Pac-12 Conference 2022 Preview

Toast
Nov 2, 2022
7 min read

Making our way through the power 5 conferences. Now a little West Coast love with the Pac-12.

2021 Records

Arizona Wildcats

HEAD COACH Tommy Lloyd (2nd Season)

HOME COURT McKale Memorial Center (14,644)

KEY DEPARTURES

BENN MATHURIN (17.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)

CHRISTIAN KOLOKO (12.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 bpg)

DALEN TERRY (8.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.9 apg)

JUSTIN KIER (6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.2 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

COURTNEY RAMEY (transfer, Texas)

CEDRIC HENDERSON (transfer, Campbell)

KYLAN BOSWELL (freshman, Compass Prep)

DYLAN ANDERSON (freshman, Perry HS)

FILIP BOROVICANIN (freshman, Serbia)

HENRI VEESAAR (freshman, Estonia)

You are going to hear that a lot of people were suprised with Arizona last year. I was not, I knew coach Llyod would be able to get those guys to buy in, the former Gonzaga assistant really know how to recruit too! No question this team is dancing, but I do have them behind UCLA in the conference. This team has some key returnees who won at a high level last season, and the Wildcats added veteran perimeter transfers alongside some size and talent in the freshmen class.

Arizona State Sun Devils

HEAD COACH Bobby Hurley (8th Season)

HOME COURT Desert Financial Arena (14,100)

KEY DEPARTURES

JAY HEATH (10.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg)

MARREON JACKSON (10.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)

KIMANI LAWRENCE (10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.9 bpg)

JALEN GRAHAM (9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.9 pbg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

DESMOND CAMBRIDGE (transfer, Nevada)

WARREN WASHINGTON (transfer, Nevada)

DEVAN CAMBRIDGE (transfer, Auburn)

FRANKIE COLLINS (transfer, Michigan)

AUSTIN NUNEZ (freshman, Wagner HS)

DUKE BRENNAN (freshman, Hilldcrest Prep)

I really do not have high hopes for this ASU team in which only one of the team’s top five scorers returns — and could wind up coming off the bench. Not to mention I am not sure if Coach Hurley makes it through the year if they start losing. I guess if everyone accepts their roles, this team could be decent. I am just not seeing it. I would say the middle of the conference at best, most likely not dancing.

California Golden Bears

HEAD COACH Mark Fox (4th Season)

HOME COURT Haas Pavilion (11, 877)

KEY DEPARTURES

JORDAN SHEPHERD (14.6 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg)

ANDRE KELLY (13.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 0.6 bpg)

GRANT ANTICEVICH (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)

MAKALE FOREMAN (4.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.8 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

DEVIN ASKEW (transfer, Texas)

DEJUAN CLAYTON (transfer, Hartford)

ND OKAFOR (freshman, NBA Academy Latin America)

GRANT NEWELL (freshman, IMG Academy, FL)

If Devin Askew lives up to the expectations maybe Cal is decent, but I am not seeing it. Not only have they won much over the last few year, even this year they do not have much offense at all.

Not even close to dancing if you ask me.

Colorado Buffaloes

HEAD COACH Tad Boyle (13th Season)

HOME COURT CU Events Center (11,064)

KEY DEPARTURES

JABARI WALKER (14.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.2 apg)

EVAN BATTEY (12.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

K. BARTHELEMY (11.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)

ELI PARQUET (6.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

ETHAN WRIGHT (transfer, Princeton)

JALEN GABBIDON (transfer, Yale)

J’VONNE HADLEY (transfer, Indian Hills CC)

JOE HURLBURT (freshman, Enderlin HS)

RJ SMITH (freshman, Damien HS)

After losing so much, I think we can expect Colorado to take a little step back. I think Da Silva and Simpson need to be all-league players, and that is just a ton to ask. I am sure they will play well at home, but I do have them missing the dance.

