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NCAA Basketball: Kentucky is back, LSU is coming, and more weekly takeaways

By Brian Rauf

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies looks on during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon State Beavers at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Beavers won 69-66 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies looks on during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon State Beavers at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Beavers won 69-66 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

5) Washington will win the Pac-12, but I have no idea if they’re actually a good team

With Arizona and Oregon State both losing on Thursday night, Washington is the final undefeated team remaining in Pac-12 play. They also happen to be the conference’s only team without a bad loss on their resume.

Washington has not picked up a big win, either, but I’m ready to pick them as Pac-12 champs. Why?

Tangibly, they have two stars in Jaylen Nowell and Noah Dickerson who headline the country’s most experienced teams. In a crazy year in the Pac-12, that experience will matter. It’s why many expected them to win the conference at the beginning of the year, yet I have another reason they will accomplish that feat – their schedule.

The Huskies only have to face Arizona, Arizona State, and UCLA one time each, avoiding multiple matchups against arguably the three other best teams in the conference.

There’s a legitimate scenario where Washington loses all three of those games, finishes 15-3 in the Pac-12, and enters the NCAA Tournament without a quality win or with us having any idea if they’re actually any good. Even if they win some or all of those games, we still may not know how good they are or are not.

The schedule sets up perfectly for Washington to win the Pac-12 even though it won’t answer any of the questions that still surround the Huskies.

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