PACIFIC 10 PREVIEW : Arizona Favored to Win Fifth Conference Title in Six Seasons

UCLA dominated college basketball from the mid-1960s to the mid-70s, winning 10 NCAA titles in 12 years under Coach John Wooden.

Although Lute Olson has yet to win an NCAA title at Arizona, he has built the Wildcats into the dominant team in the Pacific 10, taking three consecutive conference titles and advancing to the Final Four in 1988.

The No. 5 Wildcats, who have three starters back from last season’s team that advanced to the Sweet 16, are favored to win their fifth Pac-10 title in the last six seasons.

However, UCLA, with all five starters returning from last season’s team, could challenge Arizona.

The Pac-10, which sent Arizona, UCLA, USC and Arizona State to the NCAA tournament and had Stanford win the NIT last season, should be improved in 1991-92. The conference had an 89-28 record in nonconference games last season, best in the nation.

“I certainly think we’re in a position now to be looked upon as one of the premier basketball conferences in the country,” USC Coach George Raveling said.

“Our coaching and our talent are now at a level where we can compete day in and day out with the Big East, the (Atlantic Coast Conference) and the Southeastern Conference.”

Here’s a look at the Pac-10, except for UCLA and USC, listed in alphabetical order:

ARIZONA

1990-91 record: 28-7, 14-4

Finish: First

Although center Brian Williams left school a year early for the NBA and guard Matt Muehlebach graduated, the Wildcats could be even better than they were last season if they can get a consistent effort from 6-foot-6 junior forward Chris Mills, who was erratic after sitting out a season as a result of his transfer from Kentucky. Mills, who averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, had a tendency to disappear in important games.

Guard Khalid Reeves, a 6-1 sophomore who replaces Muehlebach at the point, came on strong at the end of last season before breaking his thumb in the NCAA tournament. Reeves, who averaged 9.1 points, teams with 6-1 senior guard Matt Othick.

The Wildcats’ front line is their strength. Forward Sean Rooks, a 6-10 senior, and 7-foot junior center Ed Stokes will start with Mills.

After averaging eight points and 4.6 rebounds in making the Pac-10 all-freshmen team, Stokes went through a sophomore slump, averaging 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds.

The Wildcats, who have won 64 consecutive games at McKale Center in Tucson, the longest current home-court winning streak in the nation, will be tested early when they play host to Louisiana State on Dec. 7.

ARIZONA STATE

1990-91 record: 20-10, 10-8

Finish: Third (tie)

After leaving Michigan, Coach Bill Frieder has apparently turned around the Sun Devils in two seasons. Frieder led Arizona State into the NIT in his first season, then guided the Sun Devils to their first 20-victory record in 10 years and a spot in the NCAA tournament last season. After beating Rutgers in the first round, the Sun Devils gave Arkansas a scare before losing, 97-90.

Frieder must replace center Isaac Austin, who averaged a team-high 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds a game, and guards Tarence Wheeler, Matt Anderson and Brian Camper.

Forward Jamal Faulkner, a 6-7 sophomore who averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds en route to being named the Pac-10 freshman of the year, should be improved after playing on the U.S. World Junior championship team.

Dwayne Fontana, a 6-4 sophomore forward, and guard Lynn Collins, a 6-1 junior, also return to the starting lineup. Fontana averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds last season, while Collins averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 assists.

Faulkner and guard Stevin Smith will miss the first three games because of unauthorized use of campus telephones; Fontana will miss six, and Collins will miss four.

CALIFORNIA

1990-91 records: 13-15, 8-10

Finish: Fifth (tie)

Coach Lou Campanelli didn’t sit still after the Golden Bears failed to reach the NCAA tournament, signing one of the nation’s best crop of freshmen, including 6-8 Alfred Grigsby of Yates High in Houston, a top power forward, and 6-0 guard K.J. Roberts of Kent, Wash., who was voted the best prep player in the state.

Grigsby and Roberts figure to start alongside 6-9 forward Brian Hendrick, and guards Billy Dreher, a 6-4 junior, and Bill Elleby, a 6-3 senior.

