foxsports
By Don MacLean
FOX Sports West and PRIME TICKET
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Now that the non-conference schedule is over, the PAC-10 regular season is upon us.
What does that mean?
It means it is time for teams in the league to take it up a couple of notches, because just like last year, the conference is wide open again. Washington enters the regular season as the favorite, but the separation between them and the rest of the league is not a huge one. Arizona, Washington State and UCLA are not that far behind, and if they continue to improve like they have in the early part of this season, they pose a serious threat to the Huskies and could take home the conference championship.
What else does it mean?
It means I get to give you a PAC-10 preview. Unlike the PAC-10 media poll, I have had the luxury of seeing all of these teams play already and obviously have a better feel based on win-loss records. Some teams have risen and other teams aren't doing as well as some of us thought, but that is what November and December are for, to get ready for the start of conference play.
So here goes, 2010-11 PAC-10 Preview with predicted order of finish.
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1 WASHINGTON HUSKIES The deepest, most experienced returners from a team that won the PAC-10 Tournament and advanced the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. Washington has really talented guards led by leading-scorer Isaiah Thomas, am emerging post in Matthew Bryan-Amaning and a much improved wing in senior Justin Holiday. Why will UW win the conference? Because of the play from the backcourt, because they always are near the top in every rebounding category and because of their experience. It also doesn't hurt that they now have the best home court advantage in the conference. PLAYER TO WATCH: C.J. Wilcox |
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2. ARIZONA WILDCATS Let's start with the fact that they have the best player in the conference in Derrick Williams. The 2009-10 PAC-10 freshman of the year is even better this season and is a nightmare for opposing defenses. Head coach Sean Miller has a year under his belt at Arizona as do all the young guys that had to play major minutes last year. There is enough talent to go around their big anchor Derrick Williams to make a serious run at a conference title. PLAYER TO WATCH: Lamont "MoMo" Joes. |
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3 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS The Cougars had the most impressive preseason of anyone in the conference going 10-2, which included wins against Gonzaga and then-No. 15 Baylor, and a near miss at home against then-No.5 ranked Kansas St. The starting five returns from a year ago led by Klay Thompson, the leading scorer in the conference. JC transfer Faisal Aden is second on the team in scoring and has taken a lot of pressure off of Thompson. Second-year head coach Ken Bowe has them playing well and they now have enough depth and experience to contend. PLAYER TO WATCH: Marcus Cavers |
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4. UCLA BRUINS The Bruins have arguably the best starting five in the conference. Newcomer Joshua Smith, all 6-10, 305 pounds of him, is really starting to come on of late and should be a major factor for UCLA in the paint. Paired with forwards Tyler Honeycutt and Reeves Nelson, UCLA has a chance to be a dominant team inside. Consistency has been an issue, but if UCLA figures out how to stay focused for 40 minutes and play with supreme effort every night, I wouldn't be surprised if they are in the hunt at the end. Can they get back to the defensive team they once were? We're going to find out. PLAYER TO WATCH:Lazeric Jones |
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5 USC TROJANS After a couple head scratching losses early, USC is really coming on of late. A two-point loss at Kansas and then a win over then-No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville on the same road trip signal that the Trojans are getting it together just in time. Bigs Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stepheson are two of the top three rebounders in the conference and will be a big key for the Trojans in the paint. Jio Funtan has only played in three games after having to sit out because of his transfer from Fordham and is already leading USC in scoring at just over 16 per game. If SC can be as good as they were defensively last year and with the additional contribution from a couple of key players, then they will be in the thick of the PAC-10 race. PLAYER TO WATCH:Maurice Jones |
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6 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS Gone is steadying force Derek Glasser at the point guard position but they return three experienced guards in seniors Ty Abbott, Jamelle MbMillan and Rihards Kuksiks. Sophomore Trent Lockett has a breakout non-conference season averaging just under 15 points per game. We know reigning PAC-10 Coach of the Year Herb Sendek is going to get them to buy in on the defensive end and their zone always gives the opposition problems no matter how many times they see it. The Sun Devils have won four straight heading into conference but do they have enough to challenge? PLAYER TO WATCH: Kyle Cain |
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7 STANFORD CARDINAL The cardinal has one of the premier players in the conference in sharpshooter Jeremy Green. Josh Owens is back after sitting out last year with a medical condition and seems to be back to the level he was at before having to sit out. After those two, Stanford's next three leading scorers are all freshmen. In fact, Stanford has 10 freshmen on its roster this year, which obviously makes them a young team. Johnny Dawkins has done a nice job while at Stanford, but without one senior on the team this year, it is going to be hard for them to win consistently. They do, however, have enough to knock some teams off - especially at home. PLAYER TO WATCH: Dwight Powell |
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8 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS The good news is Cal won their first PAC-10 regular season title in 50 years in 2009-10. The bad news is they lost four REALLY good starters off that team including PAC-10 player of the year and Cal All-time Leading Scorer, Jerome Randle. Juniors Jorge Gutierrez and Harper Kamp, who returns this year after sitting out last year with a knee injury, lead the new-look Bears, which feature an all-freshman backcourt. Same as Stanford, going to be hard to win consistently with a young group but we know this: Mike Montgomery can coach so I wouldn't take Cal lightly. PLAYER TO WATCH: Allen Crabbe |
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9 OREGON STATE BEAVERS OSU went 5-6 in the preseason, but have some things going their way heading into the conference schedule. First, they lead the PAC-10 in steals at 11.6 per game and are second in the nation in that category. Second, they got highly regarded Roberto Nelson back after he had to sit out last year and the first seven games of this year due to being a half-credit short per NCAA rules. Third, Jared Cunningham has emerged. Cunningham leads OSU in scoring, is fifth in the country in steals and has made 24 consecutive free throws heading into conference play. Can head coach Craig Robinson get Nelson more acclimated and get everyone else to raise their level like Cunningham has, to be a threat in the conference? We're going to find out. PLAYER TO WATCH: Ahmad Starks |
 | 10. OREGON DUCKS With the departure of long-time head coach Ernie Kent, a lot of players departed along with him. That makes the job of new head coach Dana Altman that much more difficult. Trying to implement a new way of doing things isn't easy and that attrition doesn't help. But things are looking up. The Ducks played well in stretches and fifth-year senior Joevan Catron is back leading Oregon in scoring after missing almost all of last year. Matthew Knight Arena is set to open in a couple of weeks and by all accounts looks to be one of the best facilities in the country. The Ducks may struggle at times this year, but long term, things really seem to be headed in the right direction. PLAYER TO WATCH: Jay-R Strowbridge |
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