It's hard to not see that Pac 10 basketball is getting a lot of national attention recently. With UCLA back to national prominence along with Oregon, Wazzu and Arizona ranked in the Top 25 and USC starting to make a little noise along with some top recruits coming the Pac 10's way next year it's hard to ignore the Pac 10.
There is a great write up on the Pac 10 from SI.com's Seth Davis.
...Next season UCLA will bring in arguably the best player in the Class of '07, 6-9 power forward Kevin Love of Lake Oswego (Ore.) High. The Bruins also didn't have to go further than their own backyard to lock up their backcourt of the future from the current junior class: Jerime Anderson, a 6-1 point guard from Anaheim, and Malcolm Lee, a 6-4 combo guard from Riverside, have both given Ben Howland their verbal commitments.
As you now I am not a hoops enthusiast but after having lived on the east coast for 20 years I have had my fill of the ACC, Big East and the Atlantic 10. I am a big fan of Gary Williams at Maryland and I have always admired John Thompson and Dean Smith for all that they have done for college hoops. I even enjoyed the buzz that surrounded GWU when Mike Jarvis was coaching Yinke Dare. But it is nice to see some of the west coast schools get some regular recognition.
SC is still getting its sea-legs in regards to being in the conversation and Tim Floyd has done a remarkable job in the short time he has been here. Yes, we all realize that most of these players are not his recruits but you have to start somewhere. Regardless, if some of these players are "one and done" Floyd has made an impact. I, like many others, would like to see that impact sustained over a long stretch but for now I am content to watch this team come together and work their way through this new found success.
Hat Tip to PB for sending me the link ;-)