Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings: Preseason

With the college basketball season beginning on Friday, Daily Bruin Sports takes a look at UCLA’s competition in the Pac-12 conference, and where the Bruins are likely to finish in the standings.

1. Arizona (33-5, 15-3)

• Key Departures: G Nick Johnson, F Aaron Gordon
• Key Returners: G T.J. McConnell, F Brandon Ashley, F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• Key Additions: F Stanley Johnson, G Parker Jackson-Cartwright

The Wildcats enter the 2014-2015 season as not only the odds-on-favorite to capture the Pac-12 crown, but as one of the top contenders for the national championship, as they begin the year rated as the No. 2 team in the nation. That preliminary ranking is not only indicative of the talent still on the roster – led by guard T.J. McConnell and forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – but the stellar recruiting class brought in by coach Sean Miller and his staff.

The Wildcats return five players who averaged more than 20 minutes per game for a team that was a last-second shot away from a trip to the Final Four. They will be joined by a recruiting class that ranks among the best in the nation and features one five-star and three four-star prospects, headlined by forward Stanley Johnson – the No. 3 prospect in the country according to Rivals.com.

In the Pac-12 it’s Arizona, and then everyone else.

2. Utah (21-12, 9-9)

• Key Departures: None
• Key Returners: G Delon Wright, F Jordan Loveridge
• Key Additions: F Brekkot Chapman, F Kyle Kuzma

After making steady improvements in each of their first three years in the conference, the Utes appear primed to compete for the conference crown in 2014-2015. Utah enters the season as the only other ranked team in the conference besides Arizona, coming in at No. 25 – the first time Utah has been ranked in the preseason since the 2000-2001 season.

While the Utes welcome two promising freshmen in Brekkot Chapman – rated a top-60 prospect by Rivals – and Kyle Kuzma – who redshirted last season – they are one of the most experienced groups in the conference. Spearheading the squad is guard Delon Wright, who was one of the most productive players in the nation a season ago. The senior led Utah in points, assists, steals and blocks, while grabbing the second-most rebounds on the team.

Alongside fellow returning starters in guard Brandon Taylor and forward Jordan Loveridge – who averaged 14.7 points and 7 rebounds last season – the Utes have one of the strongest foundations in the conference.

3. Colorado (23-12, 10-8)

• Key Departures: G Spencer Dinwiddie
• Key Returners: F Josh Scott, G Askia Booker
• Key Additions: G Dominique Collier

After losing star guard Spencer Dinwiddie for the latter half of the season a year ago, Colorado weathered the storm fairly well, winning two conference tournament games en route to earning an NCAA tournament berth. Now, with Dinwiddie off to the NBA, the Buffs will have to do so for an entire season. Of course, it helps to return Pac-12 first-teamer Josh Scott – who averaged 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds last year – as well as everyone else in the starting lineup at the end of the season. Colorado also adds four-star point guard Dominique Collier to help makeup for the loss of Dinwiddie.

4. UCLA (28-9, 12-6)

• Key Departures: G Jordan Adams, G Zach LaVine, G/F Kyle Anderson
• Key Returners: G Norman Powell, G Bryce Alford, F/C Tony Parker
• Key Additions: F Kevon Looney, G Isaac Hamilton, C Thomas Welsh

UCLA surprised some a year ago in coach Steve Alford’s first season on the job, winning the Pac-12 Tournament and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. And with four starters gone from that squad, and a host of young, inexperienced players in their places, the Bruins should surprise again. The only question is whether this year will bring a pleasant surprise.

Sophomore guard Bryce Alford – who was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team last season – and junior forward/center Tony Parker move into the starting lineup for the Bruins. Alford will be joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore Isaac Hamilton, who sat out last season after transferring from University of Texas at El Paso. Meanwhile, five-star forward prospects Kevon Looney figures to help make up for the versatility and rebounding lost by the departure of guard/forward Kyle Anderson.

While the Bruins possess talent, they are short on depth and long on questions.

5. Stanford (23-13, 10-8)

• Key Departures: F Dwight Powell, F Josh Huestis
• Key Returners: G Chasson Randle, G/F Anthony Brown
• Key Additions: F Reid Travis

The Cardinal enter the season looking to build upon one of the more unexpected tournament runs of last year, reaching the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 10 seed. Stanford will be buoyed in that effort by the return of guard Chasson Randle – the team’s leading scorer from a year ago – and senior guard/forward Anthony Brown, who together form an experienced core for the Cardinal.

Stanford will need it as the team replaces forwards Dwight Powell and John Huestis with freshman Reid Travis and sophomore Rosco Allen – who missed all but one game last season due to stress fracture in his foot.

6. Washington (17-15, 9-9)

• Key Departures: G C.J. Wilcox
• Key Returners: G Nigel Williams-Goss
• Key Additions: G Quevyn Winters

Washington will try to end a three-year NCAA Tournament drought by using a relatively young lineup. The Huskies return just three players who averaged more than 20 minutes per game, including guard Nigel Williams-Goss, the team’s top returning scorer from last year.

