Pac-12 basketball lost a lot of star players this season to the NBA Draft. Who will step up to replace the lost stars on each team in the conference?
The Pac-12 Conference is known as the “Conference of Champions;” however, after not winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship for 20 years, their championship pedigree in the sport has faded. This season, the Pac-12 has two teams that look like legitimate National Championship contenders and many more that will compete for NCAA Tournament bids.
In order to win, however, teams rely on their star players for leadership and production. Who will these players be for the teams in the conference?
Arizona Wildcats – Allonzo Trier
After a very successful season that ended in a disappointing Sweet 16 loss to Xavier, the Arizona Wildcats enter this season as the favorite to win the Pac-12 and one of the favorites to win the NCAA Championship.
They will be led this season by Pac-12 Player of the Year favorite Allonzo Trier. Trier, who spent half of last season suspended due to a failed drug test, led the Wildcats to a Pac-12 Tournament Championship last year when most experts expected UCLA or Oregon to take home the trophy.
Trier is in a tough position right now because although his 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists were a key to Arizona’s late season success, some people will still point to his failed PED test as a reason for his performance. The NCAA, however, found that Trier had no knowledge that the substance he was taking for an offseason injury was banned, and lifted the suspension because of that.
Now a junior, Trier is one of the more experienced players on the roster and will be looked at as a leader. With five-star recruit D’Andre Ayton joining the roster and Rawle Alkins returning, Trier has plenty of talent to help him give Coach Sean Miller his first Final Four berth.
Arizona State Sun Devils – Tra Holder and Shannon Evans
This may be cheating, but Arizona State has two stars that it will rely on to compete in the Pac-12 this year. Despite having a relatively inexperienced frontcourt, the Sun Devils have one of the more reliable backcourts in the conference.
Both Tra Holder and Shannon Evans provide head coach Bobby Hurley with a backcourt that could compete with most teams in the country. As both players rank in the top-10 of returning scorers in the Pac-12 (Holder – 16.2 points, Evans – 15.0 points), it is tough to predict who will be better this year. While Holder is a slightly better scorer and rebounder, Evans provides ASU with better perimeter defense and more assists.
Both players are seniors and will be looked at to take over as leaders for Torian Graham, who was the Sun Devils leading scorer last year. There is plenty of talent around them, but the team’s lack of experience and depth could pose an issue.
The biggest reason why it is almost impossible to pick between the two is the way they work in tandem to help Arizona State win. With Graham gone, Evans and Holder will need to play off each other if Arizona State wants to improve.
California Golden Bears – Marcus Lee
There is no doubt that California is in for a rough year, after losing the vast majority of its production. With Kingsley Okoroh as the top returning scorer (4.6 points per game), there is a lot of pressure on the Golden Bears’ new players to pick up big roles.
Perhaps the player best suited for the role of leader and star is Kentucky transfer Marcus Lee. Lee will be a good compliment to Okoroh in the front court, and they become the best shot blocking duo in the conference.
Lee had an underwhelming career with the Kentucky Wildcats before transferring but could find new life with a bigger role. Averaging 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, Lee took advantage of his limited time on the court and established himself as a solid interior defender in the past.
As a senior, Lee will have to be one of the team leaders, using his experience with Kentucky to drive a winning attitude with this young Cal squad. The Golden Bears are not a team that will do a lot of damage in the Pac-12, but if Lee can play to his potential they could finish better than expected.
Colorado Buffaloes – George King
The Colorado Buffaloes have been a middle-of-the-road team in the Pac-12 since joining the conference in 2011. This season does not appear to be any different, as the team will feature a decent team with plenty of unproven players.
If the Buffaloes aim to finish in the top half of the Pac-12, George King will need to have a big season. King, a redshirt senior, has been the second or third option for the last two years, and this season is his time to take over.
After averaging 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, King showed he is able to be a reliable wing player. His 3-point percentage has dipped a bit, from 45.6% as a sophomore to .37.6% last season, and he will need to bring that back up in order to carry more of the scoring load.
This year’s Colorado team will probably not be at the top of the Pac-12, but they shouldn’t be at the bottom either. George King will need to establish himself as a leader, and Colorado will look for him to be a star.
