College Basketball's 10 Best in the Pac-12

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 2, 2012

College Basketball's 10 Best in the Pac-12

Andre Roberson

Stats to know: 11.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.86 bpg Roberson's calling card is rebounding -- his 11.1 boards a game ranked third in the nation last year and his defensive rebound percentage (29.6) was second, according to kenpom.com -- but he also does a little of everything else for the Buffs, who were the surprise winner of last year's Pac-12 tournament. He also led the team in blocks (1.86) and steals (1.3).

Chasson Randle

Stats to know: 13.8 ppg, 43.8 3PT%, 43.9 FG% While producing one of the best rookie seasons in Stanford history, Randle, averaged 14 points and shot 47.8 percent from beyond the arc. Against Arizona State in the Pac-12 tournament he had a career-high 30 points, including a tournament-record 27 first-half points.

Allen Crabbe

Stats to know: 15.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.4 3pg Crabbe has such a beautiful and effective shot that the rest of his game often gets overlooked. In addition to leading the Bears in scoring and three-point baskets made, he paced the team in rebounds (5.7 pg) and free throw shooting (.874) while adding 2.1 assists (3rd on team) and .58 blocks (2nd).

Solomon Hill

Stats to know: 12.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, .500 FG% Playing out of position at power forward last year, Hill was second on the team in scoring and was the first Wildcat to lead the team in both rebounding and assists since Andre Iguodala in 2003-04. Anticipating a move to small forward, Hill polished his perimeter shooting and sculpted his body. Coach Sean Miller was so impressed he tweeted a picture of a bare-chested Hill from the team's trip to the Bahamas, adding, "Not too many college basketball players have worked harder over the offseason than this guy -- hard to recognize."

Brock Motum

Stats to know: 18 ppg; .554 FG%; 6.4 rpg No one in the conference has made as dramatic a leap from obscurity to indispensability as the lefty from Brisbane, who, two years after contributing just 2.9 points and 6.7 minutes as a freshman, has emerged as one of the conference's most dominant frontcourt players. With Reggie Moore's recent dismissal from the team, Motum will be even more critical to the Cougars' success. On the team's recent tour of Australia, Motum scored at least 21 points in all five games, including 41 in a 86-81 loss to the Cairns Taipans.

E.J. Singler

Stats to know: 13.6 ppg; 5.6 rpg; .368 3p%; .909 FT Singler may not win an NCAA title like his older brother Kyle did with Duke in 2010, but he will leave a mark on the Oregon program. As the Ducks' have endured a coaching change and a flurry of transfers in the last three years, Singler has been the team's rock, playing in every game of his career and starting all 73 games of the last two seasons. His performance from the foul line has set a standard for dependability; his free-throw shooting percentage of .875 is top of the Ducks career list.

Kyle Anderson

You won't see many point guards like Anderson in the Pac-12 -- or anywhere else. Yes, he has great court vision and basketball IQ and can pass the ball as well as anyone in the country, but with his 7-foot-2 wingspan he can also serve, in a pinch, as a defensive eraser. In the final game of UCLA's three-game tour in China this summer, Anderson contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Shabazz Muhammad

The prized catch of Ben Howland's latest recruiting haul may miss some early games because of NCAA investigation into extra benefits. But eventually he'll get a chance to show off the work ethic, explosive athleticism, relentless competiveness and versatile offensive arsenal that made him the top recruit in the class of 2012. Did we mention that Muhammad likes to win? As a senior he scored a game-high 36 points to lead Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas to its third Class 4A Nevada State title.

Brandon Ashley

Stats to know: 15.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg at Findley Prep in Las Vegas A combo forward who can hit mid-range jumpers, attack the rim and block shots, Ashley, the No. 1 power forward in the class of 2101 according to Scout.com, has already drawn comparisons to former Wildcat Richard Jefferson. In Arizona's two-game trip to the Bahamas this summer, he averaged 13 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds.

Mark Lyons

Stats to know: 15.1 ppg, 39.2 3P%, 2.76 apg The fifth-year transfer from Xavier is perhaps the most intriguing of Arizona's seven newbies. After an up and down career in Cincinnati that was lowlighted by last season's infamous crosstown brawl, Lyons has an opportunity to remind fans of the many things he does well on the court, including defending and scoring from all over. If the designated point guard can also distribute, the Wildcats could be looking at a deep run in March.