Pac-10 Outlook
The Washington and Arizona men’s teams will likely duel to the finish;
Despite the loss of Nicole Powell, Stanford is in position for its 14th Pac-10 title in 18 years
Arizona State
forward Ike
Diogu leads
the Pac-10 in
scoring,
rebounding
and field goal
percentage.
Erik R. Bishoff | Photographer
Arizona guard
Dee-Dee
Wheeler's 19
points per
game average
tops the
Pac-10.
Danielle Hickey | Photo editor
1. Washington
20034)4 finish: 19-12 (12-6,2nd in Pacific-10 Conference)
20044)5 record: 12-1 (2-0 Pac-10)
Key players: Jr. Guard Nate Robinson, 17.7 ppg, 5.3 apg;
Sr. G Will Conroy, 10.3 ppg, 7.5 apg
Pac-10 outlook: The sky's the limit for a Husky program that
returns all five starters. Lorenzo Romar’s team is the favorite
heading into Pac-10 play and should go deep into the NCAA
tournament with Robinson, Conroy and company.
2. Arizona
2003-04 finish: 20-10 (11-7,3rd)
20044)5 record: 11-2 (1-0)
Key players: Sr. G Salim Stoudamire, 14.8 ppg; Sr. C Chan
ning Frye, 13.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg; Jr. G Hassan Adams, 11.5 ppg,
5.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: The Wildcats have more talent on their ros
ter than any team in the Pac-10. Look for a two-way battle be
tween Lute Olson's squad and the upstart Washington Huskies.
3. Oregon
2003- 04 finish: 18-13 (9-9,4th)
2004- 05 record: 9-2 (1-1)
Key players: So. G Aaron Brooks, 16.9 ppg, 5.1 apg; Jr. C Ian
Crosswhite, 11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg; Fr. F Malik Hairston, 13.0 ppg,
4.5 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: Life after Luke Jackson hasn’t been too
bad for the Ducks, who have started off the year 9-2 despite
their latest disappointing loss to UCLA at home. With the
arrival of super-recruits Hairston, Bryce Taylor and Maarty
Leunen, along with Brooks’ return from a broken wrist,
the faithful in Eugene have their eyes set on an NCAA
tournament berth.
4. Oregon State
20034)4 finish: 12-16 (6-12,9th)
20044)5 record: 10-3 (2-0) fcS*®
Kay players: Sr. G J.S. Nash, 11.2 ppg; Sr. F David Lucas,
17.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg; Fr. F Sasa Cuic, 14.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: After years of mediocrity (at best) in the Pac
10, the Beavers finally appear to be turning the corner... and
fast. Third-year coach Jay John and all-conference forward Lu
cas should improve on last year’s ninth place finish at the very
least, especially with the addition of the Croatian-native Cuic.
5. UCLA
20034)4 finish: 11-17 (7-11,7th)
2004-05 record: 7-3 (1-1)
Key players: Sr. G/F Dijon Thompson, 17.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg;
Fr. G Jordan Farmar, 12.6 ppg, 5.0 apg
Pac-10 outlook: The Bruins have the potential to finish in
either the top four or bottom four of the conference. This young
squad has three freshmen in its starting lineup, led by Farmar.
Thompson has stepped up his game, but the Bruins may
struggle with consistency with this freshman-laiden lineup.
6. Arizona State
20034)4 finish: 10-17 (4-14,10th)
2004-05 record: 11-2 (0-1)
Key players: Jr. F Ike Diogu, 22.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.77 bpg;
Sr. G Steve Moore, 12.7 ppg
Pac-10 outlook: The Sun Devils, led by national player-of-the
year candidate Diogu, have gotten off to a blistering start thanks
to a less than stellar preconference schedule. With no one to
share the scoring burden with Diogu, Arizona State will again
struggle to finish in the upper half of the Pac-10.
7. California
20034)4 finish: 13-15 (9-9,4th)
20044)5 record: 8-4 (1-1)
Key players: Jr. G Richard Midgley, 16.7 ppg; So. G/F
Marquise Kately, 11.2 ppg
Pac-10 outlook: The Bears, loaded with young talent, are
probably a year away from contending for Ben Braun's first
Pac-10 crown. That being said, last year's Pac-10 Freshman of
the Year Leon Powe has been out the entire season after having
reconstructive knee surgery in September.
8. USC
20034)4 finish: 13-15 (8-10,6th) Z%
20044)5 record: 7-6 (0-2) Xs
Kay players: So. G Lodrick Stewart, 15.2 ppg Sr. C Rory O'Neil
Pac-10 outlook: Good thing Trojan alumni have football
because the 200405 basketball season is a mess for USC hoop
fans. After head coach Henry Bibby's firing and the Rick Majerus
fiasco, the Trojans will have to work hard to make the Pac-10
tournament, let alone the NCAA tournament.
9. Stanford
20034)4 finish: 30-2 (17-1,1st)
20044)5 record: 60 (0-2)
Key players: Jr. G Chris Hernandez, 12.9 ppg 4.0 apg;
Sr. C Rob Little, 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Jr. G/F Dan Grunfeld,
16.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: Things have started off rough for the
Cardinal and it’s not likely to get better. Palo Alto lost its best
player (Josh Childress) and coach (Mike Montgomery) to the
NBA after their dominating 2003-04 campaign. New coach
Trent Johnson, a former Montgomery assistant, will eventually
right the ship, just not this year.
