NCAA Basketball: Evaluating bold predictions from 2019-20 season

Pac-12

1) Mick Cronin will look like the right hire for UCLA – for now

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

Admittedly, I don’t think Cronin will be a good fit long-term at UCLA and I wrote as much when I made this prediction, but he certainly looks good in Westwood now. The Bruins finished second in the Pac-12 under his leadership after turning around a disastrous 8-9 start, and he has the future looking bright with five-star point guard Daishen Nix having already committed.

Yeah, there’s excitement surrounding the UCLA program for the first time in a while, which is a positive reflection on the job Cronin has done.

2) Colorado finishes outside the top four

Another winner!

The Buffs, who finished sixth, were one of those trendy preseason breakout picks and were nearly picked to win the Pac-12 in the preseason. And Colorado certainly looked strong early in the season, starting 12-2 with wins over Dayton and Oregon. But the wheels gradually fell off as turnovers and inefficient offense became an issue for them, ultimately culminating in them losing their final five games of the season – including to Washington State in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.

3) The Pac-12 sends six teams to the NCAA Tournament – and four make the Sweet 16

Another NCAA Tournament prediction? Excuse me while I go cry.

2-0 with one no contest. Best conference so far.