Pac-12 Basketball: Updated Power Rankings
The Pac-12 is one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball this season, with teams beating up on one another and hoping to find a way into the NCAA tournament.
No. 6 Arizona and No. 11 Utah are the front-runners for the time being, while at least five teams are battling it out in the middle of the conference.
In a league where road victories have been hard to come by, here are the updated power rankings for the Pac-12.
Arizona Wildcats
1 of 12
Arizona Wildcats (18-2, 6-1 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: San Diego State, Gonzaga, Utah, Stanford
Bad Losses: UNLV
Since losing two of four games, which included upset losses at UNLV and Oregon State, the Wildcats have been rolling and currently are on a four-game winning streak. Their dominating 69-51 home victory over then-No. 8 Utah is what put them in this top spot.
Arizona could be in for a tough contest on Wednesday when it hosts Oregon, who blew out UCLA 82-64 Saturday. With the talent level of the Wildcats though, there is no reason they should lose any more than three games in Pac-12 play.
Stanley Johnson is among the best in the nation when discussing true freshmen. Johnson is averaging 15 points and seven rebounds per game, while Brandon Ashley is averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has also chipped in with 10.9 points per game in an offense that is shooting an impressive 49.2 from the field (12th in the nation).
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Oregon, 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Utah Utes
2 of 12
Utah Utes (16-3, 6-1 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Wichita State, Washington
Bad Losses: None
Utah went an awful 6-25 back in Larry Krystkowiak’s first season at the helm, but he has his squad in the running to win its first Pac-12 title and first regular-season title since 2009 when it was a member of the Mountain West Conference.
The Utes have lost just three games by an average of 8.3 points this season and would be in the No. 1 position in the Pac-12, if not for a loss at Arizona on Jan. 17.
The biggest headline for Utah has been its six conference wins by an average of 23.5 points, which is more than impressive and makes it a threat nationally.
Senior guard Delon Wright scored only five points against Washington on Sunday night but averaged 15.3 points in the four prior contests. Jordan Loveridge is adding 11.2 points per game, while Brandon Taylor leads the team with 40 three-pointers made (46.5 three-point field goal percentage).
The Utes are more than capable of winning their next eight games leading up to a critical matchup with Arizona on Feb. 28. The winner of this heavyweight Pac-12 contest could potentially decide who takes home the regular-season crown.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 at UCLA, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Stanford Cardinal
3 of 12
Stanford Cardinal (14-5, 5-2 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Texas, Washington
Bad Losses: DePaul
Seventh-year head coach Johnny Dawkins has his Stanford program headed in the right direction. A big 74-71 overtime win at then-No. 9 Texas back on Dec. 23 was the Cardinal’s signature win this season, but losses to BYU and UCLA have since hurt Stanford nationally.
A respectable 89-82 home loss to Arizona on Jan. 22, which was the first home loss of the season, proved the Cardinal could be a contender in the NCAA tournament and compete for a conference title.
Stanford played a close game against the Wildcats but began to fall behind with five minutes remaining in regulation. Stanford finished the weekend with an 89-70 win over Arizona State.
Chasson Randle is the main catalyst for the Stanford offense and will be the reason for the team's success down the stretch. He currently ranks 13th in the nation in scoring with 20.2 points per game.
With Randle leading the way, Anthony Brown has averaged 18.7 points in the Cardinal’s last 10 games, while Stefan Nastic has been a force in both the scoring and rebounding game.
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Washington, 11 p.m. ET, ESPNU
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Washington Huskies
4 of 12
Washington Huskies (14-5, 3-4 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: San Diego State, Oklahoma
Bad Losses: Stony Brook, Cal, Washington State
After two less-than-subpar seasons for the Huskies, coach Lorenzo Romar has his team in contention to advance to its first NCAA tournament in four years.
Washington started off the 2014-15 season with 11 consecutive victories before losing four straight games, three of which were bad losses. Despite bouncing back with three wins over both Oregon schools and Colorado, the Huskies were blown out Sunday night at Utah 77-56.
