Arizona Boots Simon From Bench: Arizona will not keep assistant coach Miles Simon on coach Lute Olson's staff, opting not to renew his contract. Simon had been working on a year-to-year contract since 2005. The school did not give a reason for his departure, and Olson said he never comments on personnel matters. [5/08/08]
Cougars Give Bennett a Raise: Washington State gave coach Tony Bennett a raise, bumping his salary to $1 million a year and extending his contract through 2015. One of the hottest young coaches in the country, Bennett has led the Cougars to back-to-back 26-win seasons and NCAA Tournament berths. Washington State has returned to respectability after being a perennial bottom feeder in the Pac-10. Bennett is still one of the lower paid coaches in the conference, but he works in a smaller market in Pullman, Wash. [5/06/08]
Stanford Brings In A New Duke: Johnny Dawkins spent the last nine seasons being the head assistant coach for Duke before being hired as Stanford's head coach. He is replacing Trent Johnson, who was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year last season. Although Dawkins has no previous head coaching experience, he was the Blue Devils' top assistant and the right-hand man of Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Cardinal finished 28-8 last season and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.
[4/30/08]
UCLA Gets a Big Return: Darren Collison announced Saturday that he would return for his senior season as UCLA's point guard. This is big news for the Bruins after losing freshman phenom Kevin Love along with Russell Westbrook to the NBA Draft. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute also declared for the draft but he might return because he is not guaranteed to be a first-round pick. Collison averaged 14.5 points and 3.8 assists per game this past season and will be at least one returning starter for the Bruins.
[4/30/08]
USC Loses It's Second Top Scorer: A source close to Southern California forward Davon Jefferson told CBSSports.com that he will place his name in the NBA Draft. He will hire an agent to confirm that he will not be returning to USC. Jefferson averaged 12.1 points per game and will join USC's other top scorer, O.J. Mayo, in June's draft.
[4/30/08]
Arizona Dismisses O'Neill From Coaching Staff: Arizona reassigned interim coach Kevin O'Neill to an assistant athletic director position at least through June 30. The move is a possible precursor to O'Neill exiting the university after he led the Wildcats to a 19-15 record and 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance while coach Lute Olson dealt with personal issues. O'Neill joined Olson's staff last spring and was named Olson's successor, but the team has backtracked on that statement. O'Neill's coaching style was different from Olson's high-intensity style. [4/28/08]
Mark Phelps to Take Over at Drake: Mark Phelps, an assistant coach at Arizona State, has been named the new head coach at Drake. Phelps was hired less than a week after former Drake coach Keno Davis left for Providence. Phelps, a longtime assistant to Herb Sendek, has big shoes to fill. Davis, a first-year coach, earned the Bulldogs their first NCAA Tournament entry since 1971, went 28-5 and won both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.
[4/23/08]
Now Love Is in the Draft: UCLA freshman center Kevin Love will enter the NBA Draft after all. The Los Angeles Times initially reported that Love would enter the draft, but coach Ben Howland and Love denied the report. However, Love reached the decision Thursday to declare for the draft. He averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in leading the Bruins to the Final Four. Most draft prognosticators figure Love will go in the top 10.
[4/21/08]
Freshman Guard to Depart Washington State: Stephen Sauls was granted a release from Washington State and will transfer to Texas, which is closer to his home in Missouri City. He withdrew from classes and returned home to receive treatment for a concussion he got in practice Jan. 7. Washington State will ask for him to receive a medical hardship so that he can keep four years of eligibility. He averaged just 2.1 points in eight games this season.
[4/13/08]
Bruins' Coach Dismisses Report of Stars Going Pro: ?After the Los Angeles Times stated that UCLA All-American center Kevin Love and teammate Darren Collison were bolting for the NBA, Bruins coach Ben Howland called the report "erroneous." The report states that they were expected to hire agents for the NBA Draft, something that would automatically make them ineligible to play for UCLA next season. Love, a freshman, led them in scoring with 17.5 per game and rebounding with 10.6 per game. Collison, a junior point guard, averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game. College players have until April 27 to declare for the June draft.
