Pac-12 Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

Players to watch

Bennedict Mathurin – Arizona Wildcats

This season was the season that Mathurin arrived on a national scale. He had a promising and efficient season in 2020-2021 that was lost due to Arizona’s self-imposed sanctions at the end of the Sean Miller years. And this year the efficiency stayed in a much, much bigger role. He’s earned All-American honors because of his 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 47% shooting from the field and 41.8% from the perimeter.

He’s become a surefire lottery pick expected to hear his name sometime between picks 5 through 10. He was the perfect player for Lloyd’s high-tempo and assist-friendly style. He is a star in this league and someone to witness in his final string of college games.

Jaime Jaquez – UCLA Bruins

While Johnny Juzang’s tournament run last season put great expectations on the Westwood player’s follow-up season, it’s time that we acknowledge that the Bruins are the Bruins because of the two-way efforts of Jaquez. He, Juzang, and Jules Bernard are all important scorers who are essential for the UCLA iso-heavy style to function and keep defenders honest.

Jaquez’s season though was what buoyed an unpredictable season. He’s averaging 13.3 points on 48% shooting and is incredibly reliable at finding a way to the basket. He capped off the season with 30 and 27 point games and looks to be headed towards a hot streak going into the tournament.

Terrell Brown – Washington Huskies

In his return to his hometown of Seattle, Brown had an incredible season that helped bolster a Huskies team to finish was picked to finish in the cellar of the conference to a surprising seventh. To say the Brown was the Huskies’ offense is, to put it mildly. He averaged 21.7 points and 4.2 assists this year while leading the conference in minutes, usage, and shot percentage.

The basket attacking guard was able to lead the conference in fouls drawn and finish second in assist rate as well. Brown will likely be a name to watch out for in the first two rounds of the tournament and might even lead his team to an upset.

Jabari Walker – Colorado Buffaloes

There may be no player more underrated in the Pac-12 than the two-way forward Walker. The 6-foot-9 forward had one of the highest rebounding rates in the conference while averaging 14.7 points and 9.4 boards. He’s a special talent that oozes NBA potential as a multi-level scorer and shot blocker. He’s also elevated his game in the larger role he had to play because of roster depletion from last year’s tournament team.

The Buffalo has had a high variance season, piecing together wins against the best like Arizona but playing down to the bottom third of the conference as well. Any magical run for Tad Boyle’s team is dependent on a strong showing from Walker.