Sophomore guard Nigel Williams-Goss is recording 14.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. Andrew Andrews has also been hot as of late, averaging 18.3 points in the Huskies' last three games. His 21 points against Oregon on Jan. 18 helped give Washington a critical 85-77 victory.
Washington could be affected by the loss of junior center Robert Upshaw though, who violated team rules and was dismissed on Monday. He was averaging 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
If the Huskies have any chance of avoiding another disappointing season with no NCAA tournament bid, they must play consistent basketball and avoid letdowns against inferior opponents. A win at home against Stanford on Wednesday would be a solid resume booster.
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Stanford, 11 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Oregon State Beavers
5 of 12
Oregon State Beavers (14-5, 5-2 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Arizona
Bad Losses: Auburn, Quinnipiac
Who could have anticipated at the beginning of the season that the Beavers would be in the discussion for an NCAA tournament berth?
First-year head coach Wayne Tinkle is already doing things that the program was unable to accomplish during Craig Robinson’s tenure, such as upsetting a seventh-ranked Arizona squad 58-56. It’s the first time Oregon State had defeated a top-10 opponent since 2000.
Gary Payton II is shooting 50.6 percent from the field and has averaged 17.3 points in the Beavers' last three wins. Not only has the junior guard been key on the offensive end, but he leads the team with 117 rebounds on the defensive end as well.
Langston Morris-Walker has also been of help, adding 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
The Beavers are currently a dark-horse contender for the Pac-12 title but will need to run the table down the stretch, which will be difficult. Another win against No. 6 Arizona in Tucson on Friday night would be huge for this program.
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Arizona State, 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Oregon Ducks
6 of 12
Oregon Ducks (14-6, 4-3 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: Michigan, Washington State
Dana Altman’s Ducks have gone through growing pains this season due to the losses of key players Damyean Dotson and Dominic Artis.
One bad nonconference loss, along with back-to-back losses on the road against the Washington schools, is the difference in Oregon being a Top 25 team or not.
The Ducks did bounce back after those two defeats with wins over USC and UCLA. They shot an impressive 62.3 percent from the field and were 9-of-13 from beyond the arc (69.2 percent) in an 82-64 rout over UCLA on Saturday.
Oregon continues to depend on senior guard Joseph Young, who recently recorded his 1,000th point as a Duck and is averaging an impressive 19.3 points per game. Elgin Cook (11.9 points per game) and Dillon Brooks (13.2 points per game) have also been forces in the Ducks offense.
On the other hand, freshman forward Jordan Bell has a total of 68 blocks this season, which is a single-season school record.
The Ducks have the potential to make a third straight NCAA tournament appearance, but will inexperience cause them to lose must-win games?
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Arizona, 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
UCLA Bruins
7 of 12
UCLA Bruins (11-9, 3-4 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Stanford
Bad Losses: Colorado
Things are definitely heating up in Westwood with the Bruins dropping seven of their last 10 games. As if losing wasn't bad enough, UCLA lost those contests by an average of 17.9 points.
Steve Alford’s son, Bryce, currently leads the team with 15.8 points per game and was one of the main reasons the Bruins were able to stay in the game with Oregon last Saturday.
Norman Powell is averaging 15.5 points per game, while true freshman forward Kevon Looney is contributing 13 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, but it’s been play on the defensive side that’s hurt the Bruins.
A lot has to happen for an NCAA tournament berth to be possible, such as the Bruins winning nine of their last 11 regular-season games. It doesn’t help that after a beatdown in Eugene, UCLA must host Utah on Thursday, who manhandled the Bruins on Jan. 4 in a 71-39 loss.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 vs. Utah, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Colorado Buffaloes
8 of 12
Colorado Buffaloes (10-9, 3-4 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: Arizona State
The Buffs just haven’t lived up to expectations this season. After three consecutive NCAA tournament berths, Colorado is in major jeopardy of missing out on the dance.
Tad Boyle’s squad hasn’t had many bad losses this season, but losing six of its last nine games may have already eliminated it from Pac-12 title contention. Colorado desperately needs a sweep down at the southern California schools this week.
