College Hoops

Pac-12 basketball again will go through UCLA, Arizona

Pac-12 basketball again will go through UCLA, Arizona

By John Fanta
FOX Sports College Basketball Writer

After the Pac-12 was the big winner in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, amassing 13 wins and sending three teams to the Elite Eight, the league failed to capitalize on that momentum, sending just three teams to the 2022 Big Dance.

Heading into the 2022-23 campaign, it’s no surprise that UCLA and Arizona headline the league’s storylines after both programs reached the second weekend of the tournament this past season.

The Bruins and Wildcats will once again be strong, with a motivated Oregon team looking to bounce back from a 20-15 campaign last year. USC should also be a factor once again, with the Trojans’ starting backcourt remaining in place. 

Beyond those four teams, it’s unclear what the league will look like. 

With that, let’s get into some of the top storylines around the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 goes through Westwood

Mick Cronin’s Bruins should be the front-runners in the league’s preseason poll. 

While Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard are gone, wing Jaime Jaquez and point guard Tyger Campbell are both coming back for a fourth season. Jaquez, a first-team All-Pac 12 and a two-time All-Pac 12 Defense selection, could be an All-American candidate this season. The dynamic 6-foot-7 wing from nearby Camarillo, California, will lead the Bruins after he was second on the team with 13.9 points and 5.7 boards per game.

Then there’s Campbell, whose 4.3 assists last season ranked third in the conference. Having a veteran point guard for a fourth season is huge for Cronin, especially considering that UCLA will have veterans in the backcourt surrounding five-star guard Amari Bailey. 

A consensus top-10 recruit, Bailey actually decommitted from the Bruins when Steve Alford was fired halfway through the 2018-19 season. After he reopened his recruitment, Cronin and his staff really pursued the Sierra Canyon High School product. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Bailey’s athleticism and playmaking ability stick out. He is a willing passer and should fit into Cronin’s defense-first system. 

Jaime Jaquez Jr. leads UCLA

The UCLA Bruins defeated the rival USC Trojans 69-59 in a game last season. Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19 points in the Pac-12 tournament matchup.

Bailey isn’t the only five-star Bruin on his way to Westwood. Expect UCLA to have a freshman starting center in 6-foot-9 Nigerian Adem Bona. His 225-pound frame gives him one-and-done potential, and he’s a prospect who has raved about the importance of defense…

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