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2014-15 College Hoops Preview: Pac-12
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Published: 11/12/2014  at  12:00:00 PM
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The 2014-2015 college basketball season tips off Friday, Nov. 14, and StatFox has you covered by previewing all the major conferences with predicted standings. The Pac-12 is next in the run of conference previews, with Arizona once again looking like the team to beat in the conference.

Once the college basketball season begins, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks. The experts are coming off an unbelievable 2013-14 college basketball season where the five men combined for a 60% ATS record (332-225-19), including 62% ATS (56-35-3) in the NCAA Tournament. StatFox Brian led the way with a 69% ATS record (76-34-4) on this season, which included a 77% ATS run (44-13-4) from Jan. 17 to the end of the season. StatFox Dave was 74% ATS (14-5) in Best Bets for the 2014 NCAA Tournament to finish at 62% ATS for the season. StatFox Scott finished 59% ATS (65-46-5) for season Best Bets, while StatFox Gary was close behind with a 57% ATS mark (64-49-2) in college basketball Best Bets.

PAC-12 CONFERENCE 2014-2015 PREVIEW

Can any team in the conference beat Arizona, as the Wildcats look to make it past the Elite Eight this season?

Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Stanford
4. California
5. Utah
6. UCLA
7. Washington
8. Oregon
9. Washington State
10. Arizona State
11. USC
12. Oregon State

ARIZONA WILDCATS
2013-14SU Record: 87% (33-5)
2013-14 ATS Record: 57% (21-16)
2013-14 Over (Total): 33% (11-22-2)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 13/2

The Wildcats were defeated in the Elite Eight last season, falling to Wisconsin by one point. While they lost two players to the NBA (Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson), Arizona is once again a legitimate national title contender. The biggest reason for the optimism is freshman F Stanley Johnson. The 6-foot-7 lefty is as difficult of a matchup as there is in college basketball. He has the speed and athleticism to beat opponents off the bounce, but at 245 pounds he can take smaller players on the block. He has a chance to become the leading scorer on this team from day one. Arizona last season suffered a huge injury when SF Brandon Ashley (11.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG) was lost for the year. The team was undefeated when it lost to California, 60-58. Ashley was injured two minutes into that game, and took away one of Arizona’s best scoring threats in the half-court game. With PF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (9.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG) and C Kaleb Tarczewski (9.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 59% FG), the Wildcats have two guys that are going to make the Wildcats one of the best rebounding teams in the country. The leader of this offense will be senior PG T.J. McConnell (8.4 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.6 RPG), who needs to improve his foul shooting (62% FT). If Arizona can improve in its half-court offense, the school could be playing in Indianapolis at the end of the season.

COLORADO BUFFALOES
2013-14 SU Record: 66% (23-12)
2013-14 ATS Record: 53% (18-16)
2013-14 Over (Total): 45% (13-16-1)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 220/1

Tad Boyle has done a terrific job of taking the Buffaloes' program to another level in the Pac-12. The team lost Spence Dinwiddie to the NBA, but still brings back a lot of talent from a team that made the NCAA Tournament. C Josh Scott (14.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.1 BPG) is a highly-skilled post player who can score over both shoulders. He is not an elite athlete, but he knows how to play the game of basketball. Scott is also a solid passer from the block, kicking it out to teammates like PG Askia Booker (13.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG) and SG Xavier Johnson (12.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 36% threes). Booker is at his best when scoring off the bounce, while Johnson is better at finding the open spot on the perimeter. The Buffaloes are a deep and experienced team, but they will have to shoot better from behind the three-point arc (32% threes).

STANFORD CARDINAL
2013-14 SU Record: 64% (23-13)
2013-14 ATS Record: 59% (19-13-2)
2013-14 Over (Total): 46% (15-18)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 85/1

The Cardinal made a surprising run to the Sweet 16 last season, defeating one of the country's most talented teams in Kansas. Leading the way for Stanford will be SG Chasson Randle (18.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.1 APG), a talented guard who was terrific in the NCAA Tournament last year. He is an improving shooter, making him a difficult matchup for the opposition. His attacking style is complemented perfectly on the perimeter by swingman Anthony Brown (12.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 45% threes), who shoot the basketball at a high percentage from anywhere on the court (48% FG, 79% FT). At 6-foot-6, he can get a shot off whenever he wants on the perimeter, while doing a solid job of moving without the ball. C Stefan Nastic (7.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 58% FG) did not put up huge numbers as a reserve last season, but now as the starting center, he could double both his points and rebounds. Joining him in the frontcourt is PF Reid Travis, a McDonald’s All-American from Minnesota. He is a very physical player with a high motor, and should complement the skill set of Nastic nicely.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
2013-14 SU Record: 60% (21-14)
2013-14 ATS Record: 42% (14-19-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 43% (13-17-1)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 300/1

