Pac-12 ATB: Weekend in Review
Posted by Connor Pelton on December 12th, 2011
The Lede. Picked by almost all preseason pundits as a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, Washington finds itself at .500 through eight games. There was the embarrassing double-figure loss at Saint Louis, an overtime heartbreaker at Nevada, and some questionable coaching at the end of the Jimmy V Classic against Marquette. Now the Huskies are on the wrong side of the bubble and slipping fast. In order for the Dawgs to get back into the NCAA picture, blowout victories in their final three nonconference games (UC Santa Barbara, South Dakota State, and Cal State Northridge) are vital, and 12 or 13 wins in the Pac-12 will also be necessary.
Washington's Run Against Duke Came a Bit Too Late Saturday
For the sake of comparison, and because I have a degree in Bracketology, here’s a look at Washington’s current résumé compared to the three other teams that I have on the wrong side of the bubble:
Washington
- Record: 4-4
- RPI: 78
- SOS: 28
- Quality Wins: N/A
- Bad Losses: @ Nevada
Oklahoma State
- Record: 6-3
- RPI: 86
- SOS: 80
- Quality Wins: N/A
- Bad Losses: N/A
Nebraska
- Record: 6-3
- RPI: 97
- SOS: 105
- Quality Wins: @ TCU
- Bad Losses: Wake Forest
Clemson
- Record: 4-4
- RPI: 170
- SOS: 171
- Good Wins: N/A
- Bad Losses: South Carolina
Looking over the résumés, it appears that Washington, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska are all pretty even at this point, while Clemson is a few steps behind. I am big on strength of schedule so if I had to fill one spot with any of those three teams, I would go with Washington. The Cornhuskers do have a nice win at TCU, but a home loss against a terrible Wake Forest team cancels that out. The Cowboys boast a nice record and a mediocre RPI, but with no quality wins and an SOS that is far behind Washington’s, I don’t feel good putting them in the field.
What we have not yet mentioned was the great game that took place on Saturday between Duke and the Huskies. It took Washington 15 minutes into the second half to FINALLY make some baskets, but they grouped that with great defense and some poor Blue Devil shooting to cut a deficit that was as big as 19 in the second half all the way down to three with a minute left. Unfortunately for Washington, Duke eventually found their touch at the line in the final minute, and the only time they would get back within six was on a Terrence Ross three as time expired.
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