Roc’s Pac-10 2008 Predictions and Preview:

I think it was safe to say last season that the Pac-10 was the best basketball conference in the nation.  I am not sure if they can repeat that reputation, especially with all the remodeling done over the past 7-8 months.  The league lost a lot top players and three superstar underclassmen to the NBA.  The conference also produced five of the top 11, and seven total first round and five second round picks in the NBA draft.  The conference sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament and two more to the NIT.  I do think the Pac is still full of talent.  I expect the Bruins who have some really solid freshman and some big time players to win the league.  From there, it’s hard to gauge!  Expect some great games and fierce competition between Arizona State, USC, both Washington schools and even Cal and Oregon.  Arizona is a mess, but they still have a lot to talent and could surprise some people.  Stanford and Oregon State should contend for the basement in the league. 

 

1. UCLA  07-08: 1st, 35-4 (16-2) UCLA had two players taken among the top five picks of the NBA Draft and lost a three-year starter in the second round. The Bruins have lost three of their top five scorers, but they are bringing in five highly gifted freshmen — headlined by combo guard Jrue Holliday — and have experience at a key position thanks to point guard Darren Collison’s decision to return to school. They are definitely favorites to win the Pac.

2. Arizona State 07-08: T-5th, 21-13 (9-9) Guard James Harden and center Jeff Pendergraph are the key ingredients to get the Devils to the NCAA Tournament.  If one or both get hurt, you are looking at another NIT.  The last time ASU advanced as far as the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 was 1994-95. That’s how long a dry spell it’s been in Tempe. The drought is about to come to an end.  I am really looking forward to when the Devils take on the Bruins in LA Saturday, January 21^st on national TV (cbs).  Devils host them on Thursday, February 12 at Wells Fargo. 

 

3. USC: 07-08: T-3rd, 21-12 (11-7) Say good-bye to O.J. Mayo, and hello to DeMar DeRozan, then add Romeo — formerly known as Lil’ Romeo, son of rap mogul Master P.  If DeRozan is as skilled as most scouts say, scoring points shouldn’t be a problem for the Trojans. The key will be how well the always defense-conscious coach Tim Floyd can mold this group into playing well at that end of the court.   USC could challenge for second place in the conference and surprise come tournament time.   Watch out for Taj Gibson, he could be a dominated force.

4. Washington State 07-08: T-3rd, 26-9 (11-7)  Tony Bennett enters his third season as Washington State’s coach, which is a relief to Cougar fans who thought he might be at Indiana, LSU or somewhere else. For the past two years, Bennett has been pursued because of his remarkable success at WSU, where he’s gone 52–17 and led the Cougars to two NCAA Tournaments, including the Sweet 16 last year.  If Bennett can continue to win with under-recruited talent he will certainly go down as one of the best at developing players in the NCAA despite his young age.  This year, there are enough returnees and solid newcomers to give this team a chance to make its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

5. Washington 07-08: 8th, 16-17 (7-11) The Huskies have a great player in Jon Brockman, but he can’t do it alone.  The Huskie nation is starving for this team to perform well after their horrible football season.  Coach Lorenzo Romar’s team has had trouble putting the ball in the basket and getting consistent production out of anyone other than Brockman. There is a lot hype for incoming freshman point guard Isaiah Thomas and if he is as good as advertised, look for Washington to become a serious player in the Pac-10 again.   The last two seasons have been tough.  If you recall it was just two years ago the Huskies were competing with UCLA for the Pac 10 championship. That same year Washington advanced to the Sweet 16 (falling in overtime to UConn).

6. Arizona 07-08: 7th, 18-14 (8-10) What a mess!  They lose Lute Olson to retirement, All-America point guard Brandon Jennings to Europe, three top recruits, and a lot of potential.  Russ Pennell is the interim head coach. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament in 24 consecutive seasons, and there is enough talent in place to make it 25.  I am just not sure if Nic Wise and Chase Budinger are good enough for this team to overcome all the distractions and make it to the tournament.  I do like Jordan Hill, who averaged over 13 pts and 8 boards last season.   This team is still very solid.  But, I am just not sure if they can overall everything that has happened during the off-season.

