Other Conference Previews

PAC-12 CONFERENCE 2012-13 PREVIEW

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

ARIZONA WILDCATS
2010-11 SU Record: 66% (23-12)
2010-11 ATS Record: 53% (18-16)
2010-11 Over (Total): 42% (14-19-1)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 25/1

Two of the team’s three leading scorers from last season are gone for head coach Sean Miller, but with the new faces coming in, that’s a good thing. Arizona brings in arguably the nation’s top recruiting class, and certainly the best in the conference, led by 7-foot center Kaleb Tarczewski who should be a force in the paint from day one. Fellow top-10 recruit Grant Jerrett stands at 6-foot-10, forming what should be the most dangerous post tandem in the Pac-12 by the end of the season. Six-foot-8 Brandon Ashley is also a top-20 recruit and McDonald's All-American with a well-rounded offensive repertoire. The freshmen crew is rounded out by shooting guard Gabe York. Forward Solomon Hill (12.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG) is back from last year’s squad to give this team a senior veteran presence.

UCLA BRUINS
2010-11 SU Record: 58% (19-14)
2010-11 ATS Record: 55% (18-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 53% (17-15)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 12/1

The Bruins and the Wildcats will duke it out with teams of elite freshmen, with Ben Howland’s squad prepared to start up to four first-year players, though it has been an arduous process to get there with a number of them fighting NCAA violations. The most heralded of those top recruits is SF Shabazz Muhammad, who is a threat to score from anywhere on the court at any given moment. He’ll be joined on the wing by Kyle Anderson, who in tandem with Muhammad will be quite difficult to defend as they both stand 6-foot-6 with dynamic inside-outside games. Thick center Tony Parker will be able to clear space for them in the middle standing at 6-foot-9 and 270 lbs while small forward Jordan Adams rounds out the crew of freshmen. Throw in returning twin forwards Travis Wear (11.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG) and David Wear (10.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG) plus the mountainous 305-pound Joshua Smith (9.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG) and this team is big, deep, talented and dangerous.

STANFORD CARDINAL
2010-11 SU Record: 70% (26-11)
2010-11 ATS Record: 56% (19-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 52% (17-16-1)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1

Johnny Dawkins finally broke through with the Cardinal, boosting the team’s wins by 11 and winning the NIT. Five of Stanford’s top six scorers are back from that team, with only Josh Owens, who was third on points and first in rebounds, now gone. But Chasson Randle (13.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG) is back in the fold as a nasty shooter from deep (2.3 threes per game, 44% 3-pt FG). The offense is facilitated by fellow sharp-shooter Aaron Bright (11.7 PPG, 1.9 threes per game, 44% 3-pt FG). With forward Josh Huestis (5.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG) prepared to take a step up in his senior season, this team could very well be making some noise in the NCAA Tournament, not the NIT, this year.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
2010-11 SU Record: 71% (24-10)
2010-11 ATS Record: 56% (18-14)
2010-11 Over (Total): 45% (14-17)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1

The Bears figure to be in good shape this year with Justin Cobbs (12.6 PPG, 5.0 APG) back for his junior year and second season with the team. He has great vision with his passes and can shoot when given the opportunity, making 41.3% of his shots from beyond the arc last year. He’s joined back on the team by last year’s leading scorer Allen Crabbe (15.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG), who at 6-foot-6 is a physical guard who can knock down treys with 2.4 per game last year. Last year’s leading rebounder Richard Solomon (6.2 RPG in 18.2 MPG) is also back after a foot injury shortened his season. Fellow forward David Kravish (6.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG) should take a step forward in his sophomore campaign.

COLORADO BUFFALOES
2010-11 SU Record: 67% (24-12)
2010-11 ATS Record: 53% (17-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 38% (12-20)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 200/1

Two of Colorado’s four double-digit scorers are back this year and that includes Andre Roberson (11.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG), who should be in the mix of all-conference honors this season after averaging a double-double as a sophomore. He is also a menace on the defensive end with more than one block and one steal per game, while he sports a jump shot that he can hit from anywhere on the floor. Six-foot-5 sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (10.0 PPG, 44% 3-pt FG) should also be prepared to take a step up with a bigger role this season. Joining those two key core players are two top recruits in 6-foot-10 state-bred center Josh Scott and 6-foot-6 swingman Xavier Johnson, who should join Roberson and Dinwiddie in creating matchup difficulties for opponents.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES
2010-11 SU Record: 69% (24-11)
2010-11 ATS Record: 52% (17-16)
2010-11 Over (Total): 49% (16-17)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1

The Huskies will be missing major production from the departed Tony Wroten and Terrence Ross, who combined for more than 32 PPG last year. But with C.J. Wilcox (14.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG) back in the fold, this team will have at least one offensive threat while 7-foot defensive monster Aziz N’Diaye (7.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG) will continue to shore up the paint. If Abdul Gaddy (8.1 PPG, 5.2 APG) can take the next step in his senior season running the point, this team will surprise some folks.

