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Pacific-10 Conference

Freshman Kevin Love gives UCLA extra bulk inside. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review
Freshman Kevin Love gives UCLA extra bulk inside. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Following, in the predicted order of finish, are summaries of all 10 Pac-10 conference men’s basketball teams: (Current records in parentheses)

UCLA (12-1)

Coach: Ben Howland (271-141 overall, 14th year; 103-42 at UCLA, 5th year)

2006-07 record: 30-6 overall, NCAA semifinals; 15-3 Pac-10, 1st

Players to watch: C Kevin Love, 6-10, 260, Fr. (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg); G Josh Shipp, 6-5, 220, Jr. (14.4 ppg, 1.5 spg); G Darren Collison, 6-1, 165, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 3.9 apg, 1.6 spg); G Russell Westbrook, 6-3, 187, So. (11.5 ppg, 5.7 apg, 1.4 spg).

Outlook: The Bruins (No. 5 in the nation) were the consensus pick to win the conference before the season began and, other than a few nagging injuries, nothing’s occurred to change that view. Collison is trying to bounce back from a bum knee and long-range shooting threat Michael Roll may miss the next few weeks with another foot injury. But Love has been all that was advertised and Shipp has elevated his game.

Washington State (12-0)

Coach: Tony Bennett (38-8 overall and at WSU, 2nd year)

2006-07 record: 26-8 overall, NCAA second round; 13-5 Pac-10, 2nd

Players to watch: G Derrick Low, 6-2, 196, Sr. (13.1 ppg); G Kyle Weaver, 6-6, 201, Sr. (11.6 ppg, 1.8 spg); F Robbie Cowgill, 6-10, 211, Sr. (9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .652 shooting percentage); G Taylor Rochestie, 6-1, 186, Jr. (9.3 ppg, 5.1 apg); C Aron Baynes, 6-10, 270, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, .662 shooting percentage).

Outlook: Of all the elite teams in the nation, the fourth-ranked Cougars may have the least margin of error. They have to bring it every night to be successful, though the upperclassmen-dominated team will probably do just that. If sixth-man Daven Harmeling returns with his long-range shot, the pressure will be eased a bit.

California (9-2)

Coach: Ben Braun (544-375 overall, 31st year; 211-140 at Cal, 12th year)

2006-07 record: 16-17 overall; 6-12 Pac-10, 8th

Players to watch: C Ryan Anderson, 6-10, 240, So. (22.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg); G Patrick Christopher, 6-5, 215, So. (17 ppg); G Jerome Randle, 5-10, 165, So. (13.4 ppg, 2.8 apg); C DeVon Hardin, 6-11, 250, Sr. (9.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2 bpg).

Outlook: Theo Robertson, recently cleared to practice, just might be the missing link. If the 6-6 junior wing bounces back from last spring’s hip injury, the Bears’ defense will be much improved. Still, the Bears are the biggest, strongest team in the conference – a plus-6 on the boards – and have proven scorers. They also recently added Duke transfer Jamal Boykin, a 6-8 sophomore.

Arizona (9-3)

Interim coach: Kevin O’Neill (178-182 overall, 13th year; first year at Arizona)

2006-07 record: 20-11 overall, NCAA first round; 11-7 Pac-10, tied 3rd

Players to watch: G Jerryd Bayless, 6-3, 199, Fr. (18.5 ppg, 3.9 apg); F Chase Budinger, 6-7, 203, So. (16 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg); F Jordan Hill, 6-10, 226, So. (13.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg); G Nic Wise, 5-10, 178, So. (6 ppg; 3.8 apg).

Outlook: This has been a crazy year already for the Wildcats, with coach Lute Olson taking a leave and his hand-picked successor O’Neill taking over. The Wildcats play as tough a schedule as anyone, which helps, but have lost Bayless for a while with a knee injury, which doesn’t. Still, Hill’s improvement gives them a chance to compete with anyone.

Arizona State (10-2)

Coach: Herb Sendek (272-182 overall, 15th year; 18-24 at ASU, 2nd year)

2006-07 record: 8-22 overall; 2-16 Pac-10, 10th

Players to watch: F James Harden, 6-4, 218, Fr. (16.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg); G Jeff Pendergraph, 6-9, 230, Jr. (13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg); G Ty Abbott, 6-3, 200, Fr. (11.6 ppg); G Derek Glasser, 6-1, 180, So. (5.4 ppg; 4.2 apg).

