Non-Top 50 Pac-10 Team Previews
Oregon lost its three best players, but ultra-quick guard Tajuan Porter returns. (ESPN)
By Shaun Albin
salbin@thehoopsreport.com
Monday, November 03, 2008
California Golden Bears
Last Season: 17-16 (6-12)
Key Losses: Ryan Anderson and DeVon Hardin
Head Coach: Mike Montgomery
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Jerome Randle 5-10 Jr.
SG: Patrick Christopher 6-5 Jr.
SF: Theo Robertson 6-6 Jr.
PF: Jamal Boykin 6-8 Jr.
C: Harper Kamp 6-8 So.
Key Reserves: D.J. Seeley 6-4 Fr. SG, Omondi Amoke 6-6 Fr. SF, Jorge Gutierrez 6-3 Fr. PG, Jordan Wilkes 7-0 Jr. C
Cal struggled through Pac-10 play last season. This year the conference is considerably worse and the Bearcats have made a significant coaching upgrade. The team will be led by 6-foot-5 junior Patrick Christopher, but they do lack size in the post. Mike Montgomery built his Stanford teams with talented big men, but he will have to adjust his style if he wants to get this team to the NCAA tournament.
Oregon Ducks
Last Season: 18-14 (9-9)
Key Losses: Malik Hairston, Maarty Leunen, Bryce Taylor
Head Coach: Ernie Kent
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Tajuan Porter 5-6 Jr.
SG: Kamyron Brown 6-2 So.
SF: Joevan Catron 6-6 Jr.
PF: Frantz Dorsainvil 6-8 Sr.
C: Michael Dunigan 6-10 Fr.
Key Reserves: LeKendric Longmire 6-5 So. SG, Churchill Odia 6-6 Sr. SF, Josh Crittle 6-8 Fr. C, Matthew Humphrey 6-5 Fr. SG, Ben Voogd 6-2 Jr. PG
Oregon lost the bulk of its offense from last season. Expect Tajuan Porter to take over as the team's primary scoring option. The Ducks have excellent athleticism for their defense, but someone else will have to take over as an offensive threat in order for this team to make any noise.
Oregon State Beavers
Last Season: 6-25 (0-18)
Key Losses: Marcel Jones
Head Coach: Craig Robinson
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Rickey Claitt 6-2 Sr.
SG: Lathen Wallace 6-3 So.
SF: Seth Tarver 6-5 Jr.
PF: Omari Johnson 6-7 So.
C: Daniel Deane 6-8 So.
Key Reserves: Roeland Schaftenaar 6-11 Jr. C, Calvin Hampton 6-10 Jr. PF, Calvin Haynes 6-2 So. SG, Josh Tarver 6-3 Jr. PG
Oregon State brings in a new coach and a new attitude, both of which are extremely needed. This team returns almost everyone from last year's team. Unfortunately, that team won exactly zero conference games. The talent isn't there, but Craig Robinson should improve this team slightly as he attempts to build this program back to its glory days. Maybe Robinson, whose brother-in-law is Barack Obama, will use Obama's victory as motivation for his team, or maybe not.
Stanford Cardinal
Last Season: 28-8 (13-5)
Key Losses: Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez
Head Coach: Johnny Dawkins
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Mitch Johnson 6-1 Sr.
SG: Anthony Goods 6-3 Sr.
SF: Landry Fields 6-7 Jr.
PF: Lawrence Hill 6-8 Sr.
C: Josh Owens 6-8 So.
Key Reserves: Will Paul 6-9 So. PF, Da'Veed Dildy 6-5 So. SG, Jarrett Mann 6-5 Fr. SG, Jeremy Green 6-4 Fr. PG
The Cardinal lost not only the Lopez twins, but also saw head coach Trent Johnson, who travelled to the SEC to take over LSU. Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins has a tough road ahead. The team returns experience in the backcourt, but is relatively weak up front. Dawkins may be forced to run a four guard offense at times this season, similar to what Duke did last year. Eventually this team should regain its place atop the conference. It just won't be this year.
Washington State Cougars
Last Season: 26-9 (11-7)
Key Losses: Robbie Cowgill, Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver
Head Coach: Tony Bennett
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Taylor Rochestie 6-1 Sr.
SG: Klay Thompson 6-6 Fr.
SF: Daven Harmeling 6-7 Sr.
PF: Caleb Forrest 6-8 Sr.
C: Aron Baynes 6-10 Sr.
Key Reserves: Nikola Koprivica 6-6 Jr. SG, Fabian Boeke 6-11 So. C, Marcus Capers 6-4 Fr. PG, DeAngelo Casto 6-8 Fr. PF, James Watson 6-8 Fr. SF
The Cougars are an interesting beast entering the 2008-09 season. They lost so much talent from last year, but could be an NCAA tournament sleeper. Taylor Rochestie and Aron Baynes headline the group, but they also return three other significant players from last year. Tony Bennett's best recruiting class could help propel this team to greatness, led by Klay Thompson.
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