[4/10/08]
Ben Loves Rice: Ben Braun took over as Rice's new coach after being fired by California last month. Braun led Cal to five NCAA Tournament berths but missed the tournament four times out of the past five years. He replaces Willis Wilson, who led the Owls to a 3-27 overall record and was 0-16 in Conference USA this past season. [4/9/08]
Craig Robinson Heads West: Oregon State named Craig Robinson as its head coach after he stepped down at Brown. Robinson led Brown to a school-record 19 victories in 2007-08 and won more games in his first two years than any coach in the school's history. He was named the 2008 Rhode Island Division I Coach of the Year. Robinson takes over a struggling Beaver program that failed to win a single game in the Pac-10 this past season and has been the conference's doormat for several seasons. [4/9/08]
LSU Wants to Bring Johnson to the Bayou: According to sources familiar with LSU's coaching search, the Tigers plan to hire Stanford coach Trent Johnson to replace John Brady. LSU fired Brady near the end of the season, and assistant Butch Pierre finished the season as interim coach. In four seasons with the Cardinal, Johnson led Stanford to an 80-48 record and took the team to the Sweet 16 this past season. He helped bring twin 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez to Stanford, giving the Cardinal one of the most dominating front lines in the Pac-10. Both Lopez twins announced that they are entering the NBA Draft. [4/09/08]
Mayo Moves Into Draft: USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo said he will enter the NBA Draft and hire an agent, marking the end of his collegiate career. Mayo averaged 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a member of college basketball's elite freshman class. The Trojan was one of the most heralded recruits entering the season and proved he can handle the pressure of carrying a team. Many NBA scouts consider Mayo to be one of the top picks in this June's draft. [4/09/08]
Budinger Joins Bayless in the Draft: Arizona sophomore forward Chase Budinger announced that he will enter the NBA Draft, becoming the second Wildcat to potentially leave early. Freshman point guard Jerryd Bayless has already announced that he'll be in the draft, and he plans to hire an agent, which means he will not be eligible to return to school. Unlike Bayless, Budinger does not plan to hire an agent. If Arizona's second leading scorer does not like his draft stock, he can return to the Wildcats. Budinger averaged 17.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season. [4/09/08]
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Arizona Wildcats Tucson, Arizona Coach: Lute Olson  Arizona State Sun Devils Tempe, Arizona Coach: Herb Sendek California Golden Bears Berkeley, California Coach: Ben Braun Oregon Ducks Eugene, Oregon Coach: Ernie Kent Oregon State Beavers Corvallis, Oregon Coach: Jay John Stanford Cardinal Palo Alto, California Coach: Trent Johnson UCLA Bruins Los Angeles, California Coach: Ben Howland USC Trojans Los Angeles, California Coach: Tim Floyd Washington Huskies Seattle, Washington Coach: Lorenzo Romar Washington State Cougars Pullman, Washington Coach: Tony Bennett |
| More Info: Pac-10 Official Site |
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The Pac-10 is very strong and deep this season, and we take a look at how it should shake out. |
February 22nd - Scott Allen has hot Huskies, a Wildcat's silent return, and possibly some close postseason calls. |
January 27th - Scott Allen has hot forwards in northern Cal, opposite feelings in Washington, and a close race for the top. |
January 11th - Scott Allen has the Huskies and Trojans off to fast starts, with a few others still trying to get going. |
January 6th - Scott Allen looks at early surprises, from the not-so-road warriors to the return of a star in Berkeley. |
Scott Allen previews the Pac-10, where the top seems to be getting lighter and the competition more fierce. |
February 2nd - Scott Allen has a big win for the Cougars in the desert, along with fading Ducks and surging Cardinal. |
January 17th - Scott Allen has Washington staying in front, Arizona coming on after a good week, and Sun Devils back to earth. |
January 10th - Scott Allen has no one escaping the Pac-10 unscathed, a surprise in Tempe, and a depleted lineup in Palo Alto. |
Scott Allen previews the Pac-10, featuring a tale of two cities in Arizona, and the Huskies coming up the ranks. |
Scott Allen recaps the Pac-10 offseason news, with Montgomery leaving Stanford and Washington leaving Washington. |
Arizona Wildcats kick off new season in style. (U-Wire) |
Scott Allen recaps the Pac-10's 2003-04 campaign, which saw Stanford with a remarkable run, and Washington rising to the top. |
March 13th - Scott Allen recaps the Pac-10 Finals, where Stanford got at least some measure of revenge against Washington. |