Projected order of finish
1. Stanford
2. Arizona
3. Washington
4. UCLA
5. California
6. Oregon
7. Oregon State
8. Washington State
9. USC
10. Arizona State
Out with the old, in with the new that should be the theme for the Pac-10s 2005-2006 season, as many of the big names around the West Coast have either graduated or headed pro.
Salim Stoudamire and Channing Frye are professionals, and the new headline makers at Arizona could be Mustafa Shakur and Hassan Adams. Washingtons deadly perimeter trio is old news, just in time for Brandon Roy and Bobby Jones to emerge. Teams like Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA underwent their transformations last season, but their key players remain relatively new to the Pac-10 spotlight. Californias Leon Powe replaces lottery pick Ike Diogu as the conferences premier big man.
While the Pac-10 hasnt exactly measured up to other heavyweight conferences in recent years, that could change in 2006. Pac-10 coaches are recruiting better than ever, and this is the year it starts to pay off.
There are four teams primed for NCAA tourney contention here, in Stanford, Arizona, Washington, and UCLA. All four have a case for being the preseason favorite, though some recent injures might bump the Bruins down a bit. California would be the sleeper to jump into the top half of the conference. The Golden Bears are very talented on paper, but must stay healthy and prove it on the court this year.
While the marquee faces are new, the talent level may have gone up a bit in the Pac-10. This is a conference that should improve quite dramatically over the next couple of years, and it starts right now.
DraftExpress 2006 Preseason All Pac-10 Teams and Awards
All Pac-10
1st Team
PG Jordan Farmar, UCLA
SG Malik Hairston, Oregon
SF Hassan Adams, Arizona
SF Brandon Roy, Washington
PF Leon Powe, California
2nd Team
PG Chris Hernandez, Stanford
PG Gabe Pruitt, USC
SG Dan Grunfield, Stanford
PF Matt Haryasz, Stanford
PF Nick DeWitz, Oregon State
3rd Team
PG Aaron Brooks, Oregon
PG Mustafa Shakur, Arizona
SG Jawann McClellan, Arizona
SG Nick Young, USC
SF Bobby Jones, Washington
All-Newcomer Team
PG Antwi Atuahene, Arizona State
SF Marcus Williams, Arizona
SF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
PF Jon Brockman, Washington
C Abdoulaye Ndiaye, USC
MVP: Leon Powe, California
Defensive Player of the Year: Bobby Jones, Washington
Most Improved Player: Jawann McClellan, Arizona
Newcomer of the Year: Jon Brockman, Washington
Coach of the Year: Ben Braun, California