Oregon Ducks – MiKyle McIntosh
It is no secret that the Oregon Ducks lost more production than almost any team in the NCAA. After making the Final Four last season, the Ducks lost their top five scorers and a ton of valuable experience.
With all the talent leaving and sophomore Payton Pritchard being the best returning player, Coach Dana Altman has had to rely on recruiting and the transfer market to reload. While freshman Troy Brown and grad transfer Elijah Brown should provide great talent in the backcourt, the biggest commitment was that of grad transfer MiKyle McIntosh.
McIntosh, who played the last three season at Illinois State, solidified Oregon as a team that should have the talent to return to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, McIntosh averaged 12.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals, making him one of the best all-around players in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The biggest drawback for McIntosh is his efficiency and while his scoring has been steadily improving, he still finished last season with a disappointing 41.0% shooting percentage.
The commitment benefits both sides, allowing McIntosh to compete for a NCAA Tournament bid and providing Oregon with a solid frontcourt player. Expect McIntosh to have a huge year for the Ducks. He has the experience to lead this team in a season where they look to reload instead of rebuild.
Oregon State Beavers – Tres Tinkle
After he missed most of the 2016-17 season with an injury, it is understandable to be tentative when evaluating Tres Tinkle. However, if the Beaver forward can remain healthy, he could be one of the best players in the Pac-12.
Tinkle had a monster start to last season before a broken wrist knocked him out for the remainder of the year. In his six games, Tinkle averaged 20.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals. His most impressive performance came in the game against Fresno State, in which he recorded 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals.
In a recent trip to Spain, Tinkle continued this dominance, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.3 steals over the team’s four games.
Tinkle will be the centerpiece of an Oregon State team that looks like it is poised for a massive rebound from last year’s disappointment. While the Beavers finished the year in last place, they were without Tinkle and Cheikh N’Diaye for the entire Pac-12 slate.
Oregon State is a team that could surprise a lot of people this season. Tinkle and N’Diaye are both healthy, Drew Eubanks decided to forgo the draft, and their backcourt looks strong with Jaquori McLaughlin, Stephen Thompson and Ethan Thompson. This is a team with the talent to compete for a NCAA Tournament bid, and Tres Tinkle is a big reason why.
Stanford Cardinal – Reid Travis
The team who could make the biggest jump forward this season is the Stanford Cardinal, and their improvement relies on the play Reid Travis. The senior is the only returning All-Pac-12 First Team player and one of the front runners for this season’s Pac-12 Player of the Year award.
Travis is the Cardinal’s top returning scorer and rebounder, averaging 17.4 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. His dominance down low was one of the few positives during Stanford’s disappointing season.
The key for Travis this year is his leadership and the play of his teammates. While Travis was a monster in the Pac-12, the rest of his team did not perform at a high level. Dorian Pickens and Michael Humphrey must improve in order for the Cardinal to have a shot at a Tournament bid.
Right now, Stanford is expected to finish in the middle of the Pac-12, but Reid Travis has the talent around him to lead the team to a higher finish. This could be the year Stanford returns to the NCAA Tournament.
UCLA Bruins – Jaylen Hands
The only freshman on this list, UCLA’s Jaylen Hands has the ability to become the top player in Westwood. While Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday are both returning for the Bruins, neither player has the full set of tools that Hands has at his disposal.
As a senior in high school, Hands averaged 29.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.9 steals. His efficiency and talent on both ends of the court are exactly what UCLA needs after losing so many key pieces from last season.
It will be difficult for Hands to match the legacy of Lonzo Balls incredible 2016-17 season, but his skillset allows him to contribute in different ways. While Ball was a pass first point with an unorthodox, but consistent, shot, Hands appears to be a player that can create his own looks, while still having the vision to pass the ball to the open man.
With Welsh’s consistent mid-range shooting, Holidays ability to get open and score from all over the court, and the offensive promise of UCLA’s new recruits, the Bruins look like a team that aims to replicate last season’s scoring success.
Just like last year, the key to high octane offense is consistent play from the point guard position. Hands has the talent to provide that consistency and could end up being one of the top players in the country because of it.
