Pacific-10 Conference
(Following, in Mike Sando’s predicted order of finish, is a brief summary of the men’s basketball prospects of each Pac-10 school):
1. Arizona Wildcats
1995-96 record: 26-7, lost in third round of NCAAs; 13-5 in Pac-10, second place
Coach: Lute Olson
Years coaching: 24, 14th at Arizona
Record: 515-195, 323-103 at Arizona
Top returnees: F Michael Dickerson (6-5, Jr.), G Miles Simon (6-5, Jr.)
Top newcomers: G Mike Bibby (6-3, Fr.), Bennett Davison (6-8, Jr.)
Quickly: In Tucson, they’re calling this Olson’s finest coaching job yet. We’ll check back in March.
Outlook: Bibby will make the most impact of any newcomer in the conference this season. The freshman point guard has already been sensational against top-flight competition, making the Wildcats a potential Elite Eight team. The difference might be in the availability of Simon, an academic liability.
2. Stanford Cardinal
1995-96 record: 20-9, lost in second round of NCAAs; 12-6 in Pac-10, third
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Years coaching: 19, 11th at Stanford
Record: 343-198, 189-121 at Stanford
Top returnees: G Brevin Knight (5-10, Sr.), C Tim Young (7-1, So.), F Mark Seaton (6-9, So.), F Peter Sauer (6-7, So.), G Kris Weems (6-3, So.)
Top newcomers: F Mark Madsen (6-8, Fr.)
Quickly: Montgomery seemed a prime candidate for the UCLA job until blue-chip recruits Jason and Jarron Collins chose Stanford over UCLA and Arizona.
Outlook: Knight can be dazzling, but the key to Stanford’s season rests in the tender back of Young, who missed 24 games last season with a bulging disk.
3. California Bears
1995-96 record: 17-11; 11-7 Pac-10, 4th
Coach: Ben Braun
Years coaching: 19, first at Cal
Record: 342-237, 9-2 at Cal
Top returnees: G Ed Gray (6-3, Sr.), F Tony Gonzalez (6-6, Jr.), G Randy Duck (6-2, Sr.), G Anwar McQueen (6-1, Sr.), C Michael Stewart (6-10, Sr.), G Prentice McGruder (6-3, Sr.), F Alfred Grigsby (6-8, Sr.)
Top newcomers: G/F Sean Jackson (6-5, Fr.)
Quickly: If Gonzales enters April’s NFL draft he’s considered among the best college tight ends - some fear he’ll leave the basketball team so he can focus on performing well at the scouting combine.
Outlook: The egos are gone, but plenty of talent remains - starting with Gray, the Pac-10’s premier scorer. Gonzalez, back on the hardwood now that Cal’s football season is over, gives the Bears a boost inside. Look for Cal to thrive without the burden of expectation.
4. UCLA Bruins
1995-96 record: 23-8, lost in first round of NCAAs; 16-2 in Pac-10, 1st
Coach: Steve Lavin
Years coaching: First
Record: 5-3
Top returnees: G Toby Bailey (6-5, Jr.), F J.R. Henderson (6-9, Jr.), G/F Kris Johnson (6-3, Jr.), C Jelani McCoy (6-10, So.), F Charles O’Bannon (6-5, Sr.), G Cameron Dollar (5-11, Sr.)
Top newcomers: None
Quickly: Surely Lavin is the first coach to receive a promotion for bringing less to the table.
Outlook: The Bruins are short on cohesion, often appearing disjointed. Lavin and Dollar don’t have the skills to get UCLA back on top. Only talent keeps the Bruins in the hunt.
5. Oregon Ducks
1995-96 record: 16-13; 9-9 in Pac10, tie for fifth
Coach: Jerry Green
Years coaching: 14, fifth at Oregon
Record: 214-161, 64-59 at Oregon
Top returnees: G Kenya Wilkins (5-10, Sr.), F/C Kyle Milling (6-9, So.), F/C Rob Ramaker (6-10, Sr.), G Jamal Lawrence (6-2, Sr.), G Jamar Curry (6-3, Jr.), G Terik Brown (6-1, So.), C Michael Carson (7-0, Jr.)
Top newcomers: G Tyron Manlove (6-4, Fr.)
