2018-19 PAC-12 basketball, previews of all 12 teams

#21 UCLA Bruins (21-11, 11-7)

UCLA still has plenty of question marks heading into 2019. They have incoming five-star big man Moses Brown to lead the team. Fellow freshmen Tyger Campbell (torn ACL) and Shareef O’Neal (heart surgery) are both lost for the season.

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Adding to the uncertainty is the return of both Jalen Hill and Cody Riley who are returning to the team after being suspended for the notorious shoplifting event in China prior to last season. It’s uncertain how Hill and Riley will fit back in.

The Bruins still have a ton of talent on the squad. Former five-star recruits Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands will look to lead the Bruins back to the top of the standings and an NCAA tournament berth.

#14 Oregon Ducks (22-12, 10-8)

The Ducks find themselves ranked at #14 heading into the 2018-19 season. Oregon is returning almost all of their rotational players from last years team. They will need to overcome the loss of forward Troy Brown, who left for the NBA in the offseason and was drafted 15th overall by the Wizards.

Incoming center and stud freshman Bol Bol will be a huge factor especially pairing him next to returning sophomore high-flyer, Kenny Wooten. It will be hard getting any shots up in the paint vs the Ducks this season. Junior Peyton Pritchard will lead and deep backcourt group for a relatively young team, as the Ducks will only have two seniors on the roster for 2018-19.

Predicted Player of the year: Bol Bol

The 7’2” son of the late Manute Bol will be starting his freshman season at Oregon, who is favored to win the PAC-12 title this season. Bol can do it all, whether it’s step outside for a knock down three or post up his man inside.

His height and length are a rare breed in college basketball nowadays. The only question is potential durability issues because of his slender frame. None the less, he should be a force on both sides of the ball.