USC Trojans – Bennie Boatwright
Honestly, there are a few players that could have been named as USC’s star heading into the upcoming season. Forward Chimezie Metu exploded last season for the Trojans and sophomore transfer Derryck Thornton may have the most upside.
Despite the talent of these two players, forward Bennie Boatwright remains the top man for USC. Last season, Boatwright was the Trojans top scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game, and was a pretty solid competitor on the boards.
Last season, health was an issue for Boatwright, as he missed 17 games due to injury. When he was healthy, though, USC was an incredibly tough team to beat. He led the Trojans to two hard-fought wins in the NCAA Tournament before they eventually lost to Baylor in the Round of 32.
This season, the expectations are higher for head coach Andy Enfield’s team, and it all starts with the return of Boatwright. With Boatwright and Metu both deciding to forgo the NBA draft, USC has one of the best returning frontcourts in the country.
The key for Boatwright this year is to continue to stretch the floor and improve his 3-point shot. Over half his shots came from deep last year, providing space in the paint for Metu to dominate.
If Boatwright can remain healthy and consistently performs to his ability, USC should be a top-10 caliber team for most of the season.
Utah Utes – David Collette
When it comes to analyzing the key players on Utah’s roster, one name comes stands out: David Collette. Collette, a senior forward, will need to step up as a leader for the Utes, who are a middle of the road team in the Pac-12.
After a solid season with Utah State, Collette decided to transfer to Utah and made his debut for the Utes last December. His presence gave Utah a much-needed boost, which helped them finish fourth in Pac-12 play.
Collette averaged 13.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks last year while playing as the second interior option to Kyle Kuzma. Now that Kuzma is gone, Collette must take on the role of the top option, a role he should be able to handle. Last season, Collette shot a very efficient 59.9% from the floor, which makes him always a threat to score.
Due to transfer rules, Collette was sidelined for the start of last season but made an instant impact as soon as he was eligible. This season, he will have an opportunity to take over the team and be a star in a major conference.
Washington Huskies – Noah Dickerson
Washington’s new head coach Mike Hopkins has his work cut out for him this season, as he aims to turn the Huskies’ program around. While he has plenty of returning talent and some solid recruits coming, it is difficult to pinpoint one player that stands above the rest.
Some people will point to the David Crisp or Matisse Thybulle, but forward Noah Dickerson may be the most consistent all-around player on the team. Dickerson, the top returning rebounder, is a player Hopkins can rely on to compete down low.
Dickerson’s 12.5 points, 8.2 rebounds per game performance last year was greatly overshadowed by the play of teammate Markelle Fultz. Dickerson was the most reliable player for the Huskies in the paint and should have another successful season this year.
The difference between Dickerson’s star quality and that of Markelle Fultz is his ability to contribute to the team without being the focal point. While Fultz was an excellent player for Washington, his tendency to fall into hero ball allowed teams to key on him in order to shut down the Huskies’ offense.
With Dickerson, Cris, Thybulle, and the incoming recruits all being threats to score, teams will have a much more difficult time planning their defense. Dickerson’s consistency, strength, and competitiveness in the paint, however, make him the early star for Washington.
Washington State Cougars – Malachi Flynn
While Cal might have the greatest lack of depth and experience, Washington State is not far behind. With four of their top five scorers graduating, the Cougars will need new faces to step up and improve.
The favorite to take on the role of first-option for the team is sophomore guard Malachi Flynn. Flynn leads returning players to the team with 9.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 0.7 steals. He will need to make a big jump in 2017-18, but he has the talent to do that.
The biggest issue that Flynn will face is the lack depth and experience around him, which will allow defenses to key on him. Without clear, reliable options for Flynn to work with, he may find himself in more double-team situations than usual.
Cougar fans are in for a pretty rough season, with a bottom three finish in the Pac-12 seeming like a guarantee. This is will be a litmus test for Malachi Flynn. Can Flynn perform well as a leader and top option during a losing season? If he can develop this season, he could be the player that the Cougars build around over the next few years.
Next: Big Ten Conference Stars
The Pac-12 has some of the biggest stars in the entire country, and that makes teams like Arizona contenders to win the National Championship. Pac-12 games often times are played late at night, but they are worth staying up for. These stars are “must-watch” TV.