Pac-12 Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Brian Rauf | May 16, 2020

EUGENE, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks pokes the ball away from Alonzo Verge Jr. #11 of the Arizona State Sun Devils as Will Richardson #0 defends during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena on January 11, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: McKinley Wright IV #25 of the Colorado Buffaloes (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

514. . Last Year: 21-11 (10-8). . Buffaloes . 8. team

Last year was supposed to be the year for Colorado. They would’ve loved to have had their crack in the NCAA Tournament but, given the way the season ended for them, I don’t know if that would’ve been a good thing.

The Buffs lost five straight games to end the season (including their Pac-12 Tournament opener against Washington State) and six of their last eight overall after getting off to a 19-5 start. Turnovers killed them during that stretch, as did their defensive regression.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear Tad Boyle’s squad will get another crack at the NCAA Tournament. Star wing Tyler Bey has already announced his intentions to stay in the NBA Draft. Point guard McKinley Wright is also in the early entry pool, but he has yet to make an official decision.

I’m expecting Wright to return for the purpose of these projections and Colorado will need him to steady the ship next year, otherwise things may get rocky for the Buffs. D’Shawn Schwartz and Evan Battey are expected to take over bigger roles, but the depth behind them is severely lacking. Their defense will likely take a step back, too, given their personnel losses.

Colorado was building towards last season. 2020-21 will be more of a transition year for them. Wright, Schwartz, and Battey may lead them to some victories over the conference’s top teams, but the lack of depth behind them will keep the Buffs in the bottom half of the conference.

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