The early ecstasy of March Madness always energizes the college basketball world. But it also overshadows the end of the regular season and the individual accomplishments of the players and coaches.
Not here. Not at ESPN.com. Here's your choices for the Pac-10 Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team with the best tourney outlook:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lampley means more to his team than any other
|  | | Sean Lampley, Cal's lone senior, leads the Pac-10 in scoring at 20.1 ppg. |
Sean Lampley. He's definitely one of the most underrated players of the year. Without Sean, the Bears wouldn't be tournament bound and I don't think you can say that about any other player in the Pac-10. He is leading the Pac-10 in scoring and is a leader in rebounds and assists. He is the only player in the Pac-10 to be named Player of the Week three times.
Elliott Koppel
Fremont, Calif.
Watson is the leader of hottest team
Earl Watson is playing the most solid ball of any player in the Pac-10. He has guided a Bruin team with less talent than any Bruin team over the past four years to the top of the conference. My early season pick was Sam Clancy, but his team has faltered while the Bruins have soared under the leadership of Watson.
Aaron Watanabe
San Diego, Calif.
Collins has quietly led No. 1 team in country
Jason Collins is the MOP (most overlooked player) in addition to being the MVP in the Pac-10 Conference. His post moves are good and he rebounds very well, but his defense is the key to the success of the Stanford team. He has dominated every center he's played this year, including Carlos Boozer and Loren Woods, with Dan Gadzuric having the best game against him (scoring a meager 10 points).
Steve
Boston, Mass.
UA's Wright has been the most consistent
I think that the Player of the Year is Michael Wright. Obviously Arenas is on fire lately, and he is a great player, but Wright has been Mr. Consistency all season on an inconsistent team. When the 'Cats were down he played strong, and now that they are gathering momentum he is still doing it all. Let's face it, the guy is playing for two since Woods never bothered to show up.
Whit Honea
Escondido, Calif.
Arenas is best among most talented team in Pac-10
Gilbert Arenas - Kid can get to the basket any time he wants. If he starts hitting his jumper you can just forget about trying to defend him. Others in the conference like Kapono and Jacobsen are worthy of this honor but Arenas edges them in both defense and ball handling ability.
David Kim
Los Angeles, Calif.
The player of the year in the Pac-10 is Gilbert Arenas of Arizona. The guy is a star who can hit from anywhere at anytime (25 points in the second half of the loss to UCLA). He has emerged as Arizona's top scoring threat on a team that is loaded with scoring threats (Michael Wright, Eugene Edgerson, Jason Gardner, Loren Woods --A much more talented team than the Tree). What's more, he's only a sophomore.
Steve Hebert
Philadelphia, Pa.
Jacobsen is a winner
Casey Jacobsen is the only player in the conference who can even be thought of as the player of the year. In his worst game of the season, the Cardinal lost, in every other game, they won. Simple as that, winning makes a great player.
Dan Pasternack
New Orleans, La.
COACH OF THE YEAR
How can it not be Steve Lavin?
Steve Lavin is the obvious choice for this honor. He has taken a team that struggled through some early season losses and has taken them to being ranked in both polls (wins vs. Arizona, Stanford, USC twice) and sees his team predicted to be a No. 2 seed with the second hardest schedule in the nation. Not to mention all of the controversy surrounding himself, Peter Dalis, and Rick Pitino over his job. He has showed real poise and professionalism while leading his team to what can be called nothing less than a spectacular season.
Jeff Kirchner
Los Angeles, Calif.
Cal's Braun has young team playing at high level
No coach in the Pac-10 has demonstrated the leadership, intelligence, or equanimity that gentle Ben Braun exudes. This man has taken all the hits, and comes up with smiles, showing that he can do more with less than any other coach imaginable. Braun has the brains and the brawn to turn any player and any team into one that is a perennial threat.
Tim Loose
Berkeley, Calif.
Ben Braun has done more with less than anyone else. Cal has seen a depletion of talent since Bozeman wrecked the program, and it's a testament to Braun's coaching that Cal will be in the Dance this year.
David Oblath
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Olson has survived season of turmoil
If Steely Dan can win an Emmy then why can't Olson win the Coach of the Year Award? The man has had the hardest year of his life, and his team suffered with him. Now they are making up for lost time by unleashing on the rest of the conference.
Whit Honea
Escondido, Calif.
Simple: Montgomery is coach of nation's No. 1 team
I don't even see room for debate here: Stanford was projected to be anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the Pac-10, and now they are #1 in the nation, not just the conference. Sure Montgomery has more talent on his team than Braun or Graham, but he was the one who built the program from next to nothing and recruited the talent. That has to be part of being Coach of the Year.
Steve
Boston, Mass.
Graham deserves a mention
Paul Graham, WSU. No other coach has been through as much as he has this year. Dismissing our second leading scorer (Eddie Miller) and playing everybody tough in the Pac-10 with only one player with legit size (J Locklear). Just ask the Cardinal how tough the Cougs play.
Glenn Zalubil
Pullman, Wash.
TEAM WITH BEST TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK
Cardinal are favorites, but UCLA, Arizona are the darkhorses
You've got to love the top threes teams in the conference, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona, but who is playing tougher ball than UCLA. In the last 3 weeks they have taken all comers, save Cal, and come away with W's. The NCAA tourney is about who's playing the best ball, peaking if you will at the right time. That certainly Applies to UCLA. If they are shipped to the Midwest bracket I think they will come out of it and be a final four team.
Lindsey Monroe
Anchorage, Alaska
Stanford - Definitely, the Cardinal are playing their best basketball of the year. It will be difficult to play with them when they are on. UCLA and Arizona are also playing very well but have not proven, as of yet, their ability to play as a team as well as Stanford. Also, no other team has tangled with the sports writers' favorite team Duke from the Pac-10 other than Stanford, and won. It is difficult for the Pac-10 to get respect from all the east coast writers but I believe that many will be surprised at this year's showing of the 5 Pac-10 teams in the NCAA's.
Elliott Koppel
Fremont, Calif.
Arizona. Lute knows how to gear his teams up for postseason and he certainly has the talent this year. UCLA can get hot … or they can tank. Who knows with them? Stanford always peaks early and now injuries are starting to hit them a la 1998-1999; if they lose their depth, they won't last long again. Barnes' ankles must hold up & they can't afford to lose another front line player.
Mark Zellinger
Las Vegas, Nev.
UCLA has the best tournament outlook of all the schools in the Pac-10. The Bruins know what needs to be done and when it ought to be done and where to do it. Stanford is a strong team, but its recent tourney woes will not be surmounted this year. Look for the Bruins in the Elite Eight, but don't expect a championship return for this historically rich school this time 'round.
Tim Loose
Berkeley, Calif.
Arizona. This team has been under fire all year long with player problems, off-court problems (coach's wife), and even fans booing their best player. However, they are still the most talented team in the Pac-10 and I think they will pull it all together by tournament time. Anything less than a Final Four would be a disappointment for them.
David Lee
Berkeley, Calif.
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