7. California 07-08: 9th, 17-16 (6-12) Mike Montgomery now heads of the Bears and he four years removed from his tenure across the Bay at The Cardinal after an unsuccessful two-year shot at the NBA.   He led Stanford to the NCAA tournament 12 times in his 18 year career and should be able to turn the program around.  It’s just a matter of how quickly.  There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

 

8. Oregon 07-08: T-5th, 18-14 (9-9) The Ducks are young!  Oregon will try to replace three starters and avoid putting too much pressure on their six-member freshman class early on, but those players will have to develop into key contributors by the time conference play rolls around.  The Ducks have made the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons.   Fans of the Ducks are excited to see big time freshman recruit Michael Dunigan, who will probably start at center right away. The big fella stands 6-10 250 pounds.  

 

9. Stanford 07-08: 2nd, 28-8 (13-5) Former Duke Devil Johnny Dawkins arrives.  However, he has inherited no superstars as the Lopez twins are off to the NBA.  I do think his Blue Devil basketball heritage will bring some superstar recruits to the Bay area.  Stanford will most likely finished around .500 in the Pac-10, which will be disappointing the Cardinal fans after going 28-8 last year.  This will be an odd season for Stanford.  Most elite programs typically just refuel with star recruits, but not this team.  They are definitely in a rebuilding mode.

10. Oregon State 07-08: 10th, 6-25 (0-18) There’s no place to go but up. New Coach Craig Robinson was able to engineer a turnaround at Brown in his two years there, but the Pac 10 is far more competitive than Ivy League. Robinson has his work cut out as he is battling to restore OSU’s reputation with in-state talent.  Maybe his brother in-law President-Elect Barack Obama can help him recruit.  His overall talent level is low and in all probability OSU will struggle to win seven or eight games even though the schedule isn’t especially challenging.  The biggest problem for the Beavers last season was that they finished last in the conference in offense and 308th nationally with 59.9 ppg. 

Want to thank the worldwide wide, specifically sportsline.com, anthonsports.com and sportsnetwork.com for contributing to my predictions.

Here are Manuch’s predictions:

Darren Collison, and frosh Jrue Holliday are probably the best backcourt in Nation. James Keefe is looking to have a great year as well.

Head Coach Ben Howland had another great recruiting year in getting Holliday and Drew Gordon, and is positioned with his depth off the bench and coaching savvy to win the PAC 10 again.

2) USC

Daniel Hacket, Taj Gibson and Dwight Lewis, along with DeMar DeRozan, a freshman phenom who can run like the wind at 6′7″, will solidify another good year for a Trojan team that should compete for the PAC 10 Title.

3) ASU

The return of both James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph, along with Eric Boateng taking his game to a new level, should serve notice to the rest of the PAC 10, that these Devils are geared up to make a run under the wisdom of head coach Herb Sendek.

4) Arizona

This U of A team still has allot of talent to overcome the trauma and drama they have faced over the last two years with Lute Olson.

Chase Budinger will help calm the storm, and Interim Head Coach Russ Pennel has the experience to lead this team to a respectable year, and shot at making the NCAA’s.

5) Washington

Forward Jon Brockman will need help in getting the Huskies back to the NCAA’s. This Huskies team need more out of Quincy Poindexter and Justin Dentmon to get back to a very good basketball program.

Head Coach Lorenzo Romar is one of the best college hoops coaches in the nation, and knows how to get his young freshman up to speed for PAC 10 play.

6) Washington State

The Cougars are known for their defense, and that’s about it. They have enough experienced players in Aron Baynes and Taylor Rochestie, and outstanding freshman Kyle Thompson will give them some offensive punch.

Maybe a shot at the NIT is all this program could hope for.

7) Oregon

Oregon may have another outside shot at the NCAA’s, if Tajuan Porter and Joevan Catron, can lead this young team on a consistent basis.

Michael Dunigan is one of those McDonald’s All-American Players, that could come in and have a huge impact.

Stanford

The Lopez brothers are gone, and why you let head coach Trent Johnson go to LSU was, are you ready for this….A CARDINAL SIN..Sorry couldn’t resist.

Good luck to new head coach Johnny Dawkins, in trying to keep this program well respected in the PAC 10, like it has been over the last 10 years.

9) California

New head coach Mike Montgomery is a great hire for the Golden Bears. He took Stanford to 10 straight NCAA appearances, and can only hope to make this program respectable in his first year at the helm.

He will have to convince recruits, that his coaching will help them get to the next level.

10) Oregon State

When a team goes 0-18 in PAC Ten play, you can only hope for CHANGE. Thus the Mantra for head coach Craig Robinson, who is the brother in law of President Elect Barack Obama.

Guards Josh and Seth Tarver, will hope to turn the Country, eh, I mean this team around.

Look for all 4 of my picks to make it to the NCAA’s in 2009.

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written by Roc