Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: 10 key questions looming for 2021-22 season

By Jerran Anderson

Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman talks with his team during a timeout against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman talks with his team during a timeout against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley Pac-12 Basketball Stanford Vs Asu
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley Pac-12 Basketball Stanford Vs Asu /

10. Which of the Bottom 5 will bounce back in 2021-22?

The bottom of Pac-12 basketball was a bit crowded in the standings by the end of the 2020-21 season. Five teams (California, Washington, Washington State, Arizona State and Utah) in the conference finished with records below .500 in the league. With a new season on the horizon, which team has the biggest chance of a turnaround?

The Utah Utes and Arizona State Sun Devils were the closest to the promised land and out of the Pac-12 basement this past season. The Utes went 8-11 and 7-footer Branden Carlson returns for them with the surprise return of Both Gach as well.

Gach spent time with the Utes from 2018-20 and played at Minnesota in 2020-21 before returning to Utah. He’ll look to return to rare form when he last averaged 10.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 2.9 apg back in 2019-20.

The Sun Devils went 8-11 in conference action and lose a superstar in Remy Martin (Kansas) but the additions of Jay Heath (Boston College), DJ Horne (Illinois State) and Marreon Jackson (Toledo) should bolster things on all fronts.

Heath poured in 14.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.8 apg for Boston College in the ACC this past season while knocking down 2,2 3-pointers per game on 35 percent shooting from the arc.

Horne produced 15.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.5 spg as an All-MVC third-team selection in 2020-21. He should also boost their 3-point shooting after shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point land and making 2.5 3-pointers per contest.

Jackson was last season’s MAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.9 apg and 1.8 spg. He had a budding four-year career with Toledo and now looks to turn things around for Arizona State.

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