Quickly: The Ducks appear supremely motivated after being passed over by the NIT last season; also, Green feels Wilkins is unjustly overlooked.
Outlook: Oregon has depth and experience, in addition to an outstanding point guard in Wilkins, which should separate the Ducks from Washington and Washington State.
6. Washington Huskies
1995-96 record: 16-12, NIT; 8-10 Pac-10, tie for 5th
Coach: Bob Bender
Years coaching: Eight, fourth at Washington
Record: 97-110, 37-53 at Washington
Top returnees: F Mark Sanford (6-8, Jr.), G Jamie Booker (6-3, Sr.), C Patrick Femerling (7-1, So.), C Todd MacCulloch (7-0, So.)
Top newcomers: G Jan Wooten (5-11, Jr.), F Thalo Green (6-7, Fr.), F Chris Walcott (6-7, Fr.)
Quickly: The Huskies will miss the 3-point shooting of 6-foot-6 wing Jason Hartman, who left the team during the off-season.
Outlook: Sanford is a capable scorer, but may lack the leadership necessary to take the Huskies a notch higher.
7. Washington State Cougars
1995-96 record: 17-12, NIT; 8-10 Pac-10, tie for 7th
Coach: Kevin Eastman
Years coaching: 10, third at WSU
Record: 167-102, 34-25 at WSU
Top returnees: G Isaac Fontaine (6-4, Sr.), F Carlos Daniel (6-7, Jr.), G Kareem Jackson (6-2, Sr.), F Cameron Johnson (6-7, Sr.), F/C Tavares Mack (6-9, Sr.)
Top newcomers: G/F Rodrigo de la Fuente (6-7, Jr.), G Beau Archibald (6-7, Fr.), F Chris Crosby (6-7, Fr.), G Blake Pengelly (5-10, Fr.)
Quickly: Jackson and Pengelly have performed better than expected at the point, lessening the impact of Donminic Ellison’s departure.
Outlook: WSU depends on too many freshmen to expect consistency and therefore shouldn’t be considered a contender for first-tier status. With Fontaine, however, the Cougars always have a chance.
8. USC Trojans
1995-96 record: 11-19; 4-14 Pac-10, tie for 9th
Coach: Henry Bibby
Years coaching: Two, both at USC (took over last season with nine games remaining)
Record: 5-12
Top returnees: G Stais Boseman (6-4, Sr.), C David Crouse (6-11, Sr.), F Jaha Wilson (6-5, Sr.)
Top newcomers: F Rodrick Rhodes (6-6, Sr.), F Jarvis Turner (6-8, Fr.), G Larry Ayuso (6-2, So.), G Ken Simms (6-5, Jr.), G Danny Walker (6-1, Fr.)
Quickly: The supporting cast is all that will keep Rhodes from upstaging Arizona’s Bibby as top newcomer.
Outlook: The jury is out on USC, and we’re not talking about any football players here.
9. Oregon State Beavers
1995-96 record: 4-23; 2-16 Pac-10, 10th
Coach: Eddie Payne
Years coaching: 11, second at Oregon State
Record: 167-137, 8-28 at Oregon State
Top returnees: F Sonny Benjamin (6-6, Jr.), F Iyan Walker (6-7, So.), F Sasa Petrovic (6-9, So.)
Top newcomers: G Corey Benjamin (6-5, Fr.), F Terill Woods (6-5, Jr.), G Carson Cunningham (6-0, Fr.), G Jerome Vaden (5-11, Jr.), G/F J.B. Bickerstaff (6-4, Fr.)
Quickly: Corey Benjamin becoming eligible was vital for the program.
Outlook: The reconstruction is well under way, as close losses to Texas and Oregon indicate.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils
1995-96 record: 11-16; 6-12 Pac-10, 8th
Coach: Bill Frieder
Years coaching: 18, 8th at Arizona State
Record: 320-179, 129-92 at Arizona State
Top returnees: F Rodger Farrington (6-7, Sr.), G Jeremy Veal (6-3, Jr.), G Quincy Brewer (6-5, Sr.)
Top newcomers: G Ahlon Lewis (6-0, Jr.)
Quickly: Veal and Brewer were Frieder’s only proven players, now Brewer is out for the season with a broken hand.
Outlook: Sun Devils hope to steal one in Corvallis. , DataTimes