Pac-12 Power Rankings 3/8: Someone PLEASE Win the Pac-12!!!
By Josh Goldman
Feb 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Paviliion. UCLA won in overtime 79-74. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
1. Oregon (23-7, 12-5): The Ducks controlled their own destiny heading into Thursday nights game against Colorado. A win over Colorado and Utah would have given Oregon the Pac-12 title outright. Then Thursday night happened and Oregon got BLOWN OUT to Colorado. No team in the Pac-12 should be ranked #1 with the events of the past week but Oregon gets it by default. Oregon needs to win at Utah to earn atleast a share of the Pac-12 title.
2. California (20-10, 12-6): The Golden Bears winning streak came to an end Wednesday night with a HOME loss to Stanford. Cal will still get an invitation to the NCAA tournament but the loss to Stanford was suprising for how well the Golden Bears have been playing. Cal’s season is finished and will be scoreboard watching this weekend to see if they share the Pac-12. Cal needs Oregon and UCLA to lose Saturday which wouldn’t be the most shocking things with the games earlier in the week.
3. UCLA (21-7, 11-4): The throne was there waiting for UCLA to take it after their victory over Arizona Saturday. All the Bruins needed was a victory against Washington St. but that’s why they play the games. The Bruins suffered their WORST loss of the year (Yes worse than Cal Poly!) with Washington St. ranked #187 in the RPI without mentioning the Cougars not having two of their key players. The Bruins laid an egg in the game with Shabazz Muhammad shooting 4-19 from the field. UCLA now plays at Washington Saturday morning to salvage a shot to win the Pac-12.
4. Colorado (20-9, 10-7): Colorado has won 6 of their past 8 and is the only top 5 Pac-12 team not coming off a loss. Colorado lost to Cal over the weekend but bounced back nicely with a quality win over Oregon Thursday night. The beat down over Oregon sealed the deal that Colorado will be dancing and now they are playing for seeding. Colorado finishes at home against Oregon State and then heads into the Pac-12 tournament with a potential looming game III against Arizona. Watch out for Colorado in Las Vegas.
5. Arizona (23-6, 11-6): The Wildcats lost to UCLA on Saturday which makes them 1-5 against the top 4 teams in the Pac-12 with their lone win being the controversial victory against Colorado. Arizona was once projected a #1 seed in the NCAA and now is free falling to a #5 seed. Arizona finishes their regular season against rival Arizona State and it wouldn’t shock me if that is the last win of the year for Arizona.
6. Washington (17-13, 9-8): The Huskies are the hottest team in the Pac-12 heading into the conference tournament. Washington finishes at home against UCLA with a chance to play spoiler and go to Vegas on a four game winning streak. The Huskies had a terrible stretch from January 19- February 20 where they went 2-8, who knows where the Huskies would be if they didn’t play terrible for a month.
7. USC (14-16, 9-8): News came this week that USC was looking at potential head coaches including former coach Tim Floyd. Bob Cantu has done a terrific job after the firing of Kevin O’Neill. I still think USC is a team to watch in Vegas and is going to play with nothing to lose. Look for the Trojans to play spoiler and win a game or two.
8. Stanford (18-13, 9-9): Stanford finished their regular season playing spoiler to Cal. Stanford went into Cal and ended their rivals 7 game winning streak and shot of winning the Pac-12. The Cardinals won the NIT last year and will most likely be heading there again this year.
9. Arizona State (20-10, 9-8): Arizona State has a week off before their final game against Arizona Saturday afternoon. The Sun Devils are still considered on the bubble but I think with their recent play that their bubble has been popped. Arizona State will be in the NIT, the Pac-12 doesn’t deserve six teams.
10. Utah (12-17, 4-13): The Utes surpassed their win total from last year with win #4 coming against Oregon State. Utah will give Oregon a good game Saturday and has a small chance to pull off the upset.
11. Washington State (13-16, 3-13): Last week I said the Cougars don’t even deserve a bid in the Pac-12 and they go out and beat my own school UCLA and spoil their season with their worst loss. Brock Motum had a great game with 20 points and 11 boards. Motum has been great all year and it was nice for him to get recognized on a big stage.
12. Oregon State (13-17, 3-14): Coach Craig Robinson’s seat will definitely be hot this offseason but expect him to be around for another season. The Beavers will head into the Pac-12 on a six game losing streak when they lose to Colorado. The Beavers only had 3 wins but definitely have things to build on.
Game of the weekend: UCLA @ Washington
Upset Alert: Utah over Oregon
Player of the Week: Brock Motum (Washington State)
Biggest Climb: Washington +2
Biggest Fall: Arizona State -2