Busting Brackets
Fansided

Pac-12 Basketball: Way-too-early preseason 2019-20 power rankings

By Connor Hope

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona Wildcats mascot Wilbur the Wildcat stands on the baseline during the team's semifinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona won 86-75. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona Wildcats mascot Wilbur the Wildcat stands on the baseline during the team's semifinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona won 86-75. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Washington State Cougars mascot Butch T. Cougar jokes around on the court during the team’s first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks won 64-62 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Washington State Cougars mascot Butch T. Cougar jokes around on the court during the team’s first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks won 64-62 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

12) Washington State Cougars

The Washington State Cougars’ new head coach Kyle Smith has his work cut out for him this season, with an incredibly depleted roster and few current recruits in the pipeline. With CJ Elleby testing draft waters, the Cougars have just three players with any significant experience. Smith will need to work hard to make up for lost time, but it seems clear that Washington State is in for another rough year.

Marvin Cannon and Jervae Robinson will be handed the reigns as the top returning players, but several rotational pieces will need to take on bigger roles in order for the Cougars to succeed. After former Head Coach Ernie Kent was fired, many of the role players, and multiple recruits, made it clear that they were looking to transfer or commit elsewhere. This leaves Smith with barely enough players to field a team.

The jump from one team to another is always tough; however, this move may be particularly difficult for Smith, who will be taking over a less talented team in a more talented conference. Coach Smith has a few months to recruit, but there is only so much you can do with transfers, JUCO players and overlooked freshmen.

With the roster in flux, it may be at least a year before Coach Smith can put together a competitive basketball team in Pullman.

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