10. Washington State
20034)4 finish: 13-16 (7-11,7th)
2004-05 record: 6-5 (1-1)
Key players: Sr. G Thomas Kelati, 11.9 ppg Sr. G Jeff Varem,
8.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: The Cougars limped through their non-confer
ence schedule with a struggling offense that included an 81-29
loss to Oklahoma State and a 37-36 victory over Idaho. Though
they seemed to be heading straight to the bottom of the confer
ence, they did defeat Stanford 60-51 in their first Pac-10 game.
1. Stanford
2003- 04 finish: 27-7 (144, T-lst in
Pac-10)
2004- 05 record: 11-2(3-1)
Key players: Fr. Guard Candice Wiggins, 15.3 ppg, 2.9
spg; Jr. Center Brooke Smith, 12.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg;
Sr. G Kelley Suminski, 11.8 ppg
Pac-10 outlook: If it ain’t broke, don't fix it. Stanford has
owned the Pac-10 for almost two decades and the trend
should continue. The backcourt of Suminski and Susan
King Borchardt will anchor a very deep and talented team
that will stay near the top of the Pac-10 all year.
2. UCLA
2003- 04 finish: 17-13 (11-7 T-3rd)
2004- 05 record: 93 (30)
Key players: So. G Noelle Quinn, 18.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.0
spg; Jr. G Nikki Blue, 11.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.36 spg
Pac-10 outlook: The wildcard in the conference. UCLA
probably has the most athletic and skilled team in the
Pac-10 and their pressure defense should help secure a tick
et to the Big Dance in March.
3. Arizona
2003- 04 finish: 249 (144 T-lst)
2004- 05 record: 10-3 (2-1)
Key players: Sr. G Dee-Dee Wheeler, 19.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg,
4.5 apg, 2.9 spg; Jr. C Shawntinice Polk, 13.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg,
2.64 bpg
Pac-10 outlook: If the duo of Polk and Wheeler are
healthy, this team could oust Stanford from the top spot.
However, with Polk out for the next few weeks with a bum
knee, the offensive load will be carried solely on the
shoulders of Wheeler, which make the matchups with
Stanford and UCLA look even more daunting.
4.ASU
2003- 04 finish: 17-12 (11-7 T-3rd)
2004- 05 record: 10-3 (21)
Key players: Jr. Forward Kristen Kovesdy, 12.0 ppg;
So. F Emily Westerberg, 11.1 ppg
Pac-10 outlook: One of the two darkhorses in the confer
ence race. Their 8-1 home conference record last year does
not bode well for any team In the conference, as evidenced
by Arizona's lost 6947 loss last week. In addition, senior
Kylan Loney runs a potent offense that has the ability to
score 80 plus points in a hurry.
5. Oregon
2003- 04 finish: 1415 (6-12 8th)
2004- 2005 record: 94 (22)
Key players: Sr. F Cathrine Kraayeveld, 16.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg;
Sr. C Andrea Bills, 10.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: The other darkhorse. With Kraayeveld
back from her season-ending knee injury suffered against
Portland last season, the Ducks have the potential to finish
somewhere in the top three by year’s end. Consistent
scoring from the role players will be crucial in case
Kraayeveld or fellow senior Bills have an off-night.
6. USC
2003- 04 finish: 15-13 (11-7 T-3rd)
2004- 2005 record: 84 (21) %
Key players: Fr. G Brynn Cameron, 9.9 ppg, 1.5 spg;
Jr. G Meghan Gnekow, 8.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: If last week’s wins over Oregon and
Oregon State were any indication, the Women of Troy could
provide serious competition for anyone above them. USC
doesn't sport one player that can dominate, but instead
uses a number of balanced scorers including Cameron and
senior Kim Gipson.
7. Washington
2003- 04 finish: 18-13 (9-9 6th)
2004- 2005 record: 6£ (2-2)
Key players: RS Jr. G Kristen 0’ Neill, 9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg;
RS So. F Jill Bell, 8.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: With the departure of the Mendiola
sisters, the Huskies lost a large chunk of offense. O'Neill will
be the one to try to step in and fill the hole, but without the
Mendiola sisters on the floor anymore, Washington will be
hard pressed to find a way to score.
8. California
2003- 04 finish: 12-17 (4-14 9th) /;
2004- 2005 record: 8-5 (2-2)
Key players: Sr. F Leigh Gregory, 13.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg;
Fr. C Jessica Lawson, 9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: If the Golden Bears can find someone
else to help Gregory put points on the board, Cal should
improve on its ninth-place finish last year.
9. Oregon State
2003- 04 finish: 17-15 (8-10 7th) gR
2004- 2005 record: 4-9 (04)
Key players: Sr. G Shannon Howell, 17.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg;
Jr. F Kim Howell, 10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: The exact opposite of Oregon, Oregon
State needs to find some consistent defense in order to
get back where they finished last season. If that happens
the Beavers could make a lot of teams forget about their
0-4 start.
10. Washington State
200304 finish: 6-22 (2-16 10th) 4#*'
2004-2005 record: 4-9 (04) 1 % *
Key players: So. F Kate Benz, 11.9 ppg; Sr. F Emma
Joneby, 5.8 rpg
Pac-10 outlook: The conference doormat should remain
that way as the Cougars desperately need to find some
scoring-and quickly.