1. No. 5 Arizona (26-3, 14-2 Pac-12 Conference)
With a two-game lead over Utah, it looks like the Wildcats will certainly win the outright Pac-12 championship again. Now, can Sean Miller end his Las Vegas curse?
Last week: First, W at Colorado 82-54, W at No. 13 Utah 63-57
This week: vs. California (17-12, 7-9), vs. Stanford (18-10, 9-7)
2. No. 13 Utah (22-6, 12-4)
With the Pac-12 championship pretty much lost, the focus for the Utes turns to the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments. Utah has a half-game lead over Oregon for second in the conference and it has a projected four seed on bracketmatrix.com and ESPN’s bracketology.
Last week: Second, W vs. ASU 83-41, L vs. No. 5 Arizona 63-57
This week: at Washington State (12-16, 6-10), at Washington (15-13, 4-12)
3. Oregon (22-8, 12-5)
The Ducks have won four straight and are now firmly in the third slot in the league. They’re an 11-seed on Bracket Matrix and on top of ESPN’s last four in category.
Last week: Third, W at California 80-69, W at Stanford 73-70
This week: at Oregon State (17-12, 8-9)
4. UCLA (18-12, 10-7)
The Bruins are in the middle of the three Pac-12 bubble teams battling it out for a spot in the field of 68. They’re second on ESPN’s first four out and the fifth team out on Bracket Matrix.
Last week: Fifth, W vs. Washington 88-66, W vs. Washington State 72-67
This week: vs. USC (11-18, 3-14)
5. Stanford (18-10, 9-7)
As the third team out in the Bracket Matrix and the sixth team out on Bracketology, the Cardinal is on the outside looking in. A win at Arizona would go a long way toward getting it in.
Last week: Fourth, W vs. Oregon State 75-48, L vs. Oregon 73-70
This week: at ASU (15-14, 7-9), at No. 5 Arizona (26-3, 14-2)
6. Oregon State (17-12, 8-9)
I guess I’ll move up the Beavers, because they seem to be the best of the worst, even though they lost two blowout games.
Last week: Seventh, L at Stanford 75-48, L at California 73-56
This week: vs. Oregon (22-8, 12-5)
7. ASU (15-14, 7-9)
The Sun Devils should probably be lower, but they have had some big wins lately. As good as Arizona’s Rocky Mountain road trip was, ASU’s was that bad, starting with scoring nine points in the first half at Utah.
Last week: Sixth, L at No. 13 Utah 83-41, L at Colorado 87-81
This week: vs. Stanford (18-10, 9-7), vs. California (17-12, 7-9)
8. California (17-12, 7-9)
The Golden Bears snapped their three-game losing streak last week by pounding the Beavers. Granted, the game was at home, and Oregon State is terrible on the road.
Last week: Eighth, L vs. Oregon 80-69, W vs. Oregon State 73-56
This week: at No. 5 Arizona (26-3, 14-2), at ASU (15-14, 7-9)
9. Colorado (13-15, 6-10)
Buffalo coach Tad Boyle provided the quote of the year when he said he wanted to fight someone after CU’s blowout loss to Arizona. So, naturally, the Buffs took out their frustrations on ASU.
Last week: Ninth, L vs. No. 5 Arizona 82-54, W vs. ASU 87-81
This week: at Washington (15-13, 4-12), at Washington State (12-16, 6-10)
10. Washington (15-13, 4-12)
The Huskies lost two more games last week on the Los Angeles road trip and have lost nine of their last 10, only beating lowly Washington State.
Last week: Tenth, L at UCLA 88-66, L at USC 70-55
This week: vs. Colorado (13-15, 6-10), vs. No. 13 Utah (22-6, 12-4)
11. Washington State (12-16, 6-10)
The Cougars had a better trip to LA than the Huskies, but Washington won the rivalry game at WSU, so they stay in the coveted 10th spot.
Last week: 11th, W at USC 70-66, L at UCLA 72-67
This week: vs. No. 13 Utah (22-6, 12-4), vs. Colorado (13-15, 6-10)
12. USC (11-18, 3-14)
The Trojans lost the Pac-12’s Sacko Bowl last week in front of an (announced) crowd of 2,735. But then, they turned around and pounded Washington. The Pac-12 is hard to figure out.
Last week: 12th, L vs. Washington State 70-66, W vs. Washington 70-55
This week: at UCLA (18-12, 10-7)
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