The story of the Pac-12 this offseason has been two coaches, and the Golden Bears have a new leader in Cuonzo Martin. The school lost some talent from last season (Justin Cobbs and Richard Solomon), but still has a backcourt that can compete with any in the conference. PG Tyrone Wallace (11.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.7 APG) and SG Jabari Bird (8.3 PPG, 80% FT) are two talented guards who can get to the basket extremely well. Both players need to improve their long-range shooting, with both knocking down only 32% threes last season. If these two can score from the perimeter, that will allow PF David Kravish (11.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 BPG) to get one-on-one opportunities on the low block.

UTAH UTES
2013-14 SU Record: 64% (21-12)
2013-14 ATS Record: 70% (19-8-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 40% (10-15-2)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 85/1

The Utes have a realistic chance of making the NCAA Tournament, in large part because of the play of PG Delon Wright (15.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.3 APG). At 6-foot-5, he has tremendous size for the point guard position. While he is not much of a threat from the outside (22% threes), he is an efficient scorer (56.1% FG). Not only is Wright the focal point on offense, he is an elite defender who will also guard the opponent’s best player. In the frontcourt, PF Jordan Loveridge (14.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 APG) is a talented player who followed up a nice freshman season with a solid sophomore campaign. These two provide the Utes with one of the better inside-outside duos in the conference. For Utah to make the Big Dance, SG Brandon Taylor (10.6 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.1 RPG) and swingman Dakarai Tucker (6.8 PPG, 39% threes) will have to score more to force defenses to pay attention to them.

UCLA BRUINS
2013-14 SU Record: 76% (28-9)
2013-14 ATS Record: 64% (23-13)
2013-14 Over (Total): 52% (16-15-1)
Returning Starters: 0
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 80/1

If you are talking about pure talent, the Bruins deserve to be higher on the list. However, this is as young of a team as there is in the conference, who will look to replace five key players that helped UCLA reach the Sweet 16 last season. The top incoming freshman is 6-foot-9 PF Kevin Looney, who is relentless on the glass. He should work well with C Tony Parker (6.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.6 BPG), who has to become a more imposing presence down low. He is skilled and agile for his size, but he has to be more aggressive in his junior campaign. SG Norman Powell (11.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 53% FG) leads a thin backcourt. Powell came off the bench last season, but will likely be the team's leading scorer, especially early as the freshmen class adjusts to college basketball. He must become a better shooter (29% from threes), as opposing defense are going to pack it in a bit and make the Bruins beat them from deep, but Powell played very well in the 2014 postseason with 14.0 PPG. He will be joined by PG Bryce Alford (8.0 PPG, 2.8 APG, 39% threes) who is the son of head coach Steve Alford, and has similarities to his father in his intelligence and long-range shooting.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES
2013-14 SU Record: 53% (17-15)
2013-14 ATS Record: 47% (14-16-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 50% (14-14)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 500/1

The Huskies have had some struggles the past couple seasons, but have some potential to surprise people in the Pac-12. PG Nigel Williams-Goss (13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.4 APG) is an ultra-talented floor leader that will have to become more of a scorer to help make up for the loss of C.J. Wilcox. At 6-foot-3, he has great size for the point, but will have to cut back on the turnovers. His partner in the backcourt is SG Andrew Andrews (12.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG), who is another combo guard who can go for 20 points on any given night. Both of these guys are very fast with the ball, and they put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. The Huskies ranked 189th in the nation in rebounding, but teams can’t crash the offensive glass because they have to get back to stop the fast break. For Washington to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth, PF Shawn Kemp Jr. (4.4 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 56% FG, 71% FT) must become more of a presence down low. If he is able to help the team rebound the ball, Washington could make a surprising run in the conference.

