Jon Rothstein - PAC-12 preview and interview with Mike Hopkins

[Liquidated]

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-196-washingtons-mike-hopkins-pac-12-preview/id1050853720?i=1000446203339

Rothstein picks AZ as Conference champs but notes that any school 1-7 has the talent to win it all. He thinks 5-7 teams get NCAA bids and that the conference bounces back in a big way due to recruiting at USC, AZ, and Washington.

Rothstein picks UCLA as a sleeper - notes they have a lot of unheralded talent and that Cronin went to 9 straight NCAA tournaments and never had this much talent.

Hopkins is totally cliche ('culture' blah blah blah, 'our kind of guys' blah blah blah)...but seemed sincere and focused. Very proud of the Pac-12 and respectful of other coaches.

[mvpreed2]

I can agree with this.
I have Arizona as the slight-favorite over Washington/Oregon.
UCLA is in my preseason top five rankings based on their length and athleticism of their wings and bigs.
As long as Campbell is able to come back 100% and run the show?
They might have a say in who wins the PAC-12.

As far as who has a legit shot, I'm not going 7-deep here.
I will go as deep as five, with Oregon State/Colorado & Utah all on that 2nd tier of PAC-12 programs.
Arizona/Oregon/Washington/USC and UCLA in no order are my contenders.

[Liquidated]

I can agree with this.
I have Arizona as the slight-favorite over Washington/Oregon.
UCLA is in my preseason top five rankings based on their length and athleticism of their wings and bigs.
As long as Campbell is able to come back 100% and run the show?
They might have a say in who wins the PAC-12.
As far as who has a legit shot, I'm not going 7-deep here.
I will go as deep as five, with Oregon State/Colorado & Utah all on that 2nd tier of PAC-12 programs.
Arizona/Oregon/Washington/USC and UCLA in no order are my contenders.

I agree with 5 tournament teams and 5 that have any conceivable chance of wining the league, with Washington, AZ and Oregon (in that order) being the most likely winners with USC and UCLA being long shots by comparison. 

WSU, Cal, Stanford, ASU and Utah have zero chance. Colorado's chances are not zero but about the same as Boulder voting Republican next election.

Oregon State is intriguing to me. Tinkle can coach. I think all of the planets would have to line up perfectly...but I think they could pull off a few 'upsets' and get to the tournament. IF (BIG IF) they do, they would knock someone else (like UCLA) out.

[Jdmarti]

I think Arizona Washington an USC have the best talent

[ChrisZona]

I can agree with this.
I have Arizona as the slight-favorite over Washington/Oregon.
UCLA is in my preseason top five rankings based on their length and athleticism of their wings and bigs.
As long as Campbell is able to come back 100% and run the show?
They might have a say in who wins the PAC-12.
As far as who has a legit shot, I'm not going 7-deep here.
I will go as deep as five, with Oregon State/Colorado & Utah all on that 2nd tier of PAC-12 programs.
Arizona/Oregon/Washington/USC and UCLA in no order are my contenders.

I agree with 5 tournament teams and 5 that have any conceivable chance of wining the league, with Washington, AZ and Oregon (in that order) being the most likely winners with USC and UCLA being long shots by comparison. 

WSU, Cal, Stanford, ASU and Utah have zero chance. Colorado's chances are not zero but about the same as Boulder voting Republican next election.

Oregon State is intriguing to me. Tinkle can coach. I think all of the planets would have to line up perfectly...but I think they could pull off a few 'upsets' and get to the tournament. IF (BIG IF) they do, they would knock someone else (like UCLA) out.

I agree I can't see more than 5 getting in the tournament. I would probably give the trio of Arizona/Washington/Oregon like 95% chance of winning the conference title with Colorado and ASU the other 5% to potentially pull off a shocker. I think my problem with the LA schools is they both have serious question marks at point guard. Both have talented teams and very promising front-courts (especially Okongwu) I just have a hard time seeing it. Oregon St is very intriguing and are in similar boat as Colorado except they have point guard issues that need to be solved. Should be a fun year

[Liquidated]

I can agree with this.
I have Arizona as the slight-favorite over Washington/Oregon.
UCLA is in my preseason top five rankings based on their length and athleticism of their wings and bigs.
As long as Campbell is able to come back 100% and run the show?
They might have a say in who wins the PAC-12.
As far as who has a legit shot, I'm not going 7-deep here.
I will go as deep as five, with Oregon State/Colorado & Utah all on that 2nd tier of PAC-12 programs.
Arizona/Oregon/Washington/USC and UCLA in no order are my contenders.

I agree with 5 tournament teams and 5 that have any conceivable chance of wining the league, with Washington, AZ and Oregon (in that order) being the most likely winners with USC and UCLA being long shots by comparison. 

WSU, Cal, Stanford, ASU and Utah have zero chance. Colorado's chances are not zero but about the same as Boulder voting Republican next election.

Oregon State is intriguing to me. Tinkle can coach. I think all of the planets would have to line up perfectly...but I think they could pull off a few 'upsets' and get to the tournament. IF (BIG IF) they do, they would knock someone else (like UCLA) out.

I agree I can't see more than 5 getting in the tournament. I would probably give the trio of Arizona/Washington/Oregon like 95% chance of winning the conference title with Colorado and ASU the other 5% to potentially pull off a shocker. I think my problem with the LA schools is they both have serious question marks at point guard. Both have talented teams and very promising front-courts (especially Okongwu) I just have a hard time seeing it. Oregon St is very intriguing and are in similar boat as Colorado except they have point guard issues that need to be solved. Should be a fun year

ASU? Really?

[ChrisZona]

ASU? Really?

Not to ride to their jock strap or anything but their backcourt is going to be scary good Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge are going to be a problem and maybe the best in the conference now with Williams likely out for the season. But yes still irrelevant nationally!

[mvpreed2]

ASU? Really?

Not to ride to their jock strap or anything but their backcourt is going to be scary good Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge are going to be a problem and maybe the best in the conference now with Williams likely out for the season. But yes still irrelevant nationally!

Yeah...but what else do they have?
Mickey Mitchell?
All their bigs are gone, 2-3 quality guards is going to win you the PAC-12?

[ChrisZona]

Yeah...but what else do they have?
Mickey Mitchell?
All their bigs are gone, 2-3 quality guards is going to win you the PAC-12?

Romello White, Kimani Lawrence, Rob Edwards all averaged over 8.5 points a game and were quality role players last season. It's also fair the expect some improvement in Taeshon Cherry, add in Khalid Thomas a legitimate stretch 4 along with that backcourt and they are fielding a decent team that will compete in the upper half of the conference. I gave them and Colorado a combined 5% chance to win the title, so no I don't think they will win the Pac 12.

[Jdmarti]

I hope 5 teams do make the tourney next year  the pac was horrible last year.