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PAC TWELVE
The days when the Pac-12 was struggling just to put its regular season champion into the NCAA Tournament feel like ancient history. The conference has righted itself and is clearly still on the upswing. Last season, four schools represented the conference in the Big Dance and all four of them won at least one game. Arizona led the way as a 2 seed advancing to the Elite Eight, while 5th-seeded Utah and 11th-seeded UCLA both made appearances in the Sweet 16. Oregon got in as an 8 seed and won a game before falling to top seed Wisconsin. And to add to the conference’s postseason resume, Stanford cut down the nets as champions of the NIT. Arizona State (NIT) and Colorado (CBI) rounded out the league’s postseason roster.
This year, the Pac-12 looks even stronger as all four of last year’s Tournament teams appear poised to make return trips, though none of them are the current pick to win the conference. That honor goes to California. The Golden Bears, in Cuonzo Martin’s second season at the helm, have added a stellar group of newcomers to a stacked returning lineup and may prove to not only be the team to beat in the Pac-12, but could be playing games at least into the second weekend of the Tournament. Another coach in his second year at the helm, Oregon State’s Wayne Tinkle, also has his team looking like they have a chance to dance (for the first time in 25 years!), as does first year head coach Bobby Hurley at Arizona State. Although seven bids may be a stretch, an increase from last year’s four seems to be almost a given.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. California – The Golden Bears are loaded. Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird and Jordan Mathews form the nucleus of a deadly backcourt, while freshmen standouts Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb will have a chance to dominate down low. Once the veterans and newcomers gel, the conference and maybe the entire nation better watch out.
2. Arizona – Losing four double-digit scorers would have most teams in rebuild mode, but not here. The Wildcats have simply reloaded with another strong group of freshmen recruits, plus Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson and JC transfer Kadeem Allen. If Cal is not the best in the conference, Arizona will be.
3. Utah – The Utes have one of the nation’s strongest frontcourts led by Jakob Poeltl, who himself is among the best bigs in the country. If the team can find a way to make up for the loss of guard Delon Wright, they will be in contention for the league crown again.
4. Oregon – The Ducks should be dancing again with top prospect Tyler Dorsey and Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis in place to make up for the loss of Joseph Young (or at least ease the pain of losing a guy that scored over 20 points per game). Down low, Elgin Cook and Dillon Brooks are both returning double-digit scorers who should improve off of last year’s numbers.
5. UCLA – Bryce Alford is joined in the backcourt by a pair of notable recruits, Aaron Holiday and Prince Ali. If Tony Parker can finally put things together in his senior season, the Bruins will not need to sweat things out on Selection Sunday again.
6. Arizona State – Bobby Hurley takes over in Tempe and has some solid pieces to work with including guards Gerry Blakes and Kodi Justice plus forwards Savon Goodman and Eric Jacobsen. Of course, the most important thing the Sun Devils have going for them is the best X-Factor in all of college basketball — the Curtain of Distraction (google it if you don’ know what it is — it will be worth the effort).
7. Oregon State – Other than Northwestern (a team that has never been to the NCAA Tournament), the Oregon State Beavers have the longest current Tournament drought among all Power Five conference teams, last having made the field in 1990, well before any of their current players were even born. Although they are a longshot to make the field this year, the mere fact that we are discussing them as a team with a shot at all shows how far the program has come in just its second year under Wayne Tinkle. Gary Payton II and Malcolm Duvivier lead a solid backcourt and are joined by a strong recruiting class that includes Stephen Thompson, Jr., Tres Tinkle (Wayne’s son), and Drew Eubanks.
8. USC – The good news for the Trojans is that everyone returns from last season. The bad news is that this same group of players lost 20 games last year. Head coach Andy Enfield has still not proven that he can coach at this level, and if he does not turn things around this year, he may need to start sending out his resume.
9. Colorado – Askia Booker is gone and Xavier Johnson is out with an offseason Achilles’ tendon tear (though he could return later in the year). The Buffaloes were a sub-.500 team last season that only played in the postseason by buying an entry into the CBI. That opportunity probably will not even be available this year. The only good signs are that Josh Scott appears to be healthy heading into the season and that the addition of Providence transfer Josh Fortune should help in the backcourt.
10. Washington – Everyone of note other than Andrew Andrews is gone from last year’s squad. However, head coach Lorenzo Romar brought in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes led by guard Dejounte Murray. This team should get better as the newcomers gain experience.
11. Stanford – The Cardinal won the NIT last season, led by the trio of Chasson Randle, Anthony Brown and Stefan Nastic. All three players are gone now and this season will be a rebuilding year for head coach Johnny Dawkins
12. Washington State – Josh Hawkinson averaged a double-double last season and will be worth watching. However, with top scorer DaVonte Lacy gone from a team that had a losing record, not much is expected here.