PAC-12 Basketball Power Rankings week ending 01/17
Now that the Pac-12 is well into the conference season, PNWS does our first basketball power rankings.
The Pac-12 is closing in on the halfway point of the 2020-21 conference season. It’s as good of a time as any to kick off our conference power rankings.
Five Pac-12 teams are in the NCAA NET Rankings top 61. Four schools, USC, Colorado, UCLA, and Oregon, would be in if the season ended today. Stanford sits squarely on the bubble. There are two or three others who still have time to play their way in.
12. Washington Huskies
Overall record: 1-11, Pac-12 record: 0-7, NCAA NET Rank: 248
Last Week: vs. USC – L 68-95, vs. UCLA – L 76-81
This Week: 1/20 vs Colorado – ESPN, 1/24 vs. Utah – ESPN 2 or ESPNU.
Notes: Washington had the tease of the week. The Huskies led first-place UCLA by 10 at the half. They fell back to earth quickly as the Bruins went on a 10-0 run to open the second half. From there it was more of the same.
11. California Golden Bears
Overall record: 6-9, Pac-12 record: 2-6, NCAA NET Rank: 185.
Last Week: at Colorado – L 60-89, at Utah – W 72-63.
This Week: 1/21 vs. UCLA – ESPNU, 1/23 vs. USC – Pac-12 Network
Notes: After an 0-3 start to Pac-12 play, the Golden Bears have won two of three. Games against the SoCal schools this week will let us know where Cal stands.
10. Oregon State Beavers
Overall record: 6-5, Pac-12 record: 2-3, NCAA NET Rank: 212.
Last Week: vs. Arizona – L 64-98, vs. Arizona State – W 80-79.
This Week: 1/19 vs. USC – ESPN 2, 1/23 at Oregon – Pac-12 Network.
Notes:: Oregon State pulled out a squeaker last Saturday against ASU. It was a close the entire game, OSU got out to a lead here and there but couldn’t pull away. Down by a point, Warith Alatishe slammed home the winning basket with four seconds left.
9. Utah Utes
Overall record: 5-6, Pac-12 record: 2-5, NCAA NET Rank: 112
Last Week: vs. Stanford – W 79-64, vs. California – L 72-63
This Week: 1/21 at Washington State – Pac-12 Network, 1/24 at Washington – ESPN 2 or ESPNU.
Notes: Utah broke a four-game conference losing streak last Thursday with a big home court over Stanford. Forward Timmy Allen had a combined 41 points. If the Utes want any kind of shot at the Big Dance, they need to win both games this week.