Pac-12 basketball is back on the calendar, and the early exhibition slate has already handed out a few clues. Oregon State looked far more than merely competitive against the defending national champions, Boise State found real juice in its two returning guards, and Utah State showed it can absorb the absence of Mason Falslev without falling apart.
The biggest eye-opener came from Oregon State’s 98-93 loss to the reigning champion Wolverines. For 40 minutes, the Beavers made that game a battle, and the debut of former Michigan assistant Justin Joiner as head coach came with plenty to like. Dashawn Gory set the tone with 20 points, while the Beavers’ offseason portal additions helped fuel the feeling that this group has legitimate upward momentum.
Boise State, meanwhile, may have uncovered exactly the kind of backcourt balance it needs. North Dakota State transfer Damari Wheeler-Thomas was expected to take the lead at guard, though he has struggled a bit in the postseason.
The real boost has come from the two returners, Julian Bowie and Aginaldo Neto, who were outstanding in the Broncos’ 109-91 win over Washington. Starting together, they poured in 45 points, a strong sign after limited production from both a year ago.
If that kind of jump holds, both could work their way into all-league conversation and help push Boise State toward a top-tier position in the league.
Utah State also gave one of the cleaner early reads of the preseason. With last season’s Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev unavailable against the Gaels, the Aggies still came away with a 97-89 win.
Kingston Tosi led the way with 22 points, Dallin Hall added 16, and the bigger takeaway was the same one coaches love to see in November: this team has depth. Falslev not being on the floor didn’t derail anything, and that’s a promising sign for a group that seems capable of contending for another at-large bid.
The league still has more to reveal, and Gonzaga remains the preseason favorite, though the Bulldogs have yet to play a public exhibition game. Their next test comes against Arkansas on Saturday the 24th of this month. For now, though, the early evidence says Oregon State is trending up, Boise State has a backcourt worth watching closely, and Utah State may be built to withstand a missing star.
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Eric Morris Treated Drew Mestemakers Highlight Throw Like Nothing Special
A 54-yard completion to Wyatt Young gave Oregon State one of its biggest offensive bursts of the season, but it barely registered as a shock to the coaching staff. Eric Morris framed the throw as the kind of play he has seen before, pointing to Drew Mestemakers accuracy and ability to deliver while on the move as the traits that make those long gains possible.
Miles Coleman offered the other side of the evaluation, praising Mestemaker for the steadiness and competitiveness he brings every week. It is the sort of compliment that suggests the Beavers are getting more than a one-play highlight from their quarterback, even if the highlight itself was the kind of throw that usually turns heads. [Read more 🡒]