Conference #5 - Pac12

Conference Winner:  California

Yes, I’m buying into the youth movement at Cal.  Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown were steals for Cuonzo Martin and paired with returning guards, Jabari Bird and Tyrone Wallace they present the kind of balance that wins Power 5 leagues.  It will take a couple games for this crew to figure out the best way to attack but as long as the guards are willing to pass of to the freshmen and the freshman learn how to let the guards lead the game I see them as a sleeper elite eight, if not final four team.  Thursday night basketball may be worth watching again (avoid USC though).

At-Large:  Arizona

Arizona lost a lot of people from last year’s once again near Final Four run but nobody as important as TJ McCormick.   There are going to be issues at point guard for the Wildcats which is going to hold them back.  The middle is still patrolled by Kaleb Tarczewski and Ryan Anderson (transfer from Boston College) should pack plenty of punch as it pertains to scoring.  Incoming freshman are going to provide plenty of depth but I’m still going to go back to the point guard spot.  If nobody steps up not only will the Wildcats not win the Pac-12 they may not even be a top 6 seed

At-Large: UCLA

UCLA looks to have the look of last year’s team.  Only losing Norman Powell and Kevon Looney there is plenty back for them.  Bryce Alford and Tony Parker provide a nice inside out game and Tim Welsh has put on some weight to become more of a force around the basket.  The downside of UCLA is the same as Arizona.  Young and inexperienced point guard play.

At-Large:  Utah

Larry Krystkowiak is back and that’s enough.  He’s like the West Coast version of Bo Ryan if Bo Ryan was pleasant and coached aesthetically pleasing basketball.  The Ute’s lost Delon Wright but return potential Lottery Pick Jakob Poeltl. In addition 3 other starters are back.  I’d have this team higher if Wright wasn’t such a do all type of player.  If they can fill his stats across multiple players I can see this team right behind Cal in the standings.

At-Large:  Oregon

This team has the makings of an 11 seed.  Joe Young is gone and Dylan Ellis transfers in from Villanova.  The players are good but nobody is great.  They seem like a picture of a team that goes 10-8 in conference and just gets into the field.

I don’t have any teams on the bubble from this conference but I look for Gary Payton III from Oregon State to feast on the bad guard play all over the conference and spring some upsets for the Beavers.