Oregon Ducks

HEAD COACH Dana Altman (13th Season)

HOME COURT Matthew Knight Arena (12,364)

KEY DEPARTURES

JACOB YOUNG (12.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.3 spg)

DE’VION HARMON (10.8 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg)

ERIC WILLIAMS (8.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.1 spg)

FRANCK KEPNANG (4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

JERMAINE COUISNARD (transfer, South Carolina)

KEESHAWN BARTHELEMY (transfer, Colorado)

TYRONE WILLIAMS (transfer, Grayson County College)

BRENNAN RIGSBY (transfer, Northwest Florida State)

KEL’EL WARE (freshman, North Little Rock HS)

I am sure the Ducks will be much better this year. Coach Altman is very good at his job, and I expect him to get things back on track. Remember he’s taken the Ducks to a Final Four, an Elite Eight and three more Sweet 16 berths. Here is a quote from Coach.

“We should be extremely versatile and be able to play a lot of different lineups in a lot of different ways. We can go small with four guards, or we can go big with a couple of 7-footers.” —Dana Altman. Ducks for sure dancing, and have the talent and coaching to make a deep run.

Oregon State Beavers

HEAD COACH Wayne Tinkle (9th Season)

HOME COURT Gill Coliseum (9,604)

KEY DEPARTURES

JAROD LUCAS (13.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)

DASHAWN DAVIS (10.9 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1.4 spg)

WARITH ALATISHE (9.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.1 spg)

MAURICE CALLOO (8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.5 spg)

ROMAN SILVA (8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.7 bpg)

AHMAD RAND (5.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

CHRISTIAN WRIGHT (transfer, Georgia)

DZMITRY RYUNY (transfer, San Francisco)

JUSTIN ROCHELIN (transfer, Arizona State)

JORDAN POPE (freshman, Prolific Prep)

TYLER BILODEAU (freshman, Kamlakin HS)

NICK KRASS (freshman, St. Patrick Catholic HS)

JAYDEN STEVENS (freshman, Gonzaga Prep)

MICHAEL RATAJ (freshman, Germany)

This is a very young team. Hard to think they will be making any noise. Onnly 2 juniors the rest all Freshman and Sophmores. Give this team a year or two before it is good.

Stanford Cardinal

HEAD COACH Jerod Haase (7th Season)

HOME COURT Maples Pavilion (7,233)

KEY DEPARTURES

JAIDEN DELAIRE (10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)

NOAH TAITZ (4.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

MICHAEL JONES (transfer, Davidson)

J. THOMPSON (freshman, So. Cal. Academy)

RYAN AGARWAL (freshman, Coppell HS)

Dont look now, but this Standford team could be dancing this year. They are bringing back 4 starters, not to mention only 2 freshman on the team. The major thing that sticks out is the turnovers. Standford ranked 349th in turnover rate, per KenPom. They clean that up , and take good shots, I think the Cardinal go dancing this year.

UCLA Bruins

HEAD COACH Mick Cronin (4th Season)

OME COURT Pauley Pavilion (13,800)

KEY DEPARTURES

JOHNNY JUZANG (15.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)

JULES BERNARD (12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 spg)

CODY RILEY (7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 apg)

MYLES JOHNSON (3.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.3 bpg)

PEYTON WATSON (3.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.6 bpg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

AMARI BAILEY (freshman, Sierra Canyon)

ADEM BONA (freshman, Prolific Prep)

DYLAN ANDREWS (freshman, Compass Prep)

ABRAMO CANKA (freshman, Italy)

I love this UCLA team. I think that Tyger Cambell is one of the best PGs in the country, and being coach Cronin's weapon not many talk about. Jaime Jaquez Jr is a stud! Wooden Award type talent.The 2 freshman Bailey and Bona should be able to fill in just fine. I have UCLA as a elite 8, final 4 type team.

USC Trojans

HEAD COACH Andy Enfield (10th Season) HOME COURT Galen Center (10,258)

KEY DEPARTURES

ISAIAH MOBLEY (14.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.3 apg)

CHEVEZ GOODWIN (11.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.5 bpg)

MAX AGBONKPOLO (7.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.5 spg)

ETHAN ANDERSON (4.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

V. IWUCHUKWU (freshman, So. Cal. Academy)

KIJANI WRIGHT (freshman, Sierra Canyon)

TRE WHITE (freshman, Prolific Prep)

OZIYAH SELLERS (freshman, So. Cal. Academy)

Coach Enfield has not been horrible since come over from Florida Gulf Coast. Yo that was 10 years ago! I know it does not feel like that. USC going to miss the front court play they have had from the Mobley brothers. Coach Enfield brought in a pair of top-50 freshmen, but they will need to grow up fast. I think NIT is more like it rather than dancing.

