Pac-12 basketball: 5 bold predictions for 2020-2021 NCAA basketball season

Pac-12 basketball Coach of the Year: Dana Altman, Oregon

You could certainly make the case that, if Bobby Hurley is able to make a run at the Pac-12 title this season and manage the talented roster he’s built at Arizona State, then he could win the conference Coach of the Year honors when it’s all said and done. But based on what I’m seeing, Dana Altman taking the crown appears to be the safer pick.

For one, no one should remotely question the merits of the Oregon head coach considering the level of success he’s attained year after year with the Ducks. But he now has this team poised as the favorites to win the conference championship once again in the 2020-2021 season, which may be his most impressive feat yet.

Oregon comes into this year after losing Payton Pritchard, who was a stalwart for the program that defined much of their success. Though the roster remaining is talented and has added a host of fantastic transfers that will help the cause, competing and winning the Pac-12 title after losing Pritchard would be a point in Altman’s favor for this award.

With the parity in the Pac-12 this season, the Coach of the Year race could be the tight one. And maybe it’s too safe of a pick but the likely league-winners deserve to get some love and Altman will be the recipient of that when it comes to the hardware.