Former WSU forward (2004-2009) Daven Harmeling writes...

"I like Cal to win the conference. Fair enough?

I'm going with the Golden Bears because I’d take their trio of guards (Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson) vs. ANY in the country. Of all the match-ups that I’ve faced over the past few years, Christopher is the most underrated. He’s explosive and a nightmare to guard. And get this -- the guy is actually humble. Imagine that!

What makes Cal’s guards great is this: they're all lights-out shooters who can play off the bounce, get to the rim, and stroke it from mid-range. To me, the mark of a great guard is ability on mid-range/floaters a la O.J. Mayo. Anytime you can put three guards on the floor who can catch and shoot, score off the dribble, and get to the rim, it makes for a long night for opposing defenses.

Although most critics will downplay Cal’s post presence, I actually like their bigs a lot. Jamal Boykin has given us fits in the past, and Harper Kamp is a coach’s dream. Although he doesn’t boast huge numbers, the man plays hard and plays the game the right way. Their post players are undersized, but they are continuous players who are constantly putting pressure on the opposing team’s front line. Two guys I love off Cal's bench are Jorge Gutierrez and Omondi Amoke. If the Pac-10 gave out a Sixth Man Award, I’d give it to Gutierrez in a heartbeat. I love his scrappiness and passion for the game. Amoke figures to have a much larger role this year. Stir that all up with a pinch of great coaching from Mike Montgomery, combine it with a rebuilding conference, and you’ve got a recipe for a Pac-10 Championship."