Best Conference In The Nation?
Since last summer, I've had many conversations with USC coach Tim Floyd about how much better the Pac-10 would be this season, and since the season started, TV analysts like Jay Bilas say it's the best conference in the nation.
That said, which teams are noticeably better than last season, besides Arizona State, Stanford and perhaps Washington State, which already has five losses in the Pac-10.
USC is worse, UCLA seems to be more vulnerable, Cal should be better than it is and Arizona is worse.
What do you think?
SC is worse?-- Wait just a minute, partner. (Although it is nice that occasionally you recognize SC has a basketball team).
Gibson is improved from last year;
Hackett is improved from last year until his injury;
O.J. Mayo is better than Pruitt;
Young is missed, but Jefferson is not far behind;
Lewis is improved from last year; Wilkinson is improved from last year;
Johnson is a nice addition
As far as overall team play, the jury is still out. But there is another month of ball to be played before the tournament. Jefferson has given Gibson needed rebound help. Mayo is developing into a team player, and he is a go-to type of guy. Presumably Hackett will fully recover from his injury because his moxy and energy is greatly needed. Hopefully Lewis will become more consistent. It'd be nice if Wilkinson could contribute rebounds when he comes in. And Johnson must improve his defense.
It is difficult to get a read on the Pac-10 because so many teams are capable of beating any of the others (except Oregon State). I think we will have to wait for the NCAA tournament to gauge how good the conference is. My feeling is that the Pac-10 will do o.k., perhaps even well, because all of these teams have been battle-tested, knocking heads with each other.
As in football, the Pac 10 always looks good on paper, but as the season wears on it crumbles.
Big East and ACC are way better.
Agree with just4, the Pac-10 this year is overrated in hoops. Only team much better is Stanford. Oregon, Arizona and Washington are big disappointments. ASU is improved, but still not tournament worthy. Cal is underachieving. WSU has been exposed a bit, and will not go far in the tourney. UCLA is UCLA. I also believe that SC is not as good as last year due to our youth (and injuries) in 2008 vs. maturity in 2007. I don't think that the conference post-season results will live up to the early season hype. But, there is still a huge, inequitable East Coast, SEC/Big-10 bias in football, as Pistol Pete exposes to the nation every chance on the field he gets.
UCLA is better than last year with Love, ASU is better, Arizona is better, Stanford is better, WSU is better, Cal is arguably better. That leaves USC and Oregon State about the same and Washington and Oregon worse. As a Trojan fan, my litmus test to decide whether these teams are better is whether I would rather face last year's team or this year's.
Scott,
Have you considered that college basketball, as a whole, is worse than it was last year? With the ever-increasing proportion of one-and-dones, the quality of play decreases. Before you ask your question about the Pac-10, ask it about every other major conference, where the one-and-done syndrome is most prevalent. That being said, yes, the Pac-10 is stronger than it was last year because the measuring stick should be set relative to other conferences, not to itself a year ago.
Scott,
Have you considered that college basketball, as a whole, is worse than it was last year? With the ever-increasing proportion of one-and-dones, the quality of play decreases. Before you ask your question about the Pac-10, ask it about every other major conference, where the one-and-done syndrome is most prevalent. That being said, yes, the Pac-10 is stronger than it was last year because the measuring stick should be set relative to other conferences, not to itself a year ago.
Scott,
Have you considered that college basketball, as a whole, is worse than it was last year? With the ever-increasing proportion of one-and-dones, the quality of play decreases. Before you ask your question about the Pac-10, ask it about every other major conference, where the one-and-done syndrome is most prevalent. That being said, yes, the Pac-10 is stronger than it was last year because the measuring stick should be set relative to other conferences, not to itself a year ago.
Scott,
Have you considered that college basketball, as a whole, is worse than it was last year? With the ever-increasing proportion of one-and-dones, the quality of play decreases. Before you ask your question about the Pac-10, ask it about every other major conference, where the one-and-done syndrome is most prevalent. That being said, yes, the Pac-10 is stronger than it was last year because the measuring stick should be set relative to other conferences, not to itself a year ago.
Scott,
Have you considered that college basketball, as a whole, is worse than it was last year? With the ever-increasing proportion of one-and-dones, the quality of play decreases. Before you ask your question about the Pac-10, ask it about every other major conference, where the one-and-done syndrome is most prevalent. That being said, yes, the Pac-10 is stronger than it was last year because the measuring stick should be set relative to other conferences, not to itself a year ago.