Pac 10 Basketball predictions

Oh first I want to preface this by saying I am way behind on my research. Since moving up to Portland I have way less free time than I did in Eugene for a variety of reasons that are mainly good. I am pretty much throwing these picks up based on who is returning from last year and I have yet to see any games from Pac 10 squads this year. However come February I promise that I will be a Pac 10 hoops expert again. Here are my picks:

1. Arizona - some good senior leadership along with quality youngsters
2. UCLA - Bringing East Coast toughness to the Pac 10
3. Washington - Brockman looks to be a candidate for Pac 10 Frosh of the year
4. Stanford - Cagey, experienced need to avoid injury bug of last year
5. Cal - So much depends on Powe's health
6. Oregon - Lots of upside, I wonder about the chemistry though, Kent can't afford another year not playing in the NCAA's with the recruits he has pulled in
7. Oregon State - Scrappy team, we shall see how they replace Lucas
8. WSU - No one likes to play WSU . . .
9. USC - hope is renewed with Floyd at the helm . . . I miss Doctor Evil though
10. Arizona State - this will be Evans swansong, if they couldn't win with Diogu how are they gonna win with out him

Pac 10 Power Rankings 11/14/05

Huge changes from last week's ratings, I see the scenario of where only 4 Pac 10 teams end up in bowls, if ASU loses to Zona it seems likely unless Stanford can beat either Cal or Notre Dame or shudder Oregon State can beat Oregon . . . the Trees have to be kicking themselves still for that UC Davis debacle

1. USC - Rolled up Cal, covered the spread, 3 wins away from history . . .
2. Oregon - survived a scare in Pullman, what's new . . .
3. UCLA - Came back after the U of A loss, maybe they have more character than previous Bruins teams which I think bodes well for Dorrel's future
4. Cal - Ayoob just doesn't make good desicions
5. Stanford - This team is bi-polar I think, nice win in Corvallis
6. ASU - Played UCLA pretty tough, just not enough, I'll predict that if Koetter loses to Arizona in two weeks, his services will no longer be needed in Tempe
7. UW - Wow a Husky win, shocking to say the least, will they ever lose 14 in a row in the Pac 10? Or will anyone for that matter?
8. Arizona - A wee bit overconfident Stoops and company?
9. Oregon State - Moore is done and most likely so are the Beavs bowl chances
10. WSU - Have to be the best 0-7 team in Pac 10 history . . . again they played just well enough to lose another close game