Pac-12 Basketball Preview: Arizona the Team to Beat

Cal and USC kick off Pac-12 play on Wednesdy with the opposite 10 groups getting underway on Thursday.

The nonconference video games did not inform us a lot apart from Arizona appears like a possible Last 4 group regardless of its vital personnel losses, Washington could be higher than we anticipated, and Cal can have hassle profitable a recreation.

Every group will play 20 convention video games, which implies it should play 9 Pac-12 groups twice and two different groups solely as soon as.

Here is a fast have a look at all 12 groups heading into Pac-12 motion, listed of their predicted order of end:

1. Arizona (6-0)

Greatest participant(s): Azuolas Tubelis (19.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Oumar Ballo (19.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg); Kerr Kriisa (15.3 ppg, 7.5 apg, 51.4% on 3-pointers)

Greatest win: Creighton

Worst loss: None

AP rank: 4^th

Preseason media ballot projected end: Second

Pac-12 groups Arizona performs solely as soon as: Stanford, Colorado

Remark: Regardless of dropping each of their all-conference gamers from final yr (Bennedict Mathurin, Christian Koloko), the Wildcats lead the nation in scoring (97.5 ppg) and field-goal share (60.3%).

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2. UCLA (5-2)

Greatest participant(s): Jaime Jaquez (16.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg); Tyger Campbell (14.0 ppg, 4.9 apg)

Greatest win: Lengthy Seashore State

Worst loss: Illinois

AP rank: 21^st

Preseason media ballot projected end: First

Pac-12 groups UCLA performs solely as soon as: Cal, Oregon State

Remark: Simply two returning starters from final yr, however freshmen Amari Bailey (10.3 ppg) and Adem Bona (8.7 ppg) are starters who will assist.

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3. Oregon (3-4)

Greatest participant(s): Will Richardson (13.7 ppg, 4.9 apg); N’Faly Dante (13.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Kel’el Ware (11.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Greatest win: Villanova

Worst loss: UC Irvine

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Third

Pac-12 groups Oregon performs solely as soon as: Washington, USC

Remark: 7-foot freshman Kel’el Ware could possibly be one thing particular, however Geese’ early success will rely on when N’Faly Dante will get out of concussion protocol. 

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4. Arizona State (6-1)

Greatest participant(s): DJ Horne (13.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Marcus Bagley (12.5 ppg, 4.0)

Greatest win: Michigan

Worst loss: Texas Southern

AP rank: Acquired votes

Preseason media ballot projected end: Seventh

Pac-12 groups Arizona State performs solely as soon as: Utah, Cal

Remark: Bagley has performed simply two video games due to a suspension, however the Solar Devils beat Michigan by 25 with out him. Was that win an omen or a fluke?

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5. USC (4-3)

Greatest participant(s): Drew Peterson (15.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 6.6 apg); Boogie Ellis (18.0, 45.9% on 3-pointers)

Greatest win: BYU

Worst loss: Florida Gulf Coast

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Fourth

Pac-12 groups USC performs solely as soon as: Stanford, Oregon

Remark: Drew Peterson can do a whole lot of issues and he’ll should do all of them properly for the Trojans to contend.

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6. Washington (6-1)

Greatest participant(s): Keion Brooks Jr. (16.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg); Keyon Menifield (10.4 ppg, 43.5% on 3-pointers)

Greatest win: Saint Mary’s

Worst loss: California Baptist

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Ninth

Pac-12 groups Washington performs solely as soon as: Utah, Oregon

Remark: Two newcomers – Kentucky switch Keion Brooks and freshman Keyon Menifield – have the Huskies off to a powerful begin..

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7. Colorado (4-3)

Greatest participant(s): KJ Simpson (17.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Tristan da Silva (12.1 ppg)

Greatest win: Tennessee

Worst loss: Grambling State

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Sixth

Pac-12 groups Colorado performs solely as soon as: Arizona, Washington State

Remark: Bizarre nonconference outcomes: Buffs misplaced to Grambing State then beat Tennessee two days later. They misplaced to Massachusetts and beat Texas A&M the following day. 9 gamers have began video games already.

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8. Stanford (3-4)

Greatest participant(s): Spencer Jones (10.7 ppg); Harrison Ingram (10.4 ppg); Michael Jones (10.3 ppg)

Greatest win: Florida State

Worst loss: Mississippi

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Fifth

Pac-12 groups Stanford performs solely as soon as: Washington State, Arizona

Remark: A uncommon switch to Stanford (Michael Jones, from Davison) will assist, however will or not it’s sufficient for Jerod Haase to maintain his job?

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9. Washington State (3-2)

Greatest participant(s): Mouhamed Gueye (12.2, 7.0 repg)

Greatest win: Texas State

Worst loss: Prairie View A&M

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: Eighth

Pac-12 groups Washington State performs solely as soon as: Oregon State, Stanford

Remark: TJ Bamba is off to a powerful begin, however the Cougars will relay on two transfers – Jabe Mullins (from Saint Mary’s) and Justin Powell (from Tennessee) – to make them an element this season.

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10. Utah (5-2)

Greatest participant(s): Branden Carlsen (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Greatest win: Georgia Tech

Worst loss: Sam Houston State

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: tenth

Pac-12 groups Utah performs solely as soon as: Washington, Arizona State

Remark: Smooth nonconference schedule doesn’t inform us a lot about Utah, though we all know they went 4-16 within the Pac-12 final season with no noticeable enchancment this season.

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11. Oregon State (3-4)

Greatest participant(s): Jordan Pope (15.9 ppg)

Greatest win: Tulsa (though a three-point loss to Duke was one of the best end result)

Worst loss: Portland State (twice)

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: twelfth

Pac-12 groups Oregon State performs solely as soon as: Washington State, UCLA

Remark: The Beavers have already got as many wins as that they had all of final season, and it appears like their greatest participant is a freshman (Jordan Pope).

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12. Cal (0-7)

Greatest participant(s): Devin Askew (16.7 ppg)

Greatest win: None

Worst loss: Southern

AP rank: Not ranked

Preseason media ballot projected end: eleventh

Pac-12 groups Cal performs solely as soon as: UCLA, Arizona State

Remark: The 0-7 begin is the worst in Cal historical past, and the nonconference schedule was pretty tender.

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Cowl photograph of Pelle Larsson by David Cruz, USA TODAY Sports activities