College Basketball is finally here. There most likely will be a significant drop-off in the quality of the Pac-10 this year. Several coaching changes, along with players bolting for the NBA, have left this conference in a cloud of fog.
It's hard to predict where teams will end up after UCLA, and even UCLA being all-powerful is in question after losing against Michigan last week.
1. UCLA Bruins
Is there any doubt that UCLA will end up at the top of the Pac-10 this season? None at all. Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, and Alfred Aboya, along with star freshman Jrue Holiday, make this team a Final Four contender. UCLA will not only dominate the conference but also could consistently be a top five team in the nation throughout this season.
There is some concern that they don't have enough depth. Besides the big three mentioned above, James Keefe and Michael Rolle are the only other players with decent experience from last year. Everyone else on this UCLA team at this point is unproven. They may have trouble in their frontcourt, especially with no established post presence or rebounder.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils
James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph are the second best 1-2 punch in this conference. If one of them goes down, the stock of this team will dip. Ty Abbott and Derek Glasser will need to step up for this team to stay close to UCLA.
3. Arizona Wildcats
This team definitely has the potential to be No. 2. However, losing Lute Olson will hurt this team more than a lot of people think. They already have one loss that came at the hands of an intentional foul that sent the other team to the line to win the game.
If Russ Pennell can get these guys playing smart team basketball, then they'll be a threat in the conference. Their lineup potential is similar to ASU's because of the 1-2 punch of Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill.
4. Washington Huskies
Despite being in the CBI last year, the Dawgs are new and improved...hopefully. After three games, I'm not so sure. There is something I am sure about. This team will be competitors once conference play starts. Jon Brockman will be a handful for teams to handle this year.
If some shooters help, including Dentmon and Thomas from the perimeter, then double-teaming Brockman won't do much. The Kansas game will tell whether this team belongs on the bottom half of the conference or not.
5. USC Trojans
Without the O.J., they'll have to rely on the Taj. Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett provide two experienced players. This team has the talent to compete with ASU, but like last year, as March gets closer this team will start to fade.
Freshmen forward DeMar DeRozan is scary good. He's a likely one and done, but one and dones have fared well for the USC Trojans, seeing that last year they made the tournament.
6. Washington State Cougars
Gross. I hate you Aron Baynes. Taylor Rochestie can't even make a layup.
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about 1 month ago
The Bruins I can agree with you on that. They have a very experienced team with Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, and Jrue Holiday (a freshman), the Bruins will be hard to beat.
The problem that may arise for the Bruins is if there's any injury to Collison or Shipp then their chances of winning the Pac-10 go up in smoke because the Bruins aren't really a deep team. They have two solid players of the bench in James Keefe and Michael Rolle and that's about it.
The second best team in the conference is not Arizona State even though they have the solid one-two punch. The second best Pac-10 team is Washington State. The reason being is that Tony Bennett has the Cougars playing tough defense and they do not give up a lot of points. The scoring is spread out with their players, but they get it done.
Arizona State is the third best team in the conference with James Harden and Jeff Pendergrass. The Sun Devils will need to find someone to step up and become a third scorer behind the two because just like UCLA if either Harden or Pendergrass go down they are in trouble.
The fourth best team in the conference is Oregon. Oregon is a fast paced team that loves to get up and down the court as well as shoot 3's. If Tajuan Porter catches fire the Ducks will be a hard team to stop. They also have a deep bench with solid post players.
At number 5 in the conference Stanford. They have a solid one two punch in Anthony Goods and Lawrence Hill who so far this season have combined for 40 points per game. They will however miss the twins down in the block.
The number six team is the USC Trojans. They have two experienced players and one freshman who has a similar game to a previous freshman that lead the Trojans to the NCAA tournament last year. Demar DeRozan is the freshman that is being compared with Mayo, so far he hasn't shown those abilities. The problem may arise is that he's trying too much and if he continues his season the way it's going he'll be back for another year at USC.
The 7th team is Cal. California at number 9 in the conference? Please, you have got to be kidding me they may not have the go to scorer anymore in the post or anyone that's over 6'8" but they will be the surprise of the Pac-10 they are already 4-0.
Keeping in mind the Bears struggled defensively without Theo Robertson last year. They have him back healthy this year. The Bears also have one of the most underrated point guards in the Pac-10 in Jerome Randle who is about as quick as anyone in college basketball. Patrick Christopher could be the player the Bears have to take over the scoring load now that Ryan Anderson has gone pro.
Jamal Boykin could be a darkhorse for the Bears because he's 6'8" and can defend. If he can develp a solid jumper the Bears will be that much tougher.
At number 8 Arizona. The Wildcats are in trouble even if they have a solid player in Chase Budinger and Nic Wise. The rest of the team is inexperience seeing how they lost with an inexplicable intentional foul at the end of a game. The Wildcats beyond Budinger, Wise, and Jordan Hill are made up of only freshman. The team is going to find that this year will be tough.
The number 9 team in the Pac-10 is Washington, although they did give Florida a surprise which is rather schocking. I will say they have played some tough competition in playing Kansas and Florida, but the Huskies have also lost to the University of Portland. That doesn't bode well for your program.
The Huskies have only one really solid player and that's Jon Brockman. If Brockman gets into any foul difficulty or is injured for any specific amount of time the Huskies are in trouble.
Finally at number 10 You are correct Oregon State is going to have a hard time this year they are currently 0-3 with losses to Howard, Nevada, and Yale. They could possibly be one of the worst teams in the country. They do have some talented players though in Seth and Josh Tarver, but that's about it.
Craig Robinson will be a good coach for the Beavers but unfortunately for him it will not be shown in the amount of wins the Beavers have this year. Robinson has to change the attitudes of the players in Corvallis which has become a culture of losing the past few years.
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