Here’s a look at the power rankings that Drew and I have compiled after the ninth week of Pac-12 games. Here we go!
1. Stanford, 13-3 (3-1): The trip north for the Cardinal started off rough with a 11-point loss to Oregon, but they redeemed themselves Saturday night in Corvallis. Led by a 24-point performance from freshman sensation Chasson Randle, Stanford held on for a two point, quadruple overtime classic win over Oregon State. Despite trailing by as many as 11 in the second half, the resilient Cardinal came back to force overtime. From there it was a war of attrition, one that Stanford would finally win on a missed Roberto Nelson three at the buzzer. Up Next: 1.12 vs. Utah
2. California, 13-4 (3-1): Despite shooting a scorching 57% from the field, the Bears couldn’t match Oregon State’s energy and fell, 92-85 on Thursday night. Luckily for them, however, the scheduling gods smiled on Cal and gave them an extra day to rest and prepare for a tricky Oregon squad. The extra day proved vital as the Bears were able to crack the Duck defense to the tune of 77 points (40 of which came in the second half). Up Next: 1.12 vs. Colorado
3. Colorado, 11-4 (3-0): Buffalo fans couldn’t have asked for a better week. Thursday night they got a statement win over Washington, an 18-point victory which saw five Buffaloes score in double figures. On Saturday they solidified their spot atop the Pac-12 standings with a 71-60 win against Washington State. Up Next: 1.12 @ California
4. Arizona, 11-5 (2-1): A good week would have included a victory at UCLA, but the Bruins ran the Wildcats out of the Honda Center and won, 65-58. Arizona had an extra day to think about the tough loss and took their frustrations out on USC. The Cats held the Trojans to just 16 points in the first half before eventually winning, 57-46. Up Next: 1.12 vs. Oregon State
5. Oregon, 11-5 (2-2): Just when you thought the Ducks were getting their act together with a win over Stanford, they come back three days later in front of a big crowd and turn out an uninspiring performance against Cal. Watch for this splitting trend to continue throughout the season. Up Next: 1.12 @ Arizona State
6. Washington, 10-6 (3-1): The Huskies have managed to fallen from NCAA Tournament bubble team to NIT bubble team in just four quick weeks. The Dawgs avoided disaster by pulling out a four-point win at Utah on Saturday, but the 18-point loss two days earlier is going to be deadly for their hopes to make either tournament. Up Next: 1.15 vs. Washington State
7. Oregon State, 11-5 (1-3): The Beavers find themselves in a pair of must-win scenarios as they travel to the desert this week. I think they have a good chance of getting two wins, but they need to clean up everything that plagued them in Saturday’s loss to Stanford; Senseless turnovers, missed layups, bad offensive possessions, and poor coaching. Up Next: 1.12 @ Arizona
8. UCLA, 9-7 (2-2): The Bruins bounced back from a poor performance in the Bay Area to take two from the Arizona schools. We’ve already talked about their solid win against the Wildcats, but I thought their 17-point victory over Arizona State was even more impressive in some ways. Up Next: 1.15 @ USC
9. Washington State, 9-7 (1-3): Things are getting bad on the Palouse. The week started off with an ultra-disappointing, 62-60 overtime loss against Utah, and it finished in no better fashion with an 11-point loss to Colorado on Saturday. Up Next: 1.15 @ Washington
10. Arizona State, 5-10 (1-2): Using only six scholarship players, the Sun Devils got a turn-your-season-around type win against USC on Thursday. That was nice and all, except for they followed that up with an embarrassing loss to the Bruins two days later. Up Next: 1.12 vs. Oregon
11. USC, 5-12 (0-4): Believe it or not, the Trojans are the only team in the conference yet to win a Pac-12 game. That will change eventually, but for now they are barely hanging on to that 11 spot. Up Next: 1.15 vs. UCLA
12. Utah, 4-11 (1-2): Just as USC is barely hanging on at #11, the Utes are almost out of the cellar. If they can find a win this week in the Bay Area, that will definitely change. Up Next: 1.12 @ Stanford