The Starting Fives: Pac-10

Pac-10 Basketball

Unlike the NBA, where most starting lineups are set in stone weeks before the season, NCAA starting fives are highly unsettled and constantly in flux. Going through the BCS leagues this week, I'll be projecting the starting fives for each team. Also included is the team's most important bench option, and some notes on other possible lineups.

In the case where a quality player is ineligible for the fall semester or suspended for the opening few games, I've still included them in the projections. These are really supposed to be projections of how lineups will look in February and March.

Next week, based on these lineups, I'll be throwing out statistical projections for major BCS contributors.


PAC-10

ARIZONA

G Nic Wise Jr
G Chase Budinger Jr
F Jamelle Horne So
F Jordan Hill Jr
C Jeff Whitey Fr

6 Brendon Lavender (G)

Notes: Many projections suggest that Budinger will start at the 3, with one of either Lavender, Zane Johnson, or Garland Judkins winning the starting 2-guard spot.  Little used senior Fendi Onobun will back up the forwards.


ARIZONA STATE

G Derek Glasser Jr
G Ty Abbott So
G James Harden So
F Jerren Ship Jr
F Jeff Pendergraph Sr

6 Rihards Kuksiks (SF)

Notes: Even though Shipp played almost 30 mpg last year, its possible Kuksiks starts due to better shooting ability.  The other main reserves will be Eric Boateng (behind Pendergraph), and Jamelle McMillan (behind Glasser). 


CALIFORNIA

G Jerome Randle Jr
G Patrick Christopher Jr
F Theo Robertson Jr
F Harper Kemp So

F Jamal Boykin Jr

6 DJ Seeley (G)

Notes: Even though Seeley is Cal's star recruit, he should back up both Christopher and Robertson, as well as join them in a 3-guard lineup at times. Despite playing 19 mpg last year, incumbent reserve guard Nikola Knezevic should lose time thanks to the addition of Jorge Gutierrez, Mike Montgomery's first signee. Depth in the frontcourt is a serious issue, as little-used Jordan Wilkes might be the best option backing up Boykin. Omondi Amoke, a red-shirt freshman, should see 10 mpg behind Robertson.


OREGON

G Kamyron Brown So
G Tajuan Porter Jr
G LeKendric Longmire So
F Joevan Catron Jr
C Michael Dunigan Fr

6 Frantz Dorsainvil (F)

Notes: No one really knows how Oregon's starting five will look, and however it looks on opening day will probably be very different from February. Catron and Porter are the only real locks to start.  Dunigan, the star recruit, may very well come off the bench in November, but I expect him to start by season's end. Brown is very mediocre, but Porter has proven he's not a point guard. Besides Brown, another option at PG is Ben Voogd, a transfer who never panned out at LSU. Longmire also is no lock to start, and could be replaced by sharp-shooting freshman Matthew Humphrey.


OREGON STATE

G Josh Tarver Jr
G Seth Tarver Jr
G Lathen Wallace So

F Omari Johnson Jr
F Daniel Deane So

6 Roland Schaftenaar Jr

Notes: Not much to like here. Wallace could be OSU's 6th man, with either Schaftenaar or Calvin Hampton jumping into the starting five. Rcky Claitt and Calvin Haynes provide depth in the backcourt as well.


STANFORD

G Mitch Johnson Sr
G Anthony Goods Sr
F Landry Fields Jr
F Lawrence Hill Sr
F Josh Owens Jr

6 Da'Veed Dildy (G)

Notes: Stanford's starting five is pretty well settled, at least compared to the Oregon schools. Forward depth is major issue, where Will Paul is the lone backup post player ready to contribute.  There's a long list of players fighting for minutes in the backcourt including returnees Drew Shiller, Kenny Brown, and newcomers Jeremy Green and Jarrett Mann. All four could see 10 mpg along with the aforementioned Dildy, as Stanford will have to go small at times. 


UCLA

G Darren Collison Sr
G Jrue Holiday Fr
G Josh Sipp Sr
F James Keefe Jr
C J'Mison Morgan Fr

6 Alfred Aboya (PF)

Notes: While UCLA's three guard lineup is set in stone, there's good competition for frontcourt minutes. Keefe and Aboya are the contenders for the PF spot, while newcomer Gordon will also get time at the 4 & 5. Super freshman Malcolm Lee will backup Collison & Holiday, and returnee Michael Roll will see time behind Shipp.


USC

G Daniel Hackett Jr
G Dwight Lewis Jr
F Demar DeRozan Fr
F Kasey Cunningham So
C Taj Gibson J

6 Donte Smith (G)

Notes: The only questionable spot is power forward, where Cunningham will need to beat out senior Keith Wilkinson and talented newcomer Leonard Washington for the right to start. Expect UCONN transfer Marcus Johnson to be the main backup at the 2 & 3 when he becomes eligible.

WASHINGTON

G Venoy Overton So
G Justin Dentmon Sr
F Quincy Pondexter Jr
F Matthew Bryan-Amaning
F Jon Brockman Sr

6 Isaiah Thomas (PG)

Notes: Thomas could eventually start, push Overton or Dentmon to the bench. Another quality freshman, Scott Suggs, will push Overton and Dentmon for time as well.  The first frontcourt reserve will be Artem Wallace, while 7-foot Joe Wolfinger also gets time behind Brockman.  The final regular reserve is senior guard Joel Smith.

WASHINGTON STATE

G Taylor Rochestie Sr
G Nikola Koprivica Jr
G Klay Thompson Fr
F Daven Hamerling Sr
F Aron Baynes Sr

6 Caleb Forrest Sr

Notes: Washington State has some options in the starting five, where Rochestie and Baynes are the only locks. Forrest will battle Hamerling for the starting 4 spot.  Redshirt freshman Abe Lodwick will also compete for the nod at one of the guard positions, but should end up being a reserve. Expect German Fabian Boeke to be Bayne's main reserve. The eight mentioned will form the Cougars' regular rotation.

Think my projections are off, let me know below where you differ! Also, let me know if there's any recent roster changes I've missed.