Pac-12 Basketball Preview

It’s time for the last of the “Power 7 Conferences”: The Pac-12. Much like the other conferences, it’s had some changes over the last few seasons (hence the name change). But the team at the top has remained fairly consistent… Arizona. And that won’t change this year. But they will receive competition from a number of teams. This conference has great depth and could easily have 6-7 tourney teams at season’s end. They seem to all have solid guard play, which translates well.

Projected Standings

1. Arizona Wildcats – Arizona was a very good team last year, but they will be better this year. They lost three true impact players, but they brought in three better guys. Aaron Gordon and Hollis-Jefferson will be two of the best freshmen in the country. TJ McConnell will be the true point guard they lacked a season ago. Throw in another year of growth for every other returning player (many of them were young last season), and you have a Final Four contender on your hands here.

2. UCLA Bruins – New Coach Steve Alford walked away from a solid program at New Mexico, but the situation in Year 1 at UCLA should be just fine. They return a ton of talent off last year’s team, and got rid of the distraction that was Shabazz Muhammed. If Jordan Adams can return from injury effectively, I think they’ll be much better than they were a season ago. Look for Kyle Anderson to have a big year.

3. Colorado Buffaloes – They’d be ranked even higher if Andre Roberson hadn’t had gone pro early. But I still placed them above Oregon because of who they do have returning. Spencer Dinwiddie is one of the most underrated players in the country, and Askia Booker, Josh Scott, and Xavier Johnson are pretty good too. Even scarier is that none of them are seniors yet either.

4. Oregon Ducks – I could actually see Oregon finish higher than this, but there are too many factors that are yet unknown. Artis and Dotson will make up a great backcourt for sure, but if Joseph Young is cleared by the NCAA to play this year, he could make it the best backcourt in the country. Mike Moser is eligible this season, but I’m unsure of the level he’ll play at. If he plays like old Moser, this team is legit.

5. Stanford Cardinal – This is another team I expect to make the NCAA’s this season, as they return nearly everyone from a 19-win team. Dwight Powell and Chasson Randle could be the best 1-2 punch in the conference. Two other starters return with them, plus they add the Allen brothers, who will contribute immediately.

6. Arizona State Sun Devils – For a team that lost Carrick Felix (to the NBA) and Evan Gordon (to Indiana), this is still a fairly dangerous team. Jahii Carson may end up win the conference POY title, and he is joined in the backcourt by Penn State transfer Jermaine Marshall. Big man Jordan Bachynski has a lot of size (7’2) and upside, so he could transform them.

7. California Golden Bears – California is another solid Pac-12 team that really could be ranked higher than this. Four starters remain from an NCAA tourney team (T2 in conference), including Justin Cobbs who is a flat-out stud. They did lose Allen Crabbe though, but Jabari Bird may replace him as a freshman.

8. Washington Huskies – Significant drop-off from the top seven teams, but Nigel Williams-Goss seems to be special. Maybe he’ll take the Huskies to that next tier partnering with CJ Wilcox.

9. USC Trojans – Will be even better next year when new recruits and transfers join the squad, but Andy Enfield will get them to compete hard now. Two starters remain and they add a highly coveted recruit in Roschon Prince. Dunk City!!!

10. Utah Utes – This squad doesn’t have great depth, but Jordan Loveridge, Delon Wright, and Connor Van Brocklin have nice upside.

11. Washington State Cougars – Only lost two guys in the offseason, but they were likely their two best all-around players, from a team that was six games under .500.

12. Oregon State Beavers – Have more talent on the roster that what this spot implies, but they are dealing with some injuries and suspensions that will hold them back.

Preseason Major Awards

Player of the Year – Jahii Carson (Arizona State)

Defensive Player of the Year – Jordan Bachynski (Arizona State)

Freshman of the Year – Aaron Gordon (Arizona)

Most Improved Player – Kyle Anderson (UCLA)

Coach of the Year – Tad Boyle (Colorado)

All Pac-12 Teams

First Team:

G Jahii Carson, Arizona State

G Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado

G/F Kyle Anderson, UCLA

F Aaron Gordon, Arizona

F Dwight Powell, Stanford

Second Team:

G Justin Cobbs, California

G Jordan Adams, UCLA

G/F Damyean Dotson, Oregon

G/F C.J. Wilcox, Washington

F Mike Moser, Oregon

Third Team:

G Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington

G Chasson Randle, Stanford

G Nick Johnson, Arizona

F Jordan Loveridge, Utah

F Josh Scott, Colorado

By: The Sports Guys