As part of its 2022–23 men’s basketball preseason coverage, Sports Illustrated is rolling out previews for each of the top 10 conferences. Next up is the Pac-12.
A year after becoming the story of the men’s NCAA tournament in 2021 with three teams in the Elite Eight, the Pac-12 had a decidedly more understated presence last March. Only three teams earned bids, and none made it past the Sweet 16. Arizona appeared to be the league’s best chance at ending a 25-year national championship drought but was denied a deep run once again.
Entering this season—the penultimate ride before the Los Angeles schools bolt for the Big Ten—the teams at the top share the same expectations. UCLA and Arizona appear poised to be in the mix for high seeds once more, while Oregon seems to be in a position to return to the Big Dance after a disappointing 2021–22 campaign. Down the line, USC and Stanford are intriguing squads a tier below the top dogs, while the teams in the middle have an interesting mix of transfers. But for a conference that’s often maligned for lacking the requisite thump at the top, it’s encouraging the Pac-12’s brand-name programs appear healthy and primed to make some noise.
