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Pac-12 men's basketball preseason power rankings: Who will win conference in final season?

chris hansen, eugene register-guard
·6 min read
USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (5) is defended by Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) in the second half at Nationwide Arena March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.
USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (5) is defended by Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) in the second half at Nationwide Arena March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.

The Pac-12 is entering its final season and the expectations are that the Conference of Champions is going to slip away largely unnoticed.

Only a pair of teams are ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25 — No. 12 Arizona and No. 21 Southern California — following a 2022-23 season that saw four teams make the NCAA Tournament and just one advance out of the first round, and it wasn’t the No. 2 seeded Wildcats.

There is a still a full season to be played before USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington head to the Big Ten, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah head to the Big 12 and Stanford and California depart for the ACC. Hence, our preseason Power Rankings:

1. Arizona

2022-23 record: 28-7 overall, 14-6 Pac-12

What to know: After their early exit from the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats added an elite player who knows how to deliver in the postseason, bringing in one of the top transfers of the offseason in former North Carolina standout Caleb Love. The senior guard scored 1,476 points in 101 games over three seasons for the Tar Heels. In seven career NCAA Tournament games, Love averaged 17.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists, including 28 in a win against Duke in the 2022 Final Four.

2. Southern California

2022-23 Record: 22-11, 14-6

What to know: Bronny James has the famous father and the national spotlight, but Isaiah Collier is the freshman people should be following. The five-star guard is expected to team with Boogie Ellis to form one of the best backcourts in the nation. Both players were named all-Pac-12 in the preseason media poll.

3. UCLA

UCLA Bruins forward Adem Bona (3) reacts to a foul against the Utah Utes in the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center Feb 23, 2023, in Salt Lake City.
UCLA Bruins forward Adem Bona (3) reacts to a foul against the Utah Utes in the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center Feb 23, 2023, in Salt Lake City.

2022-23 Record: 31-6, 18-2

What to know: The reigning conference champion Bruins, who lost three players to the NBA as well as their starting all-conference point guard, are attempting to regroup with a roster that includes eight freshmen and one talented sophomore in Pac-12 freshman of the year forward Adem Bona. Looks daunting, but in coach Mick Cronin’s first four seasons, UCLA has averaged almost 25 wins and has finished first or second in the conference standings three times.

4. Oregon

2022-23 Record: 21-15, 12-8

What to know: The Ducks were energized heading into the offseason when their best player, senior N’Faly Dante, announced he’d return for the 2023-24 season. Coach Dana Altman then signed Stetson transfer Mahamadou Diawara, a friend of Dante’s and fellow countryman from Bamako, Mali. The two 6-foot-11 centers will tag-team the post along with 7-0 junior Nate Bittle, a former five-star McDonald’s all-American whose game was on the rise at the end of last season.

Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) dunks against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at T-Mobile Arena March 9, 2023.
Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) dunks against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at T-Mobile Arena March 9, 2023.

5. Colorado

2022-23 Record: 18-17, 8-12

What to know: The Buffaloes were a disappointment last season as they struggled to find a way to ignite their anemic offense. The spark may have arrived in the offseason in the form of five-star freshman forward Cody Williams, a McDonald’s All-American from San Luis Obispo, California. Williams will join a team that also returns preseason all-Pac-12 selections Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson.

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts to a call made against the Sun Devils while they played the Arizona Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts to a call made against the Sun Devils while they played the Arizona Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

6. Arizona State

2022-23 Record: 23-13, 11-9

What to know: Coach Bobby Hurley took the Sun Devils to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 last season, lost in the first round, then watched his brother coach UConn to an unexpected national title. Can Hurley do the same for ASU? He certainly has a schedule built for wins, with only two opponents this season in the AP top-25 preseason rankings.

7. Utah

2022-23 Record: 17-15, 10-10

What to know: A six-game losing streak to end the season cratered the Utes’ chances to make the postseason. Utah averaged 50.2 points per game in those losses and 68.7 for the season, ranking 251st nationally. The offense should be better with the return of all-Pac-12 center Branden Carlson (16.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg), healthy 3-point specialist Gabe Madsen and the addition of sharpshooter Cole Bajema, a transfer from Washington.

8. Stanford

2022-23 Record: 14-19, 7-13

What to know: The Cardinal haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since a magical run in 2014 when it upset No. 2-seeded Kansas to reach the Elite Eight. Despite the return of leading scorer forward Spencer Jones, Stanford’s roster doesn’t appear to have the talent needed to keep the Cardinal playing into late March.

9. Washington

2022-23 Record: 16-16, 8-12

What to know: The Mike Hopkins era at UW hasn’t been devoid of talent as there are five former Huskies in the NBA who played under the seventh-year coach. But Washington has had little success on the court during that stretch. Hopkins is 101-90 overall since being hired in 2017, but just 53-69 in the last four seasons. His only NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2019.

10. California

2022-23 Record: 3-29, 2-18

What to know: After a dreadful season that ended with 16 straight losses, there is optimism in Berkeley. New coach Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen brought in a transfer class that includes forwards Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq, who were double-digit scorers for Texas Tech last season, Memphis guard Keonte Kennedy, and Northern Arizona guard Jalen Cone, who made 96 3s last season. There’s nowhere to go but up for Cal, but its ascent could be rapid.

11. Washington State

2022-23 Record: 17-17, 11-9

What to know: It could be a long, cold winter on the Palouse. For the second season in a row, the Cougars lost their four top scorers as TJ Bamba (Villanova) and DJ Rodman  (USC) transferred, and sophomore Mouhamed Gueye and junior Justin Powell declared early for the NBA draft, putting coach Kyle Smith in rebuild mode as he attempts to create a roster that can end Wazzu's 15-year NCAA Tourney drought.

Oregon State Beavers guard Jordan Pope (0) dribbles against Arizona State Sun Devils guard DJ Horne (0) during the first half at Desert Financial Arena Feb. 2, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.
Oregon State Beavers guard Jordan Pope (0) dribbles against Arizona State Sun Devils guard DJ Horne (0) during the first half at Desert Financial Arena Feb. 2, 2023, in Tempe, Arizona.

12. Oregon State

2022-23 Record: 11-21, 5-15

What to know: Maybe the biggest surprise of the offseason in the Pac-12 was coach Wayne Tinkle being able to keep standout guard Jordan Pope out of the transfer portal. Pope scored 12.6 per game as a freshman last season and made 60 3-pointers. The rest of the roster, however, is lacking proven talent and very inexperienced, with 12 freshman or sophomores.

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Picking a preseason favorite in Pac-12 men's basketball final season