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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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Sportscaster and former NBA player Bill Walton broadcasts after a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UCLA won 76-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Sportscaster and former NBA player Bill Walton broadcasts after a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UCLA won 76-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

10. Another year of 15 turnovers a game won’t help Stanford’s hopes for making the NCAA Tournament.

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Last season, the Cardinal entered PAac-12 play with a disappointing 6-7 record. But throughout the year, Jerod Haase’s team slowly improved, beating Arizona State twice, season sweeping the Washingtons, and beating UCLA. Unfortunately for Stanford, they lost a handful of games due to turning the ball over late in the game. Their 15 giveaways a game was good enough to land them right between New Orleans and Stephen F Austin for 324th in the nation. Every turnover for Stanford is a lost possession and an extra opportunity for their opponent to score and that’s what cost them a few extra wins and a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament. If Stanford wants to get up to that (most of the time) magical 22-23 win season, cutting down the turnovers should be tops on their list.

11. Zero Pac-12 basketball teams will make the Final Four this season.

Only one Pac-12 basketball school, Oregon in 2017, has made it to the Final Four since 2008. Last year all three teams for the conference lost their first games. With the departure via the NBA Draft or graduation, those teams have lost their best players and look to take a dip in win total. There may be a few really good teams in the Pac-12, but there doesn’t seem (at least before they start playing games) to be any elite teams.

12. People across the nation will watch Pac-12 games just to see what Bill Walton will say.

Love him or hate him (I personally think he’s great) but people tune in to late night Pac-12 basketball just to see what Bill Walton will say during a game. He can go off on a tangent from his original thought five minutes after commenting on a player’s shooting form as he will end up quoting Jack Kerouac and talking about how great his bike ride was that day. Sometimes I feel sorry for Dave Pasch, the announcer who is constantly assigned to call games with Walton, as Bill slips and slides through his stories while seeming to forget about the actual game that is going on in front of them.

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Many times Pasch is completely speechless after one of Bill’s stories and without even seeing him, the viewers can feel Dave just shaking his head. But it makes for entertaining television and if it gets more people to notice the immense talent within the Pac-12, then ramble on Mr. Walton. Ramble on because we will listen.