Oscar da Silva, Stanford Cardinal, Pac-12 basketball.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Overall record: 9-2, Pac-12 record: 4-1, NCAA NET Rank: 28.
Last Week: vs. Arizona State – PPD, vs. Arizona – PPD.
This Week: 1/23 vs. Oregon State.
Rankings: AP – 21, Coaches Poll – 21.
Bracketology: ESPN – 6 seed, CBS – 7 Seed, SB Nation – 8 seed.
Notes: COVID-19 Strikes again. Hopefully, the Ducks get back on the court this week.
Overall record: 11-2, Pac-12 record: 5-1, NCAA NET Rank: 17.
Last Week: vs. Washington – W 95-68, vs. Washington State – W 85-77.
This Week: 1/21 at Stanford – ESPN, 1/23 vs. California.
Rankings: AP – NR, Coaches Poll – NR.
Bracketology: ESPN – 6 seed, CBS – 7 Seed, SB Nation – 7 seed.
Notes: USC is quietly putting together a fantastic season. They hove won six in a row and 11 of 13. Freshman Evan Mobley has been outstanding The center averages 16.2 points, 8.3 boards, and 3.1 blocks each game.
Overall record: 11-3, Pac-12 record: 5-2, NCAA NET Rank: 7.
Last Week: vs Cal W 89-60, vs Stanford W 77-64.
This Week: 1/20 @ Washington – ESPN, 1/23 @ Washington State – ESPN 2 or ESPNU.
Notes: Four straight wins make Colorado a hot commodity. Early Road losses to UCLA and Arizona are keeping the Buffaloes down. Let’s see what happens when those schools come to Boulder. Only Pac-12 team with a Top 25 win.
Rankings: AP – NR, Coaches Poll – 23.
Bracketology: ESPN – 5 seed, CBS – 6 Seed, SB Nation – 4 seed.
Overall record: 11-2, Pac-12 record: 7-0, NCAA NET Rank: 29.
Last Week: vs Washington State W 91-61, vs Washington W 81-76.
This Week: 1/21 @ California – ESPNU, 1/23 @ Stanford – FOX.
Notes: A pair of wins over the Washington schools last week puts UCLA in the conference driver’s seat. Undefeated in the Pac-12 means something. Rankings don’t take into consideration the conference grind.
Rankings: AP – 24, Coaches Poll – 20.
Bracketology: ESPN – 5 seed, CBS – 6 Seed, SB Nation – 5 seed.
Check back with us next week for our next edition.