Hendrick, who averaged a team-high 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds, will have to provide leadership until the Bears mature.

OREGON

1990-91 records: 13-15, 8-10

Finish: Fifth (tie)

The Ducks figure to struggle after losing their best three players from last season’s team. Guard Terrell Brandon, the Pac-10 player of the year, left school a year early after averaging 26.5 points and 5.0 assists. Forward Richard Lucas, who averaged 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, and guard Kevin Mixon, who averaged 13.9 points, graduated.

Point guard Andre Collier, a 6-5 junior college transfer, could start in the backcourt with Antoine Stoudamire, a 6-4 sophomore who sat out last season after leaving Georgetown.

The Ducks have two starters back--6-11 junior center Bob Fife and 6-7 sophomore forward Jordy Lyden, who averaged 7.4 points while earning a place on the Pac-10 All-freshmen team.

OREGON STATE

1990-91 records: 14-14, 8-10

Finish: Fifth (tie)

Sophomore guard Earnest Killum, the Beavers’ top newcomer, was lost for the season after suffering a stroke in a pickup game last summer. Killum, who underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from an artery in his upper right arm, has not been medically cleared to play.

A prep All-American from Lynwood High who sat out last season because of Prop 48, Killum had been expected to start alongside 6-1 junior guard Charles McKinney, who averaged 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds. Redshirt freshman Brent Barry, whose father Rick starred in the NBA, will probably start in the backcourt with McKinney. Barry, 6-5, even shoots free throws underhanded like his father.

Mario Jackson, who changed his first name to LeRoy, returns at small forward, where he averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds. Jackson, a 6-3 senior, will be joined by Chad Scott, a 6-7 junior who averaged 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Center Scott Haskin, a 6-10 junior who sat out last season after undergoing back surgery, will replace Teo Alebegovic, who averaged a team-high 18.1 points.

STANFORD

1990-91 records: 20-13, 8-10

Finish: Fifth (tie)

Forward Adam Keefe, who decided to forgo the NBA draft and return for his senior season, is the lone returning starter from the Cardinal’s NIT championship team.

A 6-9 forward, Keefe averaged a team-high 21.2 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Jim Morgan, a 6-11 sophomore, and Brent Williams a 6-6 sophomore, will probably start alongside Keefe in the front court.

Marcus Lollie, a 6-0 junior who has been inconsistent in his first two seasons, will start at point guard.

WASHINGTON

1990-91 records: 14-14, 5-13

Finish: 10th

Hired to rebuild the Huskies in 1989, Lynn Nance has struggled in his first two seasons. Washington finished ninth in Nance’s first season and 10th last season, losing nine of their last 11 games. There is so little interest in the Huskies that the women’s team outdraws the men’s team in Seattle.

The Huskies, who lost three starters, may not improve much this season.

Washington will build its team around Doug Meekins, a 6-6 senior forward who averaged a team-high 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, and 6-2 sophomore guard James French, who averaged 4.3 points and 3.1 assists while starting every game as a freshman.

Center Rich Manning, a 6-10 junior who transferred from Syracuse, is expected to start. The sixth man at Syracuse, Manning played behind Derrick Coleman as a freshman.

WASHINGTON STATE

1990-91 records: 16-12, 8-10

Finish: Fifth (tie)

Coach Kelvin Sampson was named the Pac-10 coach of the year and rewarded with a seven-year contract extension after leading the Cougars out of last place last season.

Although the Cougars made one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation, going from a 7-22 record in 1989-90 to 16-12, they faltered at the end of last season, losing their last four games and failing to make the NCAA or the NIT.

Washington State, which has all five starters back and figures to get some easy early victories out of the softest nonconference schedule in the Pac-10, could challenge for an NCAA tournament bid.

The Cougars will employ a three-guard offense again this season with 6-4 senior Terrence Lewis, who averaged 14.8 points; 6-3 senior Neil Derrick, who averaged 14.7, and 6-0 junior Bennie Seltzer, who averaged 10.7 points and 3.9 assists.

Center Ken Critton, a 6-8 senior who averaged 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, starts along with 6-8 sophomore forward Rob Corkrum, who averaged six points and 3.9 rebounds.