Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: 2022 biggest offseason winners and losers

By Tuck Clarry

Mar 10, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins shouts during the first half against the Utah Utes at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins shouts during the first half against the Utah Utes at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner – UCLA

On their course to reaffirming themselves as the premiere program of the west, the Bruins have turned a corner when it comes to retaining talent and reloading their roster rather than needing to rebuild it. In past seasons, it was a combination of young talent and hitting on the portal.

Thankfully for head coach Mick Cronin, enough of the core stayed after a second straight tournament run and the Bruins are able to return two of the core three. While Johnny Juzang may have been the flashiest piece over the last couple of seasons, it is hard to understate the importance of methodical point guard Tyger Campbell and two-way cornerstone forward Jaime Jaquez. Jules Bernard and the untapped potential of Peyton Watson are noteworthy losses for a team looking to play in the second weekend for a third straight season.

But the Bruins have major talent coming in this freshman class. Five-star Adem Bona is a multi-tooled big man that can play with tempo, something that wasn’t necessarily Cody Riley or Myles Johnson. Sierra Canyon alum Amari Bailey fits the mold of Cronin’s two-way toughness. With contributions from returnees like guard, Jaylen Clark and the Bruins should be fighting for the conference championship yet again.

Winner – Washington

It may not feel like it in hindsight, but the Washington Huskies seemed to surpass expectations in what was ultimately a forgettable 2021-2022 season. Pegged by many to finish in the bottom two, the Huskies finished seventh. Head coach Mike Hopkins started game-planning more towards his team’s talent, playing a faster tempo that saw them stick around in games against the top half of the conference.

The Huskies added forward Keion Brooks from Kentucky, big man Franck Kepnang from Oregon, and guard Noah Williams from Washington State. All three should play immediately for Hopkins and have an impact. The team will also ask a lot from freshman hometown guard Koren Johnson. This could be the second time Hopkins could record back-to-back winning seasons since joining the Huskies in 2017-18.

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