The College Basketball season is one day away. Let’s dive into the Pac-12 Basketball 2021-2022 preview. The Pac-12 went into last season as one of the worst power 5 conferences, but ended having four teams in the sweet-sixteen. The only team that didn’t make it was Colorado, who lost to Florida State in the round of 32.

The Pac-12 is looking to now be one of the best conferences for this season. The University of Arizona can now return to March Madness after serving their one year post-season ban. Let’s see the Pac-12 Basketball 2021-2022 Preview.

Awards

POTY: Johnny Juzang, UCLA

DPOTY: Isaiah Mobley, USC

FOTY: Peyton Watson, UCLA

COTY: Mike Cronin, UCLA

Pac-12 Projected Standings

1. UCLA (Preseason Favorite)
2. Oregon
3. USC
4. Arizona
5. Colorado
6. Arizona State
7. Washington State
8. Stanford
9. Oregon State
10. Utah
11. Washington
12. California

1. UCLA

Key Returners: Johnny Juzang, Cody Riley, Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez, Jules Bernard, Jake Kyman, Jaylen Clark, Mac Etienne, David Singleton
Key Losses: Chris Smith, Jalen Hill
Key Newcomers: Peyton Watson, Will McClendon, Myles Johnson (Rutgers)

2020-21 Record: 22-10

UCLA was one lousy half away from being in the round of 64. But instead, UCLA somehow ended up in the Final Four. Starts of Johnny Juzang, Tyger Campbell, and Jamine Jaquez led the Bruins to be a buzzer away from the Championship game. Coming into the 2021-22 season, UCLA will start at #2 in the AP poll. Bringing back all of the significant stars and netting transfer Myles Johnson will also help the enormous man depth. Don’t be surprised to see the Bruins playing in April for the title.

2. Oregon

Key Returners: Will Richardson, Eric Williams, N’Faly Dante, Franck Kepnang
Key Losses: Eugene Omoruyi, Chris Duarte, LJ Figueroa, Amauri Hardy, Chandler Lawson, Jalen Terry
Key Newcomers: Quincy Guerrier (Syracuse), De’Vion Harmon (Oklahoma), Jacob Young (Rutgers), Nate Bittle, Rivaldo Soares (JUCO), Isaac Johnson

2020-21 Record: 21-7

Why is Dana Altman one of the best coaches in the nation? Dana brings in yet again another group of talented transfers to help lead to another possible elite eight-run. The significant transfer trio includes Quincy Guerrier (Syracuse), De’Vion Harmon (Oklahoma), Jacob Young (Rutgers). All three of these players were in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and averaged in double-digits. Don’t forget about the 5-star recruit Nate Bittle. All of these recruits and transfers should make an immediate impact early on in the season. The Duck will open the season on the AP poll at #13.

3. USC

Key Returners: Isaiah Mobley, Isaiah White, Drew Peterson, Max Agbonkpolo, Chevez Goodwin, Ethan Anderson
Key Losses: Evan Mobley, Tahj Eaddy, Noah Baumann
Key Newcomers: Boogie Ellis (Memphis), Malik Thomas, Harrison Hornery, Kobe Johnson

2020-21 Record: 25-8

USC will be challenged to fill the holes of losing Evan Mobley and Tahj Eaddy, who helped them reach the Elite Eight. I would say the USC Trojans are starting to retool their team. But expect them to be in the mix for the Pac-12 Champions. Six players who started at least one guy last season will return and look for Isaiah Mobley to be the go-to scorer on the Trojans. USC will start the season out of the top 25, but in the top 30.

4. Arizona

Key Returners: Azuolas Tubelis, Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry, Christian Koloko, Kerr Kriisa
Key Losses: James Akinjo, Terrell Brown, Jordan Brown, Jemarl Baker, Ira Lee
Key Newcomers: Oumar Ballo (Gonzaga), Justin Kier (Georgia), Pelle Larsson (Utah), Shane Nowell, Adama Bal, Kim Aiken

2020-21 Record: 17-9

Arizona is looking forward to their future, with the FBI Investigations being over and Sean Miller being gone. Miller did leave some decent young talent for Tommy Loyd. But the impact players will be the transfers, including Pelle Larsson and Justin Kier. One player to look for to break out will be Azyolas Tubelis. If the chemistry can click early, this team can surprise some teams in March.

5. Colorado

Key Returners: Evan Battey, Eli Parquet, Jabari Walker, Keeshawn Barthelemy, Tristan da Silva
Key Losses: McKinley Wright IV, Jeriah Horne, D’Shawn Schwartz, Dallas Walton, Maddox Daniels
Key Newcomers: Quincy Allen, Lawson Lovering, KJ Simpson, Javon Ruffin, Julian Hammond

2020-21 Record: 23-9

This team is losing great starters of McKinely Wright, Jeriah Horne, D’Shawn Schwartz, and Dallas Walton. But again, Tad Boyle will find a way to get this team to at least 20 wins this season. Possible breakout players are Jabari Walker, who got a double-double in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and Keeshawn Bartelemy, who shined when McKinely Wright was hurt. New recruits KJ Simpson and Lawson Lovering will be immediate impacts on the court. During the month of December, Colorado will face four ranked teams: Oregon, UCLA, Kansas, and Tennessee.

