Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: Ducks to remain the league’s best

By Carmine Carcieri

March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All American guard Markelle Fultz (20) poses for photos on portrait day at the Marriott Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All American guard Markelle Fultz (20) poses for photos on portrait day at the Marriott Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Washington Huskies

2015-16 record: 18-14 overall, 9-9 in Pac-12

Head coach: Lorenzo Romar

Key returning players: Noah Dickerson, David Crisp, Malik Dime, Matisse Thybulle, Dominic Green, Devenir Duruisseau

Newcomers: Five-star G Markelle Fultz, two-star SF Carlos Johnson, non-ranked C Sam Timmins, non-ranked SF Harold Baruti, freshman G Bitumba Baruti, Auburn transfer Matthew Atewe

Unexpectedly, the Huskies lost their top three leading scorers from last season, including two freshman Dejounte Murray and Marquese Chriss.

However, Lorenzo Romar, who hasn’t led the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament since 2011, returns six key contributors from last season. Forward Noah Dickerson, point guard David Crisp, forward Matisse Thybulle, forward Dominic Green and forward Devenir Duruisseau are all entering their sophomore campaigns, and Malik Dime is back for his final season of college hoops.

But the gem of this Huskies team is five-star combo guard Markelle Fultz. The smooth freshman is an elite offensive player who glides with the basketball in his hands, remains in attacking mode on a consistent basis and can knock down threes from the perimeter. Most importantly, Fultz doesn’t force shots and makes good decisions with the basketball in his hands.

Fultz will be the leader of this roster, but the biggest question regarding the Huskies revolves around whether the freshman has enough help moving forward.

Is Thybulle ready to breakout? Can Crisp and Fultz form a solid backcourt duo? Can Dickerson take his offensive production to the next level? Will Green keep up his excellent preseason/exhibition play? 

The other issue is Washington’s lack of experience, as they have just two upperclassmen in the rotation. One of them is a transfer, so the Huskies may have issues against the top teams in the Pac-12 that have more veteran caliber players.

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