This time of year is one of the best times in all of sports. World Series, NHL & NBA regular season just started, College Football nearing bowl season, the NFL is in full swing, and College Basketball begins.
The Pac-12 has title contenders at the top, and not much below them. What lies below them is what will be an ELECTRIC 8 team race behind Arizona, USC, Oregon and UCLA.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
The Cougars lose arguably their 4 best scorers from last year, and do not have a single senior on the squad. It may be early, but things do not look good for Wazzu.
Player to Watch
Sophomore PG Malachi Flynn had a solid Freshman year averaging 33.2 mins, 9.7 pts, 2.9 assists in 30 games for the Cougars. He shot 40% from the field, and 38.9% from beyond the arc… as a Freshman.
Look for Flynn to have a solid year, but Wazzu to struggle.
Prediction (In Conference)
12-18 Overall. (4-14)
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
The Golden Bears have potential on the roster to make some noise in the middle of the Pac-12. Marcus Lee, a Kentucky transfer, can dominate games, but can he dominate for 40 minutes is the question.
The Bears also introduce a new head coach in Wyking Jones, which will only provide for growing pains before conference play starts. And then conference play hits, and if the Bears don’t figure it out before then, it could get ugly, maybe even bottom of the Pac-12 ugly.
Reporter- “Will you be able to compete with USC or Arizona this year?”
Wyking Jones-
Player to Watch
Senior PF – Marcus Lee was a former top-20 recruit, and if he carries the Bears, they could end up in the middle of the Pac-12. The thing is… It pretty much all relies on him, and that is never good in the college game.
Just ask Ben Simmons or Markelle Fultz how their college experiences were.
Prediction (In Conference)
15-15 Overall (7-11)
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
The Huskies are a young, talented group that doesn’t have Markelle Fultz. However, they bring in 5 Freshman to replace him, one of them being top 100 guard Jaylen Nowell.
The Huskies are a team that could make some noise in the weak middle of the Pac-12.
Player to Watch
Junior Guard – David Crisp averaged 13.8 points a game last year, and should only build off of a year where the Huskies were atrocious.
Hot Take- This^ is David Crisp. Mr. Crisp is going to have a big year, in a year where the Huskies will be surprising.
Prediction (In Conference)
19-11 Overall (10-8)
COLORADO BUFFALOES
The loss of Guard Derrick White to the NBA will hurt, but the Buffaloes have reinforcements that come in all ages. Senior Point Guard Dom Collier will be a problem for the Pac-12 this year, and is an under-the-radar player to produce some quality minutes for the Buffs.
Here’s a picture of Collier torching the state of Colorado in High School.
Player to Watch
Senior Forward- George King returns for his senior season, in an effort to change his legacy as a CU Buff. They underachieved last year, and King knows it. I think King will take it upon himself to make sure the Buffs compete at a high level in 2017-18.
Prediction (In Conference)
17-13 Overall (10-8)