By Aidan Joly
The Pac-12 is the league affected by conference realignment next summer.
In July 2024, all of the schools in the current league except for Washington State and Oregon State will leave for either the Big 12, ACC or the Big Ten. The other two schools do not have destinations as of this writing, but this is the final season for the Pac-12 as we know it.
Let’s get into this current version of the Pac-12, one last time.
UCLA Bruins
2022-23: 31-5 (18-2 Pac-12), lost in Sweet 16
It was a tough off-season for Mick Cronin and the Bruins, losing nearly their entire core from this past season in Jaime Jacquez, Jaylen Clark, Tyger Campbell and Amari Bailey. What makes it even tougher is that all of them could have come back, but did not.
Who will replace that output? A pair of sophomores in Adem Bona and Dylan Andrews will have to lead that charge. Bona averaged 7.5 points per game last year as a freshman, those numbers are sure to increase.
Utah transfer Lazar Stefanovic is a new addition, but is something of a strange fit with the rest of this roster. Freshman Aday Mara, who stands at 7-foot-3, is a huge addition for Cronin and he will play meaningful minutes early on.
With a roster in influx, a dip in the record is almost a certainty. Getting to the NCAA tournament would be an accomplishment.
Arizona Wildcats
2022-23: 28-7 (14-6 Pac-12), lost in round of 64
The Wildcats were a top 10 team in the country for most of the season last year until falling victim to 15 seed Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament, a Tigers team that went on to the Sweet 16.
Losing Azoulas Tubelis is definitely tough, but some good pieces return to bring it to a point where it’s not the end of the world. Oumar Ballo should be one of the best all-around players in the country next season, he averaged 14.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this past season and is sure to get better.
San Diego State transfer Keshad Johnson also mitigates some losses in the frontcourt. Losing Kerr Kriisa to the portal was a bit of a surprise, but Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley slides in nicely there. Caleb Love is a good late add after he wasn’t able to get into Michigan due to academics after entering the portal from North Carolina. Love is a bit of a project and will need to get his shooting under control.
Overall, this is a very solid team for Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats should be back at the top of the league again.
USC Trojans
2022-23: 22-11 (14-6 Pac-12), lost in round of 64
It’ll likely be a strange season for the Trojans in Los Angeles. Leading scorer Boogie Ellis returns, which is huge after he averaged 17.3 points per game this past season.
He’ll have some reinforcements too. Consensus five-star prospect Isaiah Collier will be a huge player for USC right off the bat. He’s only 18 years old, so he may require some development as the season goes on. Washington State transfer DJ Rodman is also a decent player who will start. Kobe Johnson returns.
The Trojans landed Bronny James, the son of LeBron, late in the game, but suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout and is out indefinitely. However, signs point to him suiting up at some point this season. His health is paramount, but seeing him in college basketball this year would be a lot of fun.
Oregon Ducks
2022-23: 21-15 (12-8 Pac-12), lost in NIT quarterfinals
The Ducks are in a strange spot. This was a program that made the second weekend four times in a span of five NCAA tournaments from 2016 to 2021 and made a Final Four in 2017, but has missed back-to-back NCAA tournament now, a first for the program since 2011 and 2012.
With a move to the Big Ten looming, a time for change may be soon. That being said, the Ducks bring back some decent talent from the 2022-23 team, including leading scorer and rebounder N’Faly Dante, Jermaine Couisnard, who averaged 12.8 points per game, and Keeshawn Barthelemy, who averaged 9.3 points per game.
They also bring in a couple good recruits in Marquis Cook and Kwame Evans, who should play big minutes from the start.
Overall, this is a big year for Oregon. How will it fare before a big move to the Big Ten?
Arizona State Sun Devils
2022-23: 23-13 (11-9 Pac-12), lost in round of 64
The Sun Devils probably saved Bobby Hurley’s job by squeaking into the NCAA tournament last March, but the majority of that team is now gone.
The highest scorer returning is Frankie Collins, who averaged 9.5 points per game, but didn’t have as large of a role as the season went on. Bryant Selebangue in the middle is a major downgrade from Warren Washington. Really the only player on this roster worth a mention is Zane Meeks, who averaged 10.3 points per game at San Francisco in 2022-23.
This Arizona State team is likely to struggle. Will an 11 seed and a victory in the First Four be enough to keep Hurley around for two more seasons, or will he back on his brother’s staff at this time next year?
Washington State Cougars
2022-23: 17-17 (11-9 Pac-12), lost in NIT first round
Kyle Smith brought the Cougars to the postseason for the second straight season, something the program had not accomplished since 2011 and 2012.
The issue in Pullman in recent years isn’t struggling to get talent, but being able to retain or maximize it. That being said, Idaho transfer Isaac Jones and Kansas transfer Joseph Yesufu are both interesting adds and we will see what they are able to do with the Coogs. Yesefu was once good enough to play at Kansas, so we will see. Jabe Mullins returns after averaging 8.4 points per game.
