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Pac-12 Basketball: 12 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

By David Rosenthal

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 08: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court after a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Stanford Cardinal and the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 8, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins won 88-77. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 08: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court after a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Stanford Cardinal and the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 8, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins won 88-77. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 14: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils argues a call with an official during the game against the Syracuse Orange at UD Arena on March 14, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bobby Hurley
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 14: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils argues a call with an official during the game against the Syracuse Orange at UD Arena on March 14, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bobby Hurley /

7. A player from UCLA or USC will win the Freshman Player of the Year

Both teams from Southern California had a terrific recruiting class come in this year. The Bruins, with the third-ranked class in the country, are bringing in players such as 5-star center Moses Brown and 4-star guard Jules Bernard. Unfortunately, losing incoming freshmen PG Tyger Campbell (knee) and PF Shareef O’Neil (heart surgery) to season ending injuries will hurt UCLA’s depth.

Across town, the Trojans signed a talented guard in Elijah Weaver to help secure a top 20 recruiting class. USC’s only player to win the Freshman of the Year Award was Harold Miner in the 1989-90 season. UCLA, on the other hand, has won this award six times since the 1999-2000 season. The list of Bruins’ winners includes Jason Kapono, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and most recently Lonzo Ball. Perhaps the sheer number of freshman (6) the Bruins have coming in will give them an advantage but in any case, the amount of talent in southern California this season is quite impressive.

8. ASU will not start 12-0 and fool the nation this season

The Sun Devils were national darlings last year, going undefeated in their first 12 games. But by the end of the season, ASU found themselves in the play-in game just to try and get into the NCAA Tournament. Arizona State loses their top three scorers from last year including Tra Holder (18.2 ppg), Shannon Evans (16.5 ppg), and Kodi Justice (12.7 ppg). Sophomore Romello White is the Sun Devils’ top returning scorer at 10.5 points a game. Arizona State will also send out one of the youngest teams in the Pac-12 with just two seniors and 10 underclassmen on the roster. Not only will the Sun Devils not start 12-0, but with their tough non-conference schedule (Mississippi State, Nevada, and Kansas), they may have a difficult time getting more than 12 wins all season.

9. The UCLA Bruins will not lead the conference in 3-point shooting percentage.

At 38.1%, the Bruins were the most accurate three-point shooting team in the Pac-12. What makes that stat even more impressive is the fact that they also took the fourth most three-point attempts. Unfortunately for UCLA, they lose their three most accurate deep ball shooters (not counting Alec Wulff going 3 for 5 on the season) in Aaron Holiday (42.9%), Gyorgy Goloman (42.9%), and Thomas Welsh (40.2%).

They do return Jaylen Hands who shot 37.4% beyond the arc on almost four attempts a game. Kris Wilkes also comes backs after hitting 35.2% of his threes on almost five attempts per game. One of them (or both) could easily step up and bring their percentage closer to 40% filling in the void left by the three leaders from last season. But my bet is on Washington State to lead the Pac-12 in three-point shooting this year. They return four players who shot over 40% last year including Viont’e Daniels who hit a remarkable 45.5% of his three pointers last season.