Pac-12 Basketball: UCLA, Oregon atop WTE offseason rankings for '22-23

Pac-12 Basketball: UCLA, Oregon atop WTE offseason rankings for 2022-23

By Joey Loose | Jun 5, 2022

Jan 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) moves the ball as guard Tyger Campbell (10) provides coverage against Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

4 of 12

Pac-12 Basketball Washington Huskies guard Jamal Bey Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Washington

The Huskies have had quite the tumultuous basketball program in recent years. Mike Hopkins looked like a saint just three years ago, winning a Pac-12 regular-season title and leading the program to the NCAA Tournament, but it’s been really rough since then, highlighted by a 5-21 season in 2021. This past season was better, but still just mediocre, and the roster will look quite a bit different for the Huskies moving forward.

Star Terrell Brown (21.7 ppg last year) is gone and they’ll certainly miss forward Emmitt Matthews and his 11.7 points per game as well. The Huskies will turn the focus towards former Washington State guard Noah Williams and hope he can bare the brunt of the scoring. They’ll also hope to get improved play from PJ Fuller, Nate Roberts, and Cole Bajema, who will all likely work their way into the starting lineup this season.

The issue for the Huskies is that all four of those players are seniors and none of them really stand out among the talent of the Pac-12. It’s certainly possible that the Huskies come together and play like they did a few seasons ago, but that would be quite the surprise. Hopkins added a few 3-star recruits for depth, but it’s hard to look at this roster and scream Pac-12 contender, at least right now.

Home/Pac-12