Pac-12 Basketball: Way-Too-Early Pac-12 Power Rankings

11) Washington State Cougars

2016-2017 Record: 12-18 (6-12, T-9^th Pac-12)

Head Coach: Ernie Kent, 4^th Season

Top Departures: Josh Hawkinson, Ike Iroegbu, Charles Callison, Conor Clifford,

Returning Players: Malachi Flynn, Viont’e Daniels, Robert Franks

Key Additions: Drick Bernstine (Transfer, North Dakota), Kwinton Hinson (JUCO Transfer), Milan Acquaah (Redshirt Freshman), Jamar Ergas (Redshirt Freshman), Roberto Gittens

Analysis:

After finishing toward the bottom of the Pac-12 last season, the Washington State Cougars lost four of their five best scorers from one of the Pac-12’s worst offenses.

While Josh Hawkinson and Ike Iroegbu are both gone, Malachi Flynn is poised to take over as a sophomore. Along with Flynn, the Cougars will rely on the veteran leadership of Robert Franks and gras transfer Drick Bernstine.

Roberto Gittens, the only true freshman on scholarship, joins three redshirt freshman, all of whom need to produce in order for the Cougars to be successful.

The reason the Cougars are above the Bears on this this is their stability at Head Coach. That said, they could very well finish at the bottom of the conference, if some of the younger players do not perform.