Edition 1, the coaching counsel is spinning.
PAC-12
This conference is at the top of the food chain and likely will not lose any coaches unless the NBA comes calling. Utah hired Larry Krystowiak and is hoping to hold their team together. There is no reason to doubt that the Arizona will be the team to beat next year as they have a system designed to keep them on top. UCLA, Washington and USC return young teams. California should be improved and Colorado brings in a team that shocked the Big 12 this year. Washington State and Oregon also bring in teams that made moves in the smaller post-season tournaments. Utah is not in a good place to move to a new conference next year.
1. Arizona
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. USC
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Washington State
8. Oregon
9. Stanford
10. Arizona State
11. Oregon State
12. Utah
West Coast Conference
Dave Rose will be back in Provo with just about everyone but Jimmer and probably assistant Dave Rice. Gonzaga returns everyone but Grey. I have to give the advantage to the Zags at this point, but it could change by the time the WCC season kicks off and the new BYU team has had the chance to gel. It is going to be interesting to see who finishes on top next year. St. Mary's fans are breathing a sigh of relief as Randy Bennett is staying. San Francisco, Portland and Santa Clara look to make the conference race more interesting.
1. Gonzaga
2. BYU
3. St. Mary's
4. San Francisco
5. Portland
6. Santa Clara
7. Pepperdine
8. Loyola Marymount
9. San Diego
WAC
Stew will be back with a mostly new crew in 2011-12, but not to worry, the only real competition from 2010-11 will be in the Mountain West. Stew Morrill will have a crew ready for the rest of the WAC. Hawaii will continue to improve and will be much improved for their last season in the WAC. Idaho will continue to get better. Folks in Moscow should really go and see these guys play. Fresno State is still looking for a replacement for Steve Cleveland as Montana's Wayne Tinkle has said no.
1. Utah State
2. Idaho
3. Hawaii
4. New Mexico State
5. Nevada
6. Fresno State
7. San Jose State
8. Louisiana Tech
Big Sky
The conference is most likely the one that will be effected by the coaching counsel, but this year's champion is losing 4 seniors and will not be the same next year. Damian Lillard should be back for at least one more season, and WSU should be much better having learned to play without him. Coach Rahe will have more options. Montana will be without Qvale, but returns everyone else including Will Cherry and Coach Wayne Tinkle who could not find an acceptable deal in Fresno. Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona both lose too many key people to be serious contenders next year. Portland State will be improved. This will be the last season of the 9-team basketball Big Sky. 2012-13 will see North Dakota and Southern Utah join the conference and possibly see Sacramento State become a football-only school.
1. Weber State
2. Montana
3. Portland State
4. Northern Colorado
5. Northern Arizona
6. Eastern Washington
7. Montana State
8. Idaho State
9. Sacramento State
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