Outlook: Don’t look now, but the Sun Devils could be this year’s Washington State. Sendek’s team plays a style different than anyone in the conference and the addition of Harden gives them another scoring threat. The biggest worry is two freshmen playing key roles. ASU plays its first three games at home and needs a quick start.

USC (9-3)

Coach: Tim Floyd (294-158 overall, 15th year; 51-28 at USC, 4th year)

2006-07 record: 25-12 overall, NCAA quarterfinals; 11-7 Pac-10, tied 3rd

Players to watch: G O.J. Mayo, 6-5, 200, Fr. (19.5 ppg, 4.28 rpg, 1.8 spg); F Davon Jefferson, 6-8, 215, Fr. (13.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg); G Daniel Hackett, 6-5, 205, So. (11.8 ppg, 3.8 apg); F Taj Gibson, 6-9, 225, So. (8.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg).

Outlook: One of the youngest teams in the conference has had its ups and downs, but a lot more ups than downs. The biggest question revolves around the biggest name in their lineup: Mayo. If he can handle Pac-10 defenses geared to take him out of his game, the Trojans will finish in the lead pack.

Stanford (11-1)

Coach: Trent Johnson (142-115 overall, 9th year; 63-41 at Stanford, 4th year)

2006-07 record: 18-13 overall, NCAA first round; 10-8 Pac-10, 6th

Players to watch: F Brook Lopez, 7-0, 260, So. (19.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg in three games); G Anthony Goods, 6-3, 205, Jr. (12.8 ppg); F Robin Lopez, 7-0, 255, So. (10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg); F Lawrence Hill, 6-8, 215, Jr. (9.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg); G Mitch Johnson, 6-1, 190, Jr. (6.7 ppg, 4.9 apg).

Outlook: The Cardinal are the antithesis of Arizona. The non-conference schedule was dotted with Harvard, Yale, Northwestern and Siena. That’s fine for college week on Jeopardy, but not too conducive for getting ready for Pac-10 play. They might be only as good as Johnson plays at the point.

Oregon (9-3)

Coach: Ernie Kent (292-203 overall, 17th year; 202-123 at Oregon, 11th year)

2006-07 record: 29-8 overall, NCAA quarterfinals; 11-7 Pac-10, tied 3rd

Players to watch: C Malik Hairston, 6-10, 260, Fr. (17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg); G Maarty Leunen, 6-5, 220, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg); G Tajuan Porter, 6-1, 165, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 2.8 apg); G Kamyron Brown, 6-3, 187, So. (6.8 ppg, 4.9 apg).

Outlook: Talk about up and down. The Ducks really haven’t played a real challenging schedule – their best win might be on the road at Kansas State – and they’ve lost to Nebraska and, even more shocking, Oakland (Mich.). If their shots are falling, the Ducks can play with anyone. If not, that explains the seemingly unexplainable defeats.

Washington (9-4)

Coach: Lorenzo Romar (205-147 overall, 12th year; 112-59 at Washington, 6th year)

2006-07 record: 19-13 overall; 8-10 Pac-10, 7th

Players to watch: F Jon Brockman, 6-7, 255, Jr. (18.8 ppg, 11 rpg); G Ryan Appleby, 6-3, 170, Sr. (13.0 ppg in six games); G Justin Dentmon, 5-11, 185, Jr. (11.6 ppg, 3 apg); G Venoy Overton, 5-11, 180, Fr. (5.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg).

Outlook: All the key additions have been in the backcourt, with Overton allowing Dentmon to play more without the ball and 6-4 Stanford transfer Tim Morris improving the defense. The key subtraction came in the frontcourt, with center Spencer Hawes leaving after his freshman year for the NBA. The Huskies are improved, but not enough in this conference.

Oregon State (6-6)

Coach: Jay John (72-91 overall and at Oregon State, 6th year)

2006-07 record: 11-21 overall; 3-15 Pac-10, 9th

Players to watch: G/F Seth Tarver, 6-5, 205, So. (15.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.2 apg); F Marcel Jones, 6-8, 220, Sr. (13.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg); G Josh Tarver, 6-3, 185, So. (6.7 ppg, 3.1 apg).

Outlook: Kansas transfer C.J. Giles, a 6-11 sophomore, had a double-double at home against Montana State, but the Beavers still lost – the conference’s only defeat to a Big Sky school. That tells you something about Oregon State’s chances.