USC TROJANS
2010-11 SU Record: 19% (6-26)
2010-11 ATS Record: 29% (9-22)
2010-11 Over (Total): 43% (13-17)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1

If this team stays healthy, there is no doubt that it should improve on last year’s embarrassing 6-26 finish that included a dreadful 1-17 record in the Pac-12. Leading scorer Maurice Jones transferred to Iowa State, but Aaron Fuller (10.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG) should take a big step up after missing half of last year with a shoulder injury. Seven-footer Dewayne Dedmon (7.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG) will also be back after tearing his ACL. Shooting guard Byron Wesley (9.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG) should benefit from more surrounding talent after being forced to play a grueling 34.6 MPG in his freshman campaign. Although no impact freshmen are coming in, four important transfers could be key elements: Renaldo Woolridge (Tennessee), Eric Wise (UC Irvine), J.T. Terrell (Wake Forest/JUCO) and Ari Stewart (Wake Forest).

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
2010-11 SU Record: 51% (19-18)
2010-11 ATS Record: 56% (19-15-1)
2010-11 Over (Total): 46% (16-19)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1 (Field)

The potential for this team making any sort of noise rests in the hands of Brock Motum, a workhorse forward at 6-foot-10 who led the team with 18.0 PPG and 6.4 RPG last year. He’ll be able to win some games on his own as he competes for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors, but he'll need help from an underrated backcourt of Reggie Moore (10.2 PPG, 5.2 APG) and DaVonte Lacy (8.5 PPG).

OREGON DUCKS
2010-11 SU Record: 71% (24-10)
2010-11 ATS Record: 61% (19-12)
2010-11 Over (Total): 55% (17-14)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 200/1

Two of the Ducks’ three double-digit scorers and three of their top-four overall are gone, but the one returning guy is E.J. Singler (13.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG) who is ready for the spotlight. The 6-foot-6 swingman can penetrate and shoot while guarding any position from the two to the four. The key to the success of the offense though, might be point guard Johnathan Loyd who averaged 2.9 APG in just 17.3 MPG last season. He’ll have help in the backcourt from freshman Dominic Artis. For depth, the Ducks will rely on Devon Branch, Waverly Austin and Coleton Baker, all junior college transfers who head coach Dana Altman hopes can contribute on a higher level.

OREGON STATE BEAVERS
2010-11 SU Record: 58% (21-15)
2010-11 ATS Record: 52% (16-15-1)
2010-11 Over (Total): 59% (19-13)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 200/1

The Beavers bring back four starters from a squad that won 10 more games than the previous season. Gone though is the team’s leading scorer Jared Cunningham. Every other key contributor is back, however, including Devon Collier (13.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG) who is a physical body in the post at 6-foot-8. Point guard Ahmad Starks is tiny at 5-foot-9, but he can shoot the rock (2.3 threes per game) and only turned the ball over 1.4 times per game last season. And the team’s leading rebounder last year, 6-foot-10 Eric Moreland (5.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG), should be ready for an increased role this year after playing just 20.5 MPG last year. He’ll be helped in the paint by the roundest player in the conference, Joe Burton (8.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG), who at 6-foot-7 weighs nearly 300 pounds.

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
2010-11 SU Record: 32% (10-21)
2010-11 ATS Record: 29% (9-22)
2010-11 Over (Total): 40% (12-18)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1 (Field)

Herb Sendek’s Sun Devils are 22-40 in his past two seasons, and the hopes for this year’s team rests in the hands of first-year point guard Jahii Carson, one of the top point guards in the class of 2011 (he redshirted last year) who can do everything on the offensive end of the floor. If he can pair with 7-foot-2 junior Jordan Bachynski, who scored 6.0 PPG and grabbed 4.0 RPG last season in just 17.4 MPG, to find a groove offensively, this team will finally have a hope for reversing its fortunes.

UTAH UTES
2010-11 SU Record: 19% (6-25)
2010-11 ATS Record: 50% (15-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 47% (14-16)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1 (Field)

The good news for the Utes is there is nowhere to go but up after a 6-25 campaign last year. Jason Washburn (11.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG) is back for his senior season and is a force to be reckoned with in the post at 6-foot-10. Swingman Cedric Martin (7.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG) is also back, while 7-foot-3 monster Kevin Foster is fully recovered from his foot injury. Of the 11 players that were not on the roster last year, freshman SF Jordan Loveridge expects to make the biggest impact, but head coach Larry Krystkowiak is also excited about transfers Aaron Dotson (LSU) and Glen Dean (Eastern Washington), as this team tries to eke out a double-digit win total.