This team doesn’t project as anything special, but being in the middle of the pack in the conference will likely be the result.
Utah Utes
2022-23: 17-15 (10-10 Pac-12), no postseason
The Utes were mediocre this past season, but this team is absolutely loaded with seniors.
The headliner of that group is Branden Carlson, who projects as one of the best players in the country after averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this past season for the Utes. Gabe Madsen averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 36.5% from three, Rollie Worster is a solid player, and Ben Carlson will likely see decent minutes as a role player.
This being said, this team needs to take a step forward this season and NCAA tournament should be the goal. If not, it might be a tough, and lengthy, rebuild.
Colorado Buffaloes
2022-23: 18-17 (8-12 Pac-12), lost in NIT second round
The Buffaloes return a very good group for this season. Tristan Da Silva is quietly one of the better players in the country, and KJ Simpson will team up with him to make a very good one-two punch.
Cody Williams, a top NBA draft prospect, comes to Boulder for this season as well. He will likely play a big role early on. TCU transfer Eddie Lampkin put up decent numbers for the Horned Frogs this past season. J’Vonne Hadley and Julian Hammond III will both have roles on a Buffaloes team that should be pretty good.
Overall, this probably projects as an 8 or 9 seed in the NCAA tournament. We shall see. It would be an improvement from last year.
Washington Huskies
2022-23: 16-16 (8-12 Pac-12), no postseason
Mike Hopkins is another coach who has flirted with being on the hot seat who will get another shot in 2023-24.
Thankfully, this is an improved Huskies roster. They bring back Keion Brooks, who averaged 17.7 points per game last season and he will remain one of the best players in the conference. Franck Kapnang was limited to just eight games last season due to injury, but averaged 9.0 points per game in that time.
There are some newcomers as reinforcements, too. Kentucky transfer Sahvir Wheeler didn’t get as many minutes as he probably should have in Lexington, and he’s now the clear number two player for Washington. He’s joined by Rutgers transfer Paul Mulcahy, who is as well-rounded as they come. Freshman Wesley Yates will be an impact player immediately.
The Huskies have not been to the NCAA tournament since 2019. If things fall right, that could change.
Stanford Cardinal
2022-23: 14-19 (7-13 Pac-12), no postseason
It’s hard to find many coaches who have been given as many chances as Jerod Haase has been given. He’ll enter year eight without an NCAA tournament appearance, while having three NBA players on his rosters in that time.
The Cardinal do return leading scorer Spencer Jones, but after that there are not many returners of note.
As for new players, Providence transfer Jared Bynum is here, but he regressed in 2022-23, dropping from 41% from three in 2021-22 to 32% last season and scored about two less points per game. There are a couple decent freshman in Kanaan Carlyle and Andrej Stajakovic, but they don’t inspire a ton.
It’s fair to say that there is a fair amount of talent here, but in recent years, talent hasn’t equaled wins. It’s hard to see that changing this year and what may be Haase’s final season in Palo Alto.
Oregon State Beavers
2022-23: 11-21 (5-15 Pac-12), no postseason
Remember when Oregon State was in the Elite Eight in 2021? How things have changed.
The Beavers won just three games in the season following and won 11 this past season. The program is in a dire spot as there is no real path for them to remain in a power conference with very limited success over the years. Only two NCAA tournament appearances in the past 32 seasons.
Wayne Tinkle’s system requires players to stick around, which the Beaves bring back just about everyone from last year, but six of those players are sophomores. Jordan Pope, Dexter Akanno and Tyler Bilodeau are the only real players of note on the roster.
The team is still very young. If Tinkle’s system works well, the Beavers should be able to get out of the bottom of the league’s basement. If they will, who knows.
California Golden Bears
2022-23: 3-29 (2-18 Pac-12), no postseason
The Golden Bears are coming off a dreadful season in every sense of the word. However, new coach Mark Madsen made some swings in the portal and made some intriguing gets.
The leader of that pack is former Utah Valley centerpiece Fardaws Aimaq, who played 11 injury-plagued games at Texas Tech last year. He will need to be a star to get the Bears out of the bottom half of the league. Some other intriguing veterans brought in are Jalen Tyson (Texas Tech), Jalen Cone (Northern Arizona) and Keonte Kennedy (Memphis).
Leading scorer and former Kentucky Wildcat Devin Askew returns, but that’s it for notable returns.
There is no doubt that the talent on paper has taken a leap. Chemistry is another thing in figuring out whether a program that has been terrible for years will be able to make that leap in terms of results. The program hasn’t had a winning season since 2016-17 and Madsen is the program’s third coach since then. It will be interesting to watch. How will Cal respond?
AJ Hoops 