Pac-12 MBB projections: Our postseason award winners and all-conference selections
UCLA is poised to dominate the honor roll with a veteran roster and coach Mick Cronin.
Fans of the other 11 teams might read this and weep, but the Hotline envisions a UCLA sweep.
Our predictions for postseason awards and all-conference honors …
Coach of the Year: UCLA’s Mick Cronin.
The fourth-year coach claimed the award in his first season (2019-20) and will collect his second COY honor after guiding the Bruins — this is Cronin’s most complete team in Westwood — to the regular-season title. We also considered Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, ASU’s Bobby Hurley, Utah’s Craig Smith and Colorado’s Tad Boyle.
Player of the Year: UCLA F Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Jaquez is the top all-around player in the league: He scores from the paint and the perimeter, distributes, creates and is a tenacious defender. And don’t forget, the coaches are willing to consider career accomplishments and loyalty to the sport. Jaquez checks those boxes, as well.
Defensive Player of the Year: UCLA G Jaylen Clark
Most of the impact defenders in the conference are big men, but Clark stands alone for versatility and ability to play bigger than his 6-foot-5 frame. One of two current Bruins (along with Jaquez) who received all-defensive team honors last year.
Freshman of the Year: UCLA G Amari Bailey
The five-star prospect’s production has matched the hype, especially in UCLA’s two conference games (33 points against Stanford and Oregon). We envision more of the same as he gains comfort in Cronin’s system and elevates his game to match the pressure of the stretch run.
Transfer of the Year: Washington F Keion Brooks
The former Kentucky starter leads Washington in scoring (16.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) and has shown a knack for setting up teammates. If his 3-point shooting improves, Brooks could make a run at Pac-12 Player of the Year honors.
All-conference selections
First team
UCLA F Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Arizona F Azuolas Tubelis
Utah F Branden Carlson
Colorado G K.J. Simpson
USC G Boogie Ellis
Second team
Arizona C Oumar Ballo
Washington F Keion Brooks
WSU F Mouhamed Gueye
UCLA G Jaylen Clark
Arizona State G DJ Horne
All-defensive team
Utah F Branden Carlson
USC F Joshua Morgan
UCLA F Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Arizona State G Frankie Collins
UCLA G Jaylen Clark
All-transfer team
Washington F Keion Brooks
Arizona State G Desmond Cambridge
Arizona G Courtney Ramey
Cal G Devin Askew
Arizona State G Frankie Collins
All-freshman team
Oregon C Kel’el Ware
UCLA F Adem Bona
Oregon State G Jordan Pope
USC G Tre White
UCLA G Amari Bailey
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