Senior guard Askia Booker leads his team in scoring and has averaged 19.3 points in the Buffs’ last four games. He has needed to be even more of a leader with injuries to veteran teammates Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson.
Scott has missed the last four games with a back injury, while Johnson has missed the last four games because of a high ankle sprain.
If the Buffs continue to lose games, they're going to have to rely on making a run in the Pac-12 tournament.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 at USC, 9:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Washington State Cougars
9 of 12
Washington State Cougars (9-10, 3-4 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Washington
Bad Losses: UC-Santa Barbara, Idaho, Santa Clara, Colorado
There was a glimmer of hope when the Cougars reeled off three consecutive wins to start conference play at 3-1. It's their best start in conference play since the 2007-08 season.
A thrilling 108-99 overtime victory over head coach Ernie Kent’s former Oregon Ducks was a big boost to a program that hasn’t finished with a .500 record in three years.
Since those three wins though, the Cougars have dropped three consecutive games and have fallen back down in the Pac-12 standings.
Senior DaVonte Lacy is averaging 16.9 points per game and was instrumental in helping Washington State win three straight conference games, as he averaged 21 points. Josh Hawkinson has been solid as well by adding 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season.
The Cougars may finish the season under .500 in conference play, but expect Kent to get a few key victories to give this program the spark it desperately needs.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 vs. Cal, 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Arizona State Sun Devils
10 of 12
Arizona State Sun Devils (10-10, 2-5 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: Lehigh
Arizona State may not be the worst in the Pac-12, but it's close. After a shaky nonconference performance, Herb Sendek’s Sun Devils opened conference play on a four-game losing streak, getting trounced by both Arizona and Utah.
Arizona State bounced back with victories against Colorado and Cal but then fell at Stanford on Sunday 89-70.
Savon Goodman, Gerry Blakes and Shaquielle McKissic are all averaging just over 10 points per game, while junior forward Eric Jacobson is putting up 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
There aren't high expectations for the Sun Devils as they approach February.
It’s possible that they pull off a few upset wins, but other than that, chances are slim that they will make it back to the NCAA tournament.
Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Oregon State, 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
USC Trojans
11 of 12
USC Trojans (9-10, 1-6 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: None
Bad Losses: Colorado
Not only is UCLA struggling in Los Angeles, but USC has been even worse. It appears the Trojans are headed down the same path as last season when they went an awful 2-16 in Pac-12 play. Sweeping Cal this season and pulling off one other surprise win would at least be one positive thing for the Trojans.
Sophomore forward Nikola Jovanovic is the leader of this USC team, as he's averaged 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season. The play from true freshman point guard Jordan McLaughlin at least gives the Trojans hope, as the Rivals.com 4-star recruit has averaged 12.4 points and 4.8 assists per game.
It’s not quite time to put second-year head coach Andy Enfield on the hot seat yet, but another rough season for the Trojans could.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 vs. Colorado, 9:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Cal Golden Bears
12 of 12
Cal Golden Bears (11-9, 1-6 in Pac-12)
Key Wins: Syracuse, Washington
Bad Losses: CSU-Bakersfield, Washington State, USC, Arizona State
It’s hard to believe that the Cal Golden Bears started the season at 10-1. Besides an upset home win against then-No. 21 Washington on Jan. 2, they haven’t won a game since, losing six straight.
When former six-year head coach Mike Montgomery was at the helm in Berkeley, his teams advanced to four NCAA tournaments and won a then-Pac-10 regular-season championship. He coached talented teams, but they were never able to take the next step.
First-year head coach Cuonzo Martin, who coached Tennessee for three seasons, is now struggling right out of the gate in the Pac-12. With three solid starters in Tyrone Wallace, Jordan Matthews and David Kravish, it’s hard to imagine the Bears being this bad.
In their defense, though, losing both Justin Cobbs and Richard Solomon was a major blow to the offense.
This team has potential to win games in a wild Pac-12 Conference, but for now Cal places dead last in the current power rankings.
Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 29 at Washington State, 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
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