PAC-12 Basketball Power Rankings week ending 01/17
8. Arizona State Sun Devils
Overall record: 4-6, Pac-12 record: 1-3, NCAA NET Rank: 127.
Last Week: at Oregon – PPD, at Oregon State – L 79-80.
This Week: 1/21 vs. Arizona – ESPN, 1/25 at Arizona – ESPN 2.
Notes: NCAA.com’s Andy Katz has the Sun Devils as his “Unfortunate” team this week. COVID-19 delays and Remy Martin‘s prolonged absence (personal reasons) really put Arizona State behind the 8-Ball.
7. Washington State Cougars
Overall record: 9-4, Pac-12 record: 2-4, NCAA NET Rank: 119.
Last Week: at UCLA – L 61-91, at USC – L 77-85.
This Week: 1/21 vs. Utah – Pac-12 Network, 1/23 vs. Colorado – ESPN 2 or ESPNU.
Notes: Isaac Bonton is the Washington State Cougars on-court leader. Early in the season, he struggled from three-point range, but over the last two weeks (four games) the guard is 12 for his last 21 (57.1 percent). In that time, Boynton averaged 22.5 points per game to bring his season average to just a hair under 19 points-per-game.
Washington State isn’t as good as their 8-0 non-conference record. But they’re probably not as bad as their 2-4 conference record either. Two of their next three games are against Colorado. A win over Utah on Thursday and a split with the Buffs put Kyle Smith‘s Wazzu team much closer to the bubble.
6. Stanford Cardinal
Overall record: 8-5, Pac-12 record: 4-3, NCAA NET Rank: 61.
Last Week: at Utah – L 64-79, at Colorado– L 64-77.
This Week: 1/21 vs. USC – FS1, 1/23 vs. UCLA – FOX.
Notes: Last Week’s pair of losses hurt the Cardinal. To get off the bubble and get into the NCAA Tournament. It won’t be easy with two of the three best Pac-12 teams on the docket this week. One player Cardinal coach Jerod Hasse can count on is Oscar da Silva. The 6-9 forward averages 19.3 points, and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Bracketology: ESPN – 12 seed, CBS – 11 Seed, SB Nation – First four out.
5. Arizona Wildcats*
Overall record: 10-3, Pac-12 record: 4-3, NCAA NET Rank: 31
Last Week: at Oregon State – W 98-64, at Oregon – PPD
This Week: 1/21 at Arizona State – ESPN, 1/25 vs Arizona State
Notes: If the Wildcats are playing for pride this year, 10-3 is a good start.
* The Wildcats are banned from postseason play this year.
Big game for Arizona freshman guard and NBA Academy alum Bennedict Mathurin in a blowout win over Oregon State: 31 PTS and 8 REBS on 12 shots. Intriguing long-term prospect. Still improving as a decision maker but can really score. Great find by the Wildcats. pic.twitter.com/F5jIqqtW6Z
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 15, 2021