NCAAB · 11 months ago

Ranking the Eight New Pac-12 College Basketball Programs

David Connelly

Host · Writer

8. Fresno State
A school certainly not known for its basketball, Fresno State has reached March Madness just once since 2002. It's been over 40 years since it reached a second weekend, and the only excitement around the program in the 21st century has come when Paul George was on campus in the late 2000s. The program can get a kickstart and enjoy the Pac-12 nametag going forward, which should help it find better talent for its future rosters.

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1. Gonzaga
The Bulldogs enter the revamped Pac-12 as the crown jewel of the conference. They are second in active NCAA Tournament appearance streaks at 24, only behind Michigan State. Mark Few has built this team into a West Coast powerhouse, and they finally get the move they deserve to a conference that should provide more competition than the WCC did. But the question remains: Can they get over the hump and win a national championship?

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2. San Diego State
Along with the Zags, the Aztecs are among the most accomplished teams of the 21st century. Their recent run to the national championship game in 2022 capped off their most successful season in program history, and they have been a perennial powerhouse in the Mountain West dating back to the Kawhi Leonard days. They are firmly on the map out west, and the pickups on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal will only be more significant with Pac-12 next to their name.
3. Oregon State
It's been a long time coming, but the Beavers were a force in college basketball throughout the 1960's and 1980's. With a pair of Final Fours to their name, they fill out our third spot on this list with some historical pedigree and as a founding member of the conference more than a century ago. Head coach Wayne Tinkle had them on the verge of a Final Four in 2021, but it will take some rebuilding to get them back in that position.
4. Boise State
Boise State may be the only program on this list at its peak. Head coach Leon Rice is the winningest in the program's history and has them as an NCAA Tournament team nearly every year. San Diego State has enough pedigree and national recognition to get a strong non-conference schedule and the proper buzz from the media. As for the Broncos, this move may be most beneficial to a school like theirs that has the talent and coaching but lacks the overall hype.
5. Utah State
The retirement of head coach Stew Morrill in 2015 after 16 years with the program left Utah State at a crossroads with an uncertain future. It led to a failed stint with Tim Duryea, followed by three home run hires in Craig Smith, Ryan Odom, and Danny Sprinkle. The problem for the Aggies? Each head coach left for a better job after displaying success with the program. This move to the Pac-12 should aid that and give the job plenty more staying power for its future coaches.
6. Colorado State
The Rams are just two years removed from their highest finish in the AP Top 25, their highest NCAA Tournament seed, and their best win percentage in a season back in 2021-22. Head coach Niko Medved has had this team play like one of the premier mid-majors in the country over the past few years, and they are well worth being a part of the power conference sphere in college hoops.
7. Washington State
Despite their long duration as a power conference program, there hasn't been much for Washington State to hang its hat on the hardwood. The Cougs made the national championship game in 1941 and only one Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2008. The surprise 2024 season that led to the program's seventh-ever NCAA Tournament appearance was one of the best seasons in the school's history and could be a solid step towards becoming a more relevant team in college basketball.
8. Fresno State
A school certainly not known for its basketball, Fresno State has reached March Madness just once since 2002. It's been over 40 years since it reached a second weekend, and the only excitement around the program in the 21st century has come when Paul George was on campus in the late 2000s. The program can get a kickstart and enjoy the Pac-12 nametag going forward, which should help it find better talent for its future rosters.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1. Gonzaga
The Bulldogs enter the revamped Pac-12 as the crown jewel of the conference. They are second in active NCAA Tournament appearance streaks at 24, only behind Michigan State. Mark Few has built this team into a West Coast powerhouse, and they finally get the move they deserve to a conference that should provide more competition than the WCC did. But the question remains: Can they get over the hump and win a national championship?

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

Ranking the Eight New Pac-12 College Basketball Programs

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