Arizona favored to win the PAC12 & Nico predicted to make all PAC12 1st team

[PBCatfan]

I got
1. Zona
2. UDub
3. Oregon

Those are also the only Pac schools dancing this year I'm guessing.

[Dav]

We're never favored, we've always had the target.  We have a good blend of youth and experience.  They (UDub) have a good blend of experienced, in-experience.  We are depending on a Freshmen back court or who? DD and Smith, sorry haven't kept up with this evolving door. IMO freshmen back courts are never the answer however, I have been totally wrong on one other occasion so, who knows.  This year we probably are the best the PAC has to offer and if the freshmen are allowed to develop, they'll be ready by tourney time.

[KansasCityCats]

You're right.  Freshmen backcourts are generally detrimental to winning titles...but it isn't impossible if you have a recruiting class that is considered "special".

2014-15 Dook had Tyus Jones and Tripper Allen
2011-12 Kentucky had Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague
2010-11 UCONN had Lamb and Napier (although Kemba ran the show)
2002-03 Syracuse had McNamara & Melo

I think we have a nice balance of upperclassmen and elite freshmen.  Despite having a lack of PG depth (unless B-Will steps in and stays healthy), Arizona has a legit shot at Miller's first Final Four.

[ichi]

that balance of experienced upperclassmen and multi-starred freshman can be a very good thing, but like we saw two years ago it also takes the right chemistry, and then add in the coaching/development/off-court stuff ...

I see a typical conference season on-court, we win most/all at home and lose a close one or two to Oregon or Washington and then one more sleeper loss to a bottom half team that plays the game of their season, because 'target'

we win the conference season title and play in the title game in Vegas, go into the tourney ranked in the top 20 for a 4-5 seed

For some reason I think Miller's due for an ejection, this might be a good year for that, along with another dramatic exit by Bobby, hopefully at McKale

all predictions are pulled out of my butt, just like every 'journalist' or talking head's rankings and predictions, and are not meant to be taken seriously, just sit back and let it unfold

[Liquidated]

You're right.  Freshmen backcourts are generally detrimental to winning titles...but it isn't impossible if you have a recruiting class that is considered "special".

2014-15 Dook had Tyus Jones and Tripper Allen
2011-12 Kentucky had Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague
2010-11 UCONN had Lamb and Napier (although Kemba ran the show)
2002-03 Syracuse had McNamara & Melo

I think we have a nice balance of upperclassmen and elite freshmen.  Despite having a lack of PG depth (unless B-Will steps in and stays healthy), Arizona has a legit shot at Miller's first Final Four.

...and there was that 2006-2007 team at Arizona lead by Freshmen Mike Bibby. 

[Liquidated]

I got
1. Zona
2. UDub
3. Oregon

Those are also the only Pac schools dancing this year I'm guessing.

Really?  No USC?

UCLA has the talent to make it...

It is interesting...a 6th place team in conference with 3 tournament teams probably has less chance than that same team with the same record if 4 or 5  make the tournament...

I think we can land 5 or 6 again... Some of last year HAS to have been fluke.

[ichi]

Sports Illustrated has:

Colorado
Arizona
Oregon
Washington
Trojans
Tempe Normal
UCLA

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/07/23/pac-12-rankings-arizona-colorado-oregon-washington

which Buffalo said that Arizona wasn't that good after we beat them?  I can't remember but he was a punk

[MDcAtZ]

Sports Illustrated has:

Colorado
Arizona
Oregon
Washington
Trojans
Tempe Normal
UCLA

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/07/23/pac-12-rankings-arizona-colorado-oregon-washington

which Buffalo said that Arizona wasn't that good after we beat them?  I can't remember but he was a punk

SI is picking Colorado based purely on the fact that they finished last season strong... ignoring it was the worst year in P12 history, and teams reloaded with major talent while CO did absolutely nothing in terms of recruiting. It lazy "rear view mirror" analysis.

[Liquidated]

Picking Colorado that high has me freaked out enough to double check everything... they really did not add anything and lost some experience. They just are not that strong. Unless I am missing couple of big time transfers or something - I just don't get anyone thinking they can win it all. 

ASU, too... they lost everyone and their class is not good. Hurley may actually be a decent coach and they definitely have some life int hat program now, but I think Hurley thought he was done and on to the next job, because he did not recruit any one of note.

[MDcAtZ]

Picking Colorado that high has me freaked out enough to double check everything... they really did not add anything and lost some experience. They just are not that strong. Unless I am missing couple of big time transfers or something - I just don't get anyone thinking they can win it all. 

ASU, too... they lost everyone and their class is not good. Hurley may actually be a decent coach and they definitely have some life int hat program now, but I think Hurley thought he was done and on to the next job, because he did not recruit any one of note.

Stop forcing us to agree with you Liquidated!!!

In terms of ASU, sure, they finished second in the conference last year. But again, it was the weakest year in P12 history.... let's not forget their loss at home to Princeton. They looked average because everyone else  was at historic levels of weakness. Since then, they've essentially replaced their leading scorers (Dort and Cheatham) with JUCO players. While Martin is a decent player, he's not a franchise player that can carry a below average team to wins. They will finish 6th at best, but could be a lot lower. Will have a losing conference record.