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5 questions entering the Pac-12

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Pac-12:

1. How awkward will the upcoming season be?
Incredibly awkward. Upon the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington will head to the Big Ten and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah will head to the Big 12, thus ending the Pac-12 as we’ve known it. Realignment is nothing new in college sports, but a power conference simply dissolving and essentially entering an extinct state is completely new territory. It’s going to be a weird year in the Pac-12.

2. Will Arizona mesh?
Tommy Lloyd did yeoman’s work out of the transfer portal, landing commitments from highly touted transfers like Caleb Love (North Carolina), Jaden Bradley (Alabama), and Keshad Johnson (San Diego State). Now comes the hard part: Making all those pieces —- especially the ones on the perimeter — fit together. Love, Bradley, and sophomore point guard Kylan Boswell are all players who have operated with the ball in their hands throughout their careers. Add in steady veteran Pelle Larsson (9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists) and Lloyd — a terrific offensive coach — will have to come up with a formula to make sure that everybody — especially 7-foot center Oumar Ballo (14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds) — eats a proper amount. If that happens, look out.  

3. Is USC underrated nationally?
Without question. With all due respect to the Trojans, if they had a blue blood’s name across their chest they’d be talked about with more regularity. Not to worry, this team still has all the requisites to be a contender for a Pac-12 regular season title and high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Five-star freshman Isaiah Collier was the No. 1 player in America according to most recruiting services and he’ll be joined in the backcourt by All-American candidate Boogie Ellis. USC has four different options at center with Joshua Morgan, Vince Iwuchukwu, Kijani Wright and Arrinten Page. Meanwhile, Kobe Johnson could be the top perimeter defender in the conference and Washington State transfer DJ Rodman is a burgeoning Glue Guy. This team has second weekend potential in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

4. How good are UCLA’s international prospects?
Really good, but that doesn’t mean that the Bruins are going to be what they’ve been over the past few years. UCLA lost over 80 percent of its scoring and four starters from last season’s team that went to the Sweet 16 and was on track to go even further before losing two starters — Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona — to season-ending injuries. For the Bruins to compete at the top of this conference, Bona and sophomore point guard Dylan Andrews have to perform at an all-conference caliber level. If that happens and UCLA’s marquee international newcomers — Aday Mara, Berke Buyuktuncel, Jan Vide, Ilane Fibleuil, and Utah transfer Lazar Stefanovic — embrace Mick Cronin’s core principles of defense and rebounding, this team could very interesting by the middle of the season. Either way, this much we know: The Bruins should be much deeper, but significantly less experienced than they were a year ago when they earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Cronin told reporters last week that two of the Bruins’ international freshmen are still going through clearance issues with the NCAA. Those players are believed to be Buyuktuncel and Mara.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Washington. The Huskies haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but Mike Hopkins has a chance to grind out a bid in 2024. Veteran forward Keion Brooks (17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds) should have a much better supporting cast thank he did last season thanks to three players — Sahvir Wheeler (Kentucky), Paul Mulcahy (Rutgers), and Moses Wood (Portland) — who arrived via the transfer portal. All three are in the mix to be starters. Top-50 freshman Wesley Yates also figures to have a significant role. Washington also boasts a two-headed monster at center with Braxton Meah (8.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) and Franck Kepnang, who missed the majority of last season due to a knee injury. This looks like a 20-win team.

Leftovers