CBB DFS: Hot Takes from the PAC 12

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In lieu of conference previews this year @CBB_DFS is going to bring our Bucketheads a list of 10 DFS related things that caught our eye in each conference during our research. We’ll also knock out a list of 15 mid major hot takes in DFS before we tip! This way our readers/listeners/watchers can be ready to go when those first CBB slates drop on 11/25!

I’ll be completely honest Bucketheads.  As the biggest Pac-12 mark on the planet, I’m a bit nervous about what type of late-night heat the Conference of Champions will produce this year.  Yes, Arizona State will be super fun to watch, despite Romello White leaving for Ole Miss.  Yes, there are still some elite talents in the league, but man it’s going to be hard to replace guys like Payton Pritchard, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaiah Stewart, Jaden McDaniels, Zeke Nnaji, Nico Mannion, Josh Green, CJ Elleby, Tyler Bey, Tres Tinkle, and Chase Jeter.  Just kidding on the last one.  Chase stinks.  However, the rest are a massive amount of $9k+ price point talents that will no longer be options on our DFS slates this season.  However, like any true infatuation, even massive red flags won’t keep me from cracking a few beers, sitting back, and enjoying the gloriousness that is Pac-12 heat.  You complete me Conference of Champions.

  • While Cade Cunningham is the clear-cut best freshmen (and maybe best player?) in the nation this year, Evan Mobley isn’t too far behind. The 6’11 #3 overall recruit Mobley is an absolute star and will be joined by his brother Isaiah in the frontcourt at USC.  The Trojans elite talent down low and likely regression in defensive efficiency (Enfield’s teams are generally average defensively despite last year’s outlier performance) should make for a fun DFS experience every time they’re on a slate in 2020-21.
  • Arizona State’s backcourt will rival Creighton in terms of scoring upside.  The Sun Devils top 20 tempo should continue this season, led by 30+% usage hogs Remy Martin, Alonzo Verge, and 5-star #10 overall recruit Josh Christopher, a 6’5 SF that adds to the scoring prowess of this backcourt.  Add in the fact that Hurley just wants to outscore teams rather than lock in defensively and ASU will be a popular game stacking option all season long.
  • Oregon has a ton of individual talent despite the loss of All-American Payton Pritchard, so it will be interesting to see how Dana Altman puts all these pieces together.  I played a ton of Will Richardson in the low-5ks last year, Chris Duarte showed some massive spike performances as an elite shooter, and Eugene Omoruyiaveraged almost 14 and 7 at Rutgers before redshirting in Eugene last season.  The x-factor will be 2019 5-star center N’Faly Dante’s improvement level and the pending waiver status on LJ Figueroa.  This will be a fun team to monitor, as we’ll take individual talent all day long on the DFS streets.
  • Real life UCLA is going to be really good, but DFS UCLA is going to be annoying.  I just can’t get excited for slow paced teams that hang their hat on the defensive end.  We’ll have to monitor UK transfer Johnny Juzang’s role and price tag, but maybe he opens things up for them offensively?  Otherwise, it’s hard to get too excited for a team that only scored more than 70 points twice in their last 9 games last season.
  • After being on the hot seat, Jerod Haase (who lead the nation in floor burns as an elite try hard back in his days at KU) finally started utilizing that Stanford money to hire a bag man to bring in stud recruits.  They don’t get much better than Ziaire Williams, a 6’8 5-star prospect who is just as comfortable with the ball in his hands as he is playing off the ball.  With Oscar Da Silva back down low, the Cardinal will have two excellent DFS options on a potential tourney team come March.
  • Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels…gone.  Naz Carter…suspended.  Huskie fans thinking about the upcoming season….woof.  They’ll get some help from Erik Stevenson, who averaged 11 and 5 per game at Wichita State last year.  They’ll also need Quade Green to really become a true elite guard after having been in and out of the lineup last year due to some eligibility issues.  He averaged 11.6 and 5 assists last year, but U-Dub might need significant improvement across the board to be a factor in the Pac-12.  Expect a “ruff” season for the Huskies this year. #dogpuns
  • Is Timmy Allen the best player in the country no one talks about?  Allen averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds last season with 28% usage and top 500 rebounding/assists rates. Rylan Jones is back at PG after a strong freshman campaign and 3-point marksman Alfonso Plummer showed some upside late, including averaging 28 points per game over their last 3.  Utah has also been a sieve defensively under west coast Coach K, making their games a priority game stack option on DFS slates.
  • Ethan Thompson is back for the Beavers after averaging almost 15 ppg and 4.2 rebounds.  With Tres Tinkle gone, I fully expect ET to have low 30s usage this season.  Someone will need to step up in the front count with Tinkle and elite shot blocker Kylor Kelley gone.  Keep an eye on former Oklahoma St. post Maurice Calloo, who coach Tinkle says can play the 3, 4 or 5 at 6’10. They may play through him offensively given the fact he can do a bit of everything offensively, whether it be shooting, penetration off the dribble, or facilitating the offense from the high post. 
  • We are pretty deep into the Pac-12 preview and haven’t discussed Arizona yet.  As Sean Miller sweats out a pending FBI investigation, he’ll also have to replace 42 points and 16 boards a game from elite individual talents in Nico Mannion, Zeke Nnaji, and Josh Green.  Miller will largely rely on transfers and international prospects this season. James Akinjo, the former Big East Freshman of the Year, will be a name Bucketheads instantly recognize and should start day one at PG.  Finally, Jordan Brown was a former 5-star recruit that never got it going at Nevada, but Miller thinks he’ll be a double-digit scorer down low for AZ this season. 
  • McKinley Wright is back at PG for his 19th season at Colorado. He’ll likely average 14/5/5 again this season like he has his first 18 seasons for the Buffs. Issac Bonton had 30% usage and 15 ppg last season with CJ Elleby, so imagine what that usage will look like this season without him?  Matt Bradley should lead Cal in scoring again, but one sentence is the max we’ll give to the Golden Bears slow tempo and defensive minded philosophy.

Well, Bucketheads, what do you think?  Who are you excited to watch in the Conference of Champions this season?  Hit us up @cbb_dfs with your thoughts and predictions.  Fingers crossed; we are just 8 days from tipoff!!  LFG!!  #cbbdfs