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Pac-12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

Jan 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) moves the ball ahead of Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) moves the ball ahead of Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona State Sun Devils forward Marcus Bagley Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona State Sun Devils forward Marcus Bagley Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Sun Devils . 6. team. 512. . .

The Sun Devils may have had some scoring depth but the lack of starpower at the top limited how good they can be. They lost a number of players this offseason, including transfers, Jay Heath and Jalen Graham. The good news is that not only do they return their leading scorer from last season (DJ Horne), but they also have back arguably their best player on the roster in Marcus Bagley.

The 6’8 forward and former top-50 prospect has played just 14 games in two seasons at Arizona State, including just three in 2021-22. He’s a double-digit scorer when he’s on the court and a pro prospect when he’s healthy. If he can play 30 games, that’s another contributor for them.

The Sun Devils added four impact transfers this offseason that fill all of the roster needs. Frankie Collins is a former top-100 recruit from Michigan and is a true point guard to replace Marreon Jackson. Desmond Cambridge, Jr. averaged over 16.0 ppg in four seasons at Brown and Nevada, including shooting a career-high 37% from deep on over seven attempts. His brother Devan Cambridge transferred over from Auburn and is a 6’6 athletic wing and two-way player.

There’s hope that the frontcourt has improved as well. 7’0 center Warren Washington was a double-digit scorer at Nevada and should start, while Enoch Boyake averaged a block per game per 12 mpg off the bench as a freshman. He reclassified so he’s still young and could be a breakout candidate or at least be a legit role player in the frontcourt.

There’s still a question about how good Collins is and Bagley’s health remains a storyline but the pieces are there to be a threat. But as the past couple of seasons have looked like under head coach Bobby Hurley, they have to mesh well with one another.