Arizona Wildcats
Coach: Lute Olson, 499-147 (20 years), 691-239 (30 years)
Players to watch: Salim Stoudamire, jr., guard; Channing Frye, jr., center; Hassan Adams, so., guard.
Outlook: Arizona only has eight scholarship players to work with. But those eight might be the best in the conference. The Wildcats were picked to win the conference once again by the media. Frye could be the second best big man in the conference and Adams is a streaky shooter. The Wildcats will get most of their competition in the Pac-10 from ASU and Stanford.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Coach: Rob Evans, 80-72 (five years), 166-153 (11years)
Players to watch: Ike Diogu, so., center; Jamal Hill, sr., guard; Jason Braxton, jr., guard.
Outlook: The Sun Devils will go as far as Diogu can take them. The center, who has the range to play forward as well, is the top NBA prospect in the Pac-10. Not only is he a proven scorer but he is tenacious on the boards and as strong as anyone in the conference. Arizona State may be able to challenge Arizona for the top spot in the conference.
Cal Bears
Coach: Ben Braun 140-79 (seven years), 473-314 (26 years)
Players to watch: Amit Tamir, center, sr.; Richard Midgley, so., guard.
Outlook: The Bears are the enigma of the Pac-10. Braun lost a lot of talent but still returns Tamir who can carry a team in certain games. Tamir does not mix it up down low like ASU's Diogu, but he does have a nice jumpshot and can hurt teams with the 3-pointer. Midgley provides a steady influence at guard and has quick hands that give other guards fits.
Oregon Ducks
Coach: Ernie Kent 117-68 (seven years), 207-148 (20 years)
Players to watch: Luke Jackson, sr., guard; James Davis, sr., forward; Andre Joseph, sr., guard.
Outlook: The Ducks lost point guard Luke Ridnour to the NBA and that could slow what has been the most entertaining offense in the Pac-10. Jackson is back and should be the leader on this team. He is surrounded by solid role players but none have shown the breakout ability that Ridnour had. A strong recruiting class could pay quick dividends for the Ducks, however. As always the Ducks will be tough at home but could have some troubles on the road.
Oregon State Beavers
Coach: Jay John 13-15 (one year), 13-15 (one year)
Players to watch: Lamar Hurd, so., guard; David Lucas, jr., forward; J.S Nash, jr., guard.
Outlook: The Beavers were picked to finish last in the conference, with good reason. Hurd appears to be the only player who can hang with Pac-10 talent night in and night out. John, a former Arizona assistant, is only in his second year of what could be a tough rebuilding process. That rebuilding process has been made even tougher by the fact John lost four starters from last season's team. Look for OSU, WSU and Washington to once again be fighting it out for eighth place in the conference.
Stanford Cardinal
Coach: Mike Montgomery 363-165 (17 years), 517-242 (25 years)
Players to watch: Josh Childress, jr., guard; Matt Lottich, sr., guard; Justin Davis, sr., forward.
Outlook: The Cardinal could contend for the conference championship and make a dent in the NCAA Tournament. Stanford returns four starters off a team that went to the second round a season ago. Childress is one of the tougher matchups in the Pac-10 because of his size and leaping ability. Lottich might be the best shooter in the Pac-10. But he is streaky and when he is off it makes it tough for Stanford to win.
UCLA Bruins
Coach: Ben Howland 0-0 (first year), 168-99 (nine years)
Players to watch: Dijon Thompson, jr., guard; T.J. Cummings, sr., forward; Cedric Bozeman, jr., guard.
Outlook: The Bruins were the biggest disappointment in the Pac-10 last season and because of that coach Steve Lavin was fired. Howland was brought in from Pittsburgh where he had tremendous success in the past three years. There is talent, as always, in Westwood. Howland must mold that talent to play a tougher brand of basketball and break some old habits. If he does that this team could be the surprise of the conference.
USC Trojans
Coach: Henry Bibby 116-94 (seven years), 116-94 (seven years)
Players to watch: Desmon Farmer, sr., guard; Errick Craven, jr., guard; Rory O'Neil, sr., center.
Outlook: If Bibby doesn't physically and mentally wear down this team, as he has a tendency to do with all his teams, USC has a chance to turn around what was a very disappointing season. Farmer is an explosive player. Craven plays solid defense. And the recruiting class includes Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart, two highly sought after prep players from Seattle.
Washington Huskies
Coach: Lorenzo Romar, 10-17 (one year), 103-105 (seven years)
Players to watch: Nate Robinson, so., guard; Will Conroy, jr., guard; Curtis Allen, sr., guard.
Outlook: In Robinson the Huskies have the most entertaining player in the Pac-10. The guard has the ability to take the game over. But he also has the ability to press too hard and lose the game for the Huskies. Whatever the case, Robinson does it 100 mph and usually provides a thrill or two along the way. The Huskies will be hard pressed to escape the basement of the Pac-10 this season. Their guard play could lead to a few upsets at home. But on the road this team will have a tough time winning.
Washington State Cougars
Coach: Dick Bennett, 0-0 (first year), 453-258 (25 years)
Players to watch: Marcus Moore, sr., guard; Jeff Varem, jr., guard; Chris Schlatter, jr., forward.
Outlook: Under first-year coach Bennett, the record of the Cougars may not change too much, but the games could become less predictable than they have been in the past. Washington State, with a new system in place, may have the ability to slow the game down and pull an upset or two over one of the top four teams in the conference. The way Washington State will be able to pull off upsets is with defense. Bennett brings a more physical style than Pac-10 teams are used to and that could disrupt some of the more finesse teams in the conference.