6. Arizona State

Key Returners: Marcus Bagley, Jalen Graham, Kimani Lawrence
Key Losses: Remy Martin, Alonzo Verge, Josh Christopher, Holland Woods, Jaelen House, Chris Osten, Taeshon Cherry
Key Newcomers: Marreon Jackson (Toledo), Jay Heath (Boston College), Luther Muhammad (Ohio State), DJ Horne (Illinois State), Alonzo Gaffney (JUCO), Enoch Boakye, Demari Williams, Will Felton, Justin Rochelin, Jamiya Neal.

2020-21 Record: 11-14

Bobby Hurley will always be one of the best NCAA coaches of all time. But this season is a complete rebuild season that includes losing Remy Martin and Josh Christophers. But will all of the newcomers and transfers be able to get chemistry before March to get an NCAA Tournament bid? Arizona State will get tested early by number 8 Baylor.

7. Washington State

Key Returners: Noah Williams, Efe Abogidi, Dishon Jackson, DJ Rodman, TJ Bamba, Andrej Jakimovski, Ryan Rapp
Key Losses: Isaac Bonton , Aljaz Kunc, Volodymyr Markovetsky, Myles Warren
Key Newcomers: Michael Flowers (South Alabama), Tyrell Roberts (UC San Diego), Matt DeWolf (Brown), Myles Rice

2020-21 Record: 14-13

Washington State showed some love late last season, with upset wins over Oregon and UCLA. Incoming transfers of Michael Flowers and Tyrell Roberts will be solid shooters on the outside. Look for sophomore breakout Noah Williams to have a good season.

8. Stanford

Key Returners: Jaiden Delaire, Spencer Jones, Michael O’Connell, Lukas Kisunas, Noah Taitz
Key Losses: Oscar da Silva, Ziaire Williams, Daejon Davis, Bryce Wills
Key Newcomers: Harrison Ingram, Isael Silva, Jarvis Moss, Maxime Raynaud

2020-21 Record: 14-13

Losing Oscar de Silva and Ziarie Williams will be very significant. But the prospect of Harrison Ingram will be exciting to watch. Don’t expect a tournament bid from the Cardinals.

9. Oregon State

Key Returners: Warith Alatishe, Jarod Lucas, Gianni Hunt, Roman Silva, Maurice Calloo, Rodrigue Andela
Key Losses: Ethan Thompson, Zach Reichle, Dearon Tucker, Tariq Silver
Key Newcomers: Tre Williams (Minnesota), Xzavier Malone-Key (Fairleigh Dickinson), Ahmad Rand (Memphis), Chol Marial (Maryland), Dexter Akanno (Marquette), DaShawn Davis (JUCO), Glenn Taylor Jr.

2020-21 Record: 20-13

What a story for Oregon State last season, going to the Elite Eight and winning the Pac-12 Championship game. Especially with Ethan Thompson and Jarod Lucas playing outstanding. Don’t expect Oregon State to make another run like last season. But they have a great shot at making the NCAA Tournament, and Jarod Lucas is the player to watch with this team.

10. Utah

Key Returners: Branden Carlson, Riley Battin
Key Losses: Timmy Allen, Alfonso Plummer, Pelle Larsson, Mikael Jantunen, Ian Martinez, Rylan Jones
Key Newcomers: Rollie Worster (Utah State), Marco Anthony (Utah State), Both Gach (Minnesota), David Jenkins Jr. (UNLV), Dusan Mahorcic (Illinois State), Gabe Madsen (Cincinnati), Bostyn Holt (JUCO), Lazar Stefanovic

202-21 Record: 12-13

Utah set the full reset button with the new head coach of Craig Smith, but only returned two players of Branden Carlson and Riley Battin. The two players to watch from this Utah squad are Branden Carlson and the UNLV transfer David Jenkins Jr.

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11. Washington

Key Returners: Jamal Bey, Nate Roberts, Cole Bajema, Riley Sorn
Key Losses: Quade Green, Erik Stevenson, Marcus Tsohonis, RaeQuan Battle, Hameir Wright, Nate Pryor, J’Raan Brooks
Key Newcomers: Terrell Brown Jr. (Arizona), Daejon Davis (Stanford), Emmitt Matthews Jr. (West Virginia), PJ Fuller (TCU), Langston Wilson (JUCO), Jackson Grant, Samuel Ariyibi

2020-21 Record: 5-21

My second to last team for my Pac-12 Basketball 2021-2022 preview is Washington. Washington needed a roster reboot, and with five transfers coming to do some damage. The Huskies won’t be getting many Pac-12 wins this season.

12. California

Key Returners: Andre Kelly, Grant Anticevich, Joel Brown, Jarred Hyder, Makale Foreman, Kuany Kuany, Lars Thiemann, Jalen Celestine, DJ Thorpe
Key Losses: Matt Bradley, Ryan Betley
Key Newcomers: Jordan Shepherd (Charlotte), Obinna Anyanwau, Marsalis Roberson

2020-21: 9-20

The last team of my Pac-12 Basketball 2021-2022 preview is California. Losing Matt Bradley will be significant, but the future is bright with all of the returns. The bad news is this team is projected to be the worst team in the conference.

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