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2007 College Basketball Predictions
2007 Pac 10 Basketball Predictions
Jimmy Boyd wants to
give his clients and readers a quick
look at the Pac 10 with his 2007
Pac 10 Conference predictions and
season preview. This conference
looks stacked this season with seven
teams capable of NCAA Tourney
berths. Find out who Jimmy has
coming out on top in this
predictions article.
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The UCLA Bruins are our pick to win the Pac 10 Conference this
season. They are coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances and will be
looking to finally raise the championship trophy this season. Darren Collison is
the best guard in the conference and will be a First Team All-Pac 10 performer
with a shot at All-American honors as well. Expect freshman Kevin Love to waste
no time putting his mark on the league. The skilled big man in the team’s most
heralded recruit since Baron Davis and is the reason why we think UCLA stays on
top.
Oregon should fall into the number two spot in the conference. Oregon is coming
off an Elite Eight appearance and Malik Hairston gives the Ducks a legit
All-American candidate. Oregon’s balance and up-tempo style of play makes the
Ducks a very tough out in any game. They’ll miss Aaron Brooks early in the
season, but once they learn to adjust and Hairston fills his new roll as go-to
guy, the Ducks will be fine. Inconsistent defensive play at times is this team’s
only draw back.
Washington State is poised to have another solid year and we’ve picked them
number three in the Pac. The Cougars are one of those rare teams in this day and
age, who win games almost exclusively with defense. Washington State is coming
off a 26-win year and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tourney and we have
them getting to the Sweet 16 this March. Washington State will have to deal with
raised expectations and a target on its back, but because defense is the
backbone of this team, they’ll deal fine.
The Stanford Cardinal should get back in the top part of the league this season.
A towering, talented frontline poses many matchup problems for all of Stanford’s
opposition this season. With no key losses from last year’s 18-13 squad,
Stanford should make the dance with no problem and we have them advancing to
round two. Expect big things from Stanford’s Lopez twins in the post. One’s an
offensive threat, the other is a defensive beast. Things are looking back up for
the Cardinal.
It’s rare that Arizona Wildcats are
projected to finish middle of the Pack, but that just goes to show you the depth
and skill of this conference. The Wildcats will go as Chase Budinger goes. The
silky smooth 6’7’’ forward is Arizona’s top returning scorer at 15.6ppg. The
Cats will greatly miss a good chunk of scoring from Marcus Williams, Ivan
Radenovic, and Mustafa Shakur. These guys were key pieces of the puzzle last
season and Arizona will be inconsistent without them.
The Washington Huskies will be rock solid at home with their run and gun style,
but we expect struggles on the road and that’s why they slide this far. All the
same, this is a 20-win NCAA Tourney team in our estimation. Don’t automatically
dismiss a Spencer Hawes-less team. The Huskies will now fly up and down the
court even more in 2007-08. And don’t forget that four starters return from last
season’s 19-13 squad.
The USC Trojans get in the tourney too behind freshman sensation O.J. Mayo, who
is already getting his fair share of highlights on ESPN early in the season.
It’s going to be hard for the Trojans to match last season’s 25 wins and a run
to the NCAA Regional Semis, but if Mayo continue to mature, his ability to take
over games could prove big come tourney time.
The California Bears may have
the best big man in the conference in DeVon Hardin, but they need a Jason Kidd
to take care of the rock and get him the ball. The lack of a solid backcourt has
already written Cal a ticket to the NIT. Hardin’s injury kept him from the NBA,
thankfully for the Bears, who would be hurting without him. This is going to be
a team capable of big upsets as well as letdowns against teams they should beat.
Arizona State continues its
rebuilding project under head coach Herb Sendek. The good news is that the
desert dogs should be able to avoid the Pac 10 basement. Recruiting master
Sendek has already landed ASU’s first McDonald’s All-American in 23 years in
just his second season as coach. I’m referring to James Harden, the 6’5’’ combo
guard from L.A. These guys were 8-22 last season and we feel they’ll be 3-4
games better already in year three of the rebuild.
The Oregon State Beavers will bring up the rear in the Pac. Jay John is on the
hot seat and he doesn’t have enough talent to keep himself from a meltdown this
year. Marcel Jones can play and the addition of C.J. Giles, a transfer from
Kansas, will help, but what I mean by help is that they won’t get beat by quite
as much. There’s just not enough here.
Make sure you check out the rest of Jimmy Boyd's
college basketball picks this
season to help you get a better understanding for the major players in college
hoops this year.
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