The cause for the applause? Senior T.J. McConnell and junior Brandon Ashley left the floor for what was a great night of career-high-tying work. McConnell was as precise as a surgeon with 11 assists, Ashley as sharp with his shots and 21 points.
The only question Thursday night was whether Arizona would hit 100 and cut down the nets after winning the Pac-12 Conference title outright.
No. 5 Arizona didn't cut down the nets (it will wait until Saturday) and it didn't hit the century mark, defeating California 99-60 in front of a sellout crowd that came to McKale Center to see its champion get ready for the Pac-12 tournament next week.
It marks the first time in 21 seasons Arizona claimed the title in back-to-back seasons. The last time it did, Arizona made a run to 1994 Final Four.
"The University of Arizona has had a ton of great players, great teams and everything," Ashley said, "so to be one of first teams to go back-to-back in quite some time - that's big for us."
It moved Arizona to 27-3 overall and 15-2 in the Pac-12, giving the school its 14th conference title.
"Arizona is a great team, a great historic team," said Cal senior David Kravish. "You expect them to be really good every year and they are. They have been good for a couple of years now. That's just what you expect from them."
Since losing to Arizona State last month, Arizona, winner of seven straight games, has found new life, playing some of its best basketball of the season. McConnell said the loss "woke us up and we kind of put it in another gear."
The speed would be fast, furious, aggressive and career-high teasing.
McConnell, playing in his second-to-last game in McKale Center, had eight points, four rebounds and the 11 assists. He did not commit a turnover. Chants of "MVP" echoed down with about 12 minutes left. Arizona's student section paid respect to the player who it thinks is the Pac-12's player of the year.
McConnell said the chant gave him "chills and it just fired me up."
"That puts you in an amazing category," Arizona coach Sean Miller said of his senior leader's stat line. "He fed all of his teammates. So many baskets that were scored were a direct reflection of his great playmaking."
Of course it wasn't all McConnell, although it looked like it at times. Arizona had 23 assists and all but one player scored. Kaleb Tarczewski had 14 points and eight rebounds and was physical. Ashley added six rebounds to his 21 points. He looked as aggressive as he's been all season and as fluid and free since he suffered a season-ending foot injury last year.
"The guys were really active and that was great to see," Miller said.
Six Arizona players scored in double figures with Stanley Johnson getting 12 points, Gabe York and Dusan Ristic each scoring 11 and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson adding 10.
But it was McConnell and Ashley who stole the show. When they came off the court, the crowd stood up and roared.
"He can bring energy to a team that already has pretty good energy," Miller said of Ashley. "He is at his best when he's very aggressive. Tonight he was very aggressive. Brandon missed a lot (of time) last season, so that development ... he's finding it out this year. We encourage him to be aggressive. He's at his best when he plays like that, for sure."
Ashley said he wasn't sure how to answer the question of how good he is when he's aggressive.
"I think I'm a pretty good player," he said, smiling. "T.J. was finding me in great position to make shots and be aggressive."
Cal never had a chance from the 15-minute mark in the first half as Arizona went from being tied at 12 to leading 30-16 on an Ashley free throw. From there the biggest question was: would Arizona hand Cal its worse loss of the season? And, it did, surpassing the 35-point win over Arizona State in late January.
Arizona now has wins by 24, 27, 30, 10, 28, six and 39 points since its last loss. Have they been statement games? Was Thursday?
"This weekend is a statement weekend," Miller said. "It's our final weekend of the season (and) you want to finish what you started in a good way - by a win and a great performance. You want your players who are leaving to leave with that final great game. That's what we are after."
Hollis-Jefferson left late in the game with what appeared to be a right shoulder injury, leaving the bench area to get checked. He returned to the bench with his right shoulder wrapped. Miller said the sophomore forward is "fine."
"I think he got a little bit scared but I think he's going to be fine," Miller said.
Miller added Elliott Pitts, who played six minutes, got ill but should get better in the next couple of days.
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