CBB Previews-Pac10

Note: This preview was done for Score Atlanta. Check it out!
The Pac 10 will once again run through LA as UCLA lost Kevin Love but picked up five new faces including Jrue Holiday. Lute Olson left the Arizona Wildcats and an old face returns to the conference in Mike Montgomery at Cal. Expect at least one Final Four team to come from the Pac-10 with a second a real possibility. Also a freshman could win national player of the year honors, but which Pac-10 Freshman will it be?

UCLA BRUINS Coach Ben Howland 2007-08 Record: 35-4
UCLA has been a regular participant at the Final Four recently, but coach Ben Howland’s teams have come up short of the ultimate prize every time. This crew could make it to yet another Final Four but will it win the big one? Senior guard Darren Collison will lead this team with his energy and vision. The guard averaged 14.5 ppg last season and will probably up that total this season. Joining him in the backcourt is Jrue Holiday, a freshman. Expectations are high for Holiday and he will have big shoes to fill as he replaces Russell Westbrook in the lineup.

STANFORD CARDINAL Coach Johnny Dawkins 2007-08 Record: 28-8
Stanford is under new leadership as long-time Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins takes over the reigns from Trent Johnson. Can Dawkins bring some of the Coach K magic across the country to the Cardinal? The upperclassman dominated backcourt hopes so. Senior point guard Mitch Johnson finally proved to be a steady hand last season, but fellow senior Anthony Goods took a step back last season, averaging only 10 ppg. Landry Fields is a third guard that Dawkins will try and move to the wing. With little size in the frontcourt, this may be a long season for a coach weaned on success at Duke

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS Coach Herb Sendek 2007-08 Record: 21-13
Arizona State may have finally taken the mantle of best program in the state with Arizona’s recent struggles. Coach Herb Sendek has brought his version of the Princeton offense to the Valley of the Sun and he has the roster to run it. Sophomore James Harden led the team last year with 17.8 points and his numbers should climb now that he can fully grasp the system. Senior forward Jeff Pendergraph chipped in 12.4 ppg last year and is a solid contributor in the front court. Look for frosh Johnny Coy to be the Sun Devils Julius Hodge-west.

ARIZONA WILDCATS Coach Russ Pennell 2007-08 Record: 19-15
Arizona must turn the page now that long-time coach Lute Olson has officially retired. The must now quickly regroup under new coach Russ Pennell, but the unexpected return of Chase Budinger will help. His 17.1 ppg were second on the team last season and he should team nicely with Jordan Hill in the frontcourt. The backcourt meanwhile will be led by Nic Wise now that Jerryd Bayless is in the NBA. The team will also have to rely on Jamelle Horne to pick up some of the scoring if the team wants to make the NCAA tournament for the 24th straight season.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS Coach Mike Montgomery 2007-08 Record:17-16
Cal coach Mike Montgomery didn’t exactly walk in to a fully-stocked pantry for his first season back in the Pac-10, but he does have some ingredients with which to make a run at postseason play. With Ryan Anderson’s bolting to the NBA, look for junior point guard Jerome Randle to pick up the scoring slack, along with Patrick Christopher, the top returning scorer at 15.2 ppg. DJ Seeley, a freshman could also play a big role off the bench. On the defensive side, expect the return of Theo Robertson to make a big impact.

USC TROJANS Coach Tim Floyd 2007-08 Record: 21-12
USC once again has a freshman star expected to lead the team deep into the NCAAs, but perhaps Demar DeRozan can take the Trojans farther than OJ Mayo did last season. DeRozan will score in bunches and will grab more rebounds than Mayo did and returning post Taj Gibson will probably welcome the help down low. Gibson averaged 10.8 ppg last year and he will once again be a soldier down low for coach Tim Floyd. Two juniors represent the starting backcourt in Daniel Hackett at the 1 and Dwight Lewis at the off-guard. The two combined for 19.4 ppg last season.

OREGON DUCKS Coach Ernie Kent 2007-08 Record: 18-14
Oregon coach Ernie Kent usually can squeeze talent out of players that some deemed too small, slow, whatever, and he must do it again this season. His best returning player Tajuan Porter stands only 5’6 and Kent would like for him to play the off-guard position while breaking in a point guard-by-committee approach. Kamyron Brown should win the job, but Brown is not a scorer. The Ducks will have to rely on two talented freshmen who ventured west from Chicago. Michael Dunigan at 6’9 will play Center while Matthew Humphrey will start at the wing.

OREGON STATE BEAVERS Coach Craig Robinson 2007-08 Record:6-24
Even if Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson can lift the Beavers out of the Pac-10 basement, he will not have had as good a year as his brother-in-law, President-elect Barack Obama. But for Robinson there is some “hope” in the form of Seth and Josh Tarver. The two juniors will likely lead the Beavers in scoring this season and senior guard Rickey Claitt is a real threat to record a triple-double every time out. Look for the Beavers to try and steal enough games to make a run at an NIT berth.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES Coach Lorenzo Romar 2007-08 Record: 16-17
Washington may finally be ready to ascend into the upper echelon of the Pac-10, led by senior Jon Brockman. As a junior, the 6,7 forward tallied 17.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest. If he can get some help from junior Quincy Pondexter(9.9ppg after 10.8 as a freshman) and senior Justin Dentmon, Brockman might put coach Lorenzo Romar’s team into the Sweet 16 come March. Three freshmen will be counted upon to add depth. A sophomore point guard and shaky outside shooting must be overcome for this team to take its place among the conference elite.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS Coach Tony Bennett 2007-08 Record: 26-9
Washington State now faces a huge rebuilding task after one of the most successful regular seasons in school history. Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver both departed following the season, but head coach Tony Bennett felt his heart was still in Pullman, so he stuck around to rebuild the team. The coach will count on senior center Aron Baynes to add to his 10.8 ppg last season. Getting the ball to Baynes will be another senior, point guard Taylor Rochestie (4.7 apg). If the three freshmen can catch on early, the Cougar lineup could find with three seniors starting along side two Pac-10 rookies.