Utah Utes

HEAD COACH Craig Smith (2nd Season)

HOME COURT John M. Huntsman Center (15,000)

KEY DEPARTURES

BOTH GACH (8.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)

DAVID JENKINS JR. (8.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg)

RILEY BATTIN (4.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)

DUSAN MAHORCIC (5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

MIKE SAUNDERS (transfer, Cincinnati)

GAVIN BAXTER (transfer, BYU)

BEN CARLSON (transfer, Wisconsin)

KEBA KEITA (freshman, Wasatch Academy)

WILGUENS EXACTE JR. (freshman, NBA Academy Latin America)

LUKA TARLAC (freshman, Serbia)

A team with no star and not much talent. It's really hard to expect much from the Utes this year.

They are saying that this Utah team could play up to 10 guys, so the depth is good. I do not see it like that, if they had more talent they would not give the guys further down the bench minutes. Looking at like 5 conference games.

Washington Huskies

HEAD COACH Mike Hopkins (6th Season)

HOME COURT Hec Edmundson Pavilion (10,000)

KEY DEPARTURES

TERRELL BROWN (21.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.2 spg)

EMMITT MATTHEWS (11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.6 spg)

DAEJON DAVIS (7.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 spg)

NATE ROBERTS (5.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.7 bpg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

KEION BROOKS (transfer, Kentucky)

NOAH WILLIAMS (transfer, Washington State)

FRANCK KEPNANG (transfer, Oregon) BRAXTON MEAH (transfer, Fresno State)

KOREN JOHNSON (freshman, Garfield HS)

TYLER LINHARDT (freshman, King’s HS)

KEYON MENIFIELD (freshman, Phoenix Prep)

Yo if this Washington team can figure out how to defend, they may surprise some people. They play that 3-2 zone, which if done right, can be hard to break. this team will have the overall length and athleticism to be effective in that zone. Solid point guard play will be huge for this team. If Williams and Bey can keep the efficient shooting up, they will be towards the top of the Pac 12.

Washington State Cougars

HEAD COACH Kyle Smith (4th Season)

HOME COURT Friel Court (11,671)

KEY DEPARTURES

MICHAEL FLOWERS (14.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg)

TYRELL ROBERTS (11.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.0 apg)

NOAH WILLIAMS (9.5 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg)

EFE ABOGIDI (8.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg)

KEY NEWCOMERS

JUSTIN POWELL (transfer, Tennessee)

JABE MULLINS (transfer, Saint Mary’s) ADRAME DIONGUE (freshman, Compass Prep) DYLAN DARLING (freshman, Central Valley HS)

MAEL HAMON-CRESPIN (freshman, France)

KYMANY HOUINSOU (freshman, France)

I really wish I could say this team is primed for a big year, I just can not get there. I love Kyle Smith as a coach, and the front court is pretty good. I say it all the time though, you can not compete at a high level in NCAAB if you do not have solid point guard play, and the Cougs do not have it. I think the dance would be a HUGE sucess, more like NIT if anything.

Players To Watch

Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA

Tyger Campbell, UCLA

Adem Bona UCLA

Will Richardson, Oregon

Kel’el Ware Oregon

Drew Peterson, USC

Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona

Pelle Larsson, Arizona

Spencer Jones, Stanford

Tristan da Silva, Colorado

Mouhamed Gueye, Washington State

Branden Carlson, Utah

Lots of questions about many teams in the conference. I gotta think the conference produces 3 or 4 spots in the dance. Can Arizona repeat the success of year 1? Will USC be ok without the Mobley brothers? Will the Ducks get back to the team we think of Dana Altmans teams to be?