Goss’ continued development will be key for Washington, particularly in the absence of guard C.J. Wilcox, who was the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2014 NBA Draft. Junior college transfer Quevyn WInters averaged 9.6 points per game his freshman year at Duquesne.

7. California (21-14, 10-8)

• Key Departures: F Richard Solomon, G Justin Cobbs
• Key Returners: G Jordan Mathews, G Tyrone Wallace
• Key Additions: C Kingsley Okoroh

It’s a new look in Berkeley, as Cuonzo Martin takes over as head coach after leading Tennessee to a Sweet Sixteen appearance last year. He will be without two key pieces for the Bears from a year ago, however, as Cal lost Pac-12 leading rebounder Richard Solomon and its leading scorer, guard Justin Cobbs, to graduation. The team will likely turn to guard Jordan Mathews, a Pac-12 All-Freshman team honorable mention, and guard Tyrone Wallace, who averaged double figures in points last season, to pick up the slack. Freshman center Kingsley Okoroh, a native of Derby, England, adds some size inside for the Bears at 7-foot-1.

8. Oregon (24-10, 10-8)

• Key Departures: G Jason Calliste, F Mike Moser
• Key Returners: G Joseph Young
• Key Additions: G Ahmaad Rorie, F Dillon Brooks, F Dwayne Benjamin

Oregon begins the year trying to move on from a tumultous offseason which included Dominic Artis, Brandon Austin and Damyean Dotson all being dismissed from the team in May after sexual assault allegations. Oregon will once again be led by guard Joseph Young – who led the Ducks in points a year ago, when they advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Forward Elgin Cook appears to be a likely candidate to make up for the departure of Moser, and will be joined by freshmen Ahmaad Rorie and Dillon Brooks, as well as junior college transfer, forward Dwayne Benjamin. While the Ducks feature plenty of athleticism, they lack height and experience. Oregon has seven underclassmen on its roster and just one player at 6-foot-10 or taller.

9. Arizona State (21-12, 10-8)

• Key Departures: G Jahii Carson, C Jordan Bachynski
• Key Returners: G Shaquielle McKissic
• Key Additions: F Savon Goodman

Following its first NCAA tournament appearance in five years, Arizona State is in search of go-to options at both ends of the floor. The Sun Devils lost their top offensive player in guard Jahii Carson and top defensive player in center Jordan Bachynski, who was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season.

The Sun Devils add four junior college transfers to a squad that is without its three top scorers from a year ago . Sophomore forward Savon Goodman – who began his career at UNLV – seems the likeliest candidate to help fill the scoring void after posting 18 points in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage earlier this month.

10. USC (11-21, 2-16)

• Key Departures: G Byron Wesley, G Pe’Shon Howard
• Key Returners: F Nikola Jovanovic
• Key Additions: G Jordan McLaughlin

The Andy Enfield era got off to a less than auspicious start after the Trojans finished at the bottom of the Pac-12 in the former Florida Gulf Coast coach’s first year on the job. Still, Enfield was able to land four-star guard Jordan McLaughlin, who should have an instant impact as a freshman and help fill the void left by top-scorer Byron Wesley, who transferred to Gonzaga this offseason.

The Trojans field one of the youngest squads in the nation as all four members of the recruiting class should play, with McLaughlin being joined in the starting lineup by guard Malik Martin and UNLV transfer Katin Reinhardt. Meanwhile, forward Nikola Jovanovic provides size inside and should see more playing time in his second season.

11. Washington State (10-21, 3-15)

• Key Departures: F D.J. Shelton
• Key Returners: G DaVonté Lacy
• Key Additions: F Aaron Cheatum

Former Oregon coach Ernie Kent took a trip up the I-5 to take over the same position in Pullman, Wash. after a four-year layoff from coaching. Kent inherits a team that returns leading scorer DaVonté Lacy, but not much else.

The Cougars are hopeful that they can get a full season out of Lacy, who missed nine games a year ago with several knee injuries. The guard averaged 19.4 points per game last season, and will need plenty of help but might not get it from a Cougars squad that ranked last in the conference in points per game, free throw percentage, field goal percentage, assists and offensive rebounds.

The hope in Pullman is that forward Josh Hawkinson can shore up those numbers with his move into the starting lineup. Even if he does, he still might be one of the only bright spots for the Cougars this season.

12. Oregon State (16-16, 8-10)

• Key Departures: G Roberto Nelson, F Devon Collier
• Key Returners: G Langston Morris-Walker, G Malcolm Duvivier
• Key Additions: G Gary Payton II

Coach Wayne Tinkle guided Montana to the NCAA tournament in three of the last five years and the Grizzlies won more than 64 percent of their games under his 8-year stewardship. If he manages anything close to that in his first year in Corvallis, Ore., it’ll be a minor miracle.

Winkle is tasked with replacing the Beavers’ top five leaders in points, rebounds, assists and minutes played. It remains to be seen who will replace conference scoring leader guard Roberto Nelson, as guard Langston Morris-Walker is the team’s top returning scorer after averaging just four points per game last year.

The Beavers will have to get better defensively if they are to stay in games, a feat that seems unlikely at present, as Oregon State surrendered the most points per game in the Pac-12 a year ago.