Last season was a banner year for the Pac-10, as the conference sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament—with three reaching the Sweet 16 and UCLA reaching the Final Four. The conference was generally considered the toughest in the nation.
With several teams losing established stars, however, look for the conference to step back into the middle of the power conferences this season. There is still a lot of talent on the top teams, but the middle and bottom rungs of the Pac will be significantly weaker than in years past.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. UCLA Bruins
Strengths
The Bruins are simply loaded with talent, especially in the backcourt. All-American point guard Darren Collison spurned the NBA to return for his senior season, giving the Bruins possibly the top point guard in the country. Senior wing Josh Shipp also is back and in the best shape of his career. Shipp will provide UCLA with steady scoring.
Coach Ben Howland also brought in the nation's top recruiting class, led by combo guard Jrue Holiday, who should step into the shooting guard role and contribute immediately. Forwards James Keefe and Alfred Aboya give the Bruins toughness down low, and freshmen J'Mison Morgan and Drew Gordon provide more muscle.
Coach Howland may be the best in the nation.
Weaknesses
The Bruins are extremely young, having lost three starters and their top interior bench player from last season. Freshmen will be required to play huge roles this year, and while they are talented, most of them are still raw.
Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's departures leave the Bruins with almost zero frontcourt offense. Nearly all the scoring will come from the backcourt. Depth could also be an issue, with only 11 scholarship players (one a former walk-on), including two guys who have struggled with injuries this past summer.
Bottom Line
This team has the talent to make a deep run in the tournament. While their inexperience will be a hindrance in the early going, the steady leadership of Collison, Shipp, and Howland will have these young Bruins in position to win a fourth consecutive Pac-10 Championship.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils
Strengths
The Sun Devils have a tremendous 1-2 punch in sophomore wing James Harden and senior forward Jeff Pendergraph. Along with Collison, Harden's decision to return to the Devils was possibly the biggest development in the Pac-10 offseason. He's a big-time scorer and tenacious defender with deceptive athleticism.
Sophomore Ty Abbott is a deadly three-point shooter, and point guard Derek Glasser is a solid game manager. Coach Herb Sendek is one of the best in the conference.
Weaknesses
Other than Pendergraph, the Sun Devils' frontcourt has some glaring weaknesses. Eric Boateng, a transfer from Duke, was inconsistent last year before coming on late in the season. If he can come through, the Sun Devils could go from good to great.
Even if Boateng plays well, there is still a glaring lack of depth in the frontcourt. Luckily for them, UCLA also has some frontcourt weaknesses. Unfortunately, the Devils' problems are bigger.
Bottom Line
Arizona State probably has the second-most talent in the conference and possibly its best player in Harden. Look for the Sun Devils to be the biggest challenger to UCLA's throne. They'll make the tournament for the first time since '03 and could potentially make a deep run.
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