OREGON DUCKS
2013-14 SU Record: 71% (24-10)
2013-14 ATS Record: 59% (19-13-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 52% (16-15)
Returning Starters: 1
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 500/1

No team had a worse offseason than Oregon, as the Ducks found themselves in the news for the wrong reasons. They had five players graduate from last season’s team, with another four being kicked off because of a campus scandal. Luckily for head coach Dana Altman, there is one guy on the team that should have Oregon fans optimistic, SG Joseph Young (18.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 48% FG). Young is a very efficient offensive player, as he can score from anywhere on the court. For a guy who has the ball in his hands as much as Young does, to turn the ball over only one time per game is impressive. Two guys, SF Elgin Cook (6.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 58% FG) and F Jalil Abdul-Bassit (1.9 PPG, 39% threes) that the Ducks were expecting to contribute much more this season, may not be able to play after being involved in a shoplifting incident. Oregon will also ask a lot out of 6-foot-10 C Michael Chandler who transferred from little-known Northwest Florida State, but he had originally committed to Louisville before deciding to be a JUCO player.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
2013-14 SU Record: 32% (10-21)
2013-14 ATS Record: 39% (10-16-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 40% (10-15-1)
Returning Starters: 1
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 75/1 (Field)

The Cougars have a new coach in Ernie Kent, as the program is looking for anything to get things going back on the right track. If there is one positive, Washington State has one of the best players in the conference in SG DaVonte Lacy (19.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 39% threes). He is a complete scorer who can get to the rim, but can also catch fire from the outside as well. He was really the only scoring threat last season, and was able to put up those big numbers with defenses focusing on him. The other key WSU player is swingman Que Johnson (9.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 35% threes) who quietly had a solid season in the Pac-12 as a freshman. The weak spot on the team will be at the point, where Kent brought in three freshmen (Jackie Davis, Trevor Dunbar and Ny Redding) to compete with sophomore PG Ike Iroegbu (5.5 PPG, 1.5 APG in 18.1 MPG). Washington State also has to find some scoring from the frontcourt if it is going to be able to compete with the top teams in the conference. Forwards Dexter Kernich-Drew (6.3 PPG, 36% threes) and Junior Longrus (3.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG) need to make huge strides for the Cougars this season.

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
2013-14 SU Record: 64% (21-12)
2013-14 ATS Record: 50% (15-15-1)
2013-14 Over (Total): 41% (11-16-1)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 300/1

Like a lot of teams in the Pac-12, the Sun Devils are having to adjust to life without some top players from last season. Arizona State four of its best players, and will look to SF Shaquielle McKissic (9.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG) to become the leader of the team. He did a great job last season providing scoring and toughness as a role player, but will have to make the adjustment to being the main guy on the team. PF Jonathan Gilling (7.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG) is another role player that will be asked to become more of a leader on the team. For the Sun Devils to make a push to the upper half of the conference, they will have to get big contributions from JUCO swingman Roosevelt Scott, while freshman PG Tra Holder will likely man the point for this team.

USC TROJANS
2013-14 SU Record: 34% (11-21)
2013-14 ATS Record: 43% (13-17)
2013-14 Over (Total): 61% (14-9-2)
Returning Starters: 0
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 500/1

Andy Enfield is in year two at USC, and the Trojans still have a long ways to go before they are competing for the Pac-12 title. The team lost three seniors, while also losing Byron Wesley, who transferred to Gonzaga. The team will rely heavily on swingman Katin Reinhardt, who transferred from UNLV. He averaged 10.1 PPG and 2.5 APG in his final season with the Rebels in 2012-13, shooting 89% FT and 35% threes, but his overall field-goal percentage was a subpar 36%. USC will also rely heavily on its incoming freshman class, as PG Jordan McLaughlin and SG Elijah Stewart will be asked to score immediately. The team is also excited about freshman swingman Malik Marquetti, and thinks that 6-foot-10 C Nikola Jovanovic (8.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG) will have a nice sophomore campaign. Look for the Trojans to push the pace on offense.

OREGON STATE BEAVERS
2013-14 SU Record: 50% (16-16)
2013-14 ATS Record: 52% (15-14)
2013-14 Over (Total): 56% (15-12-1)
Returning Starters: 0
Odds to win 2015 NCAA Championship: 75/1 (Field)

The Beavers have a new coach, as Wayne Tinkle is now the leader of the team. He has a very difficult task ahead as the Beavers bring back zero starters from last season’s team. The returning scorer is SG Langston Morris-Walker (4.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 36% threes). He was more of a defensive stopper on last season’s team, but will now be needed to provide a good chunk of the offense. For Oregon State to improve from last year, the Beavers will look upon some junior college transfers in PG Gary Payton II and C Justin Stangel to give the team more playmakers on the offensive end.

All Conference Previews

ATLANTIC COAST Conference
BIG 12 Conference
BIG TEN Conference
PAC-12 Conference
SOUTHEASTERN Conference
OTHER Notable Schools


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