Pac-12 basketball Power Rankings
From Pullman -- Tomorrow Washington State will be looking for payback against Colorado. When the two teams met earlier this season the Cougars fell in Spokane, 71-70, in overtime, without leading scorer DaVonte Lacy. Now it's the Buffaloes turn to play without a key contributor as Spencer Dinwiddie is out for the season with a torn ACL. CU has looked like a different team without Dinwiddie, will it be enough for the Cougars to get a win on the road?
With half the Pac-12 season in the rearview mirror, the Cougars remain near the bottom of the conference. But with Lacy back and a win over the Huskies on Saturday, they aren't in last place. WSU's schedule should be more favorable in the second half of conference play so we'll see if they can continue to climb the Power Rankings.
The Pac-12 is a bunched up conference. Five teams have 5-4 records and another two are 6-3. There is plenty of opportunity for a team to go on a run or slide to the conference's dregs. See where the teams are currently ranked after the jump.
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- No. 2 Arizona (21-1, 8-1; last week: No. 1) One loss to a talented Cal team won't kill the Wildcats. Losing Brandon Ashley for the season sure could hurt, though.
- Stanford (14-7, 5-4; last week: No. 5) The Cardinal came this close to knocking off Arizona and had no trouble with the Sun Devils. The Cardinal have one of the more complete teams in the conference and they're starting to play like it.
- Cal (15-7, 6-3; last week: No. 4) Nothing cures what ails you like a win over the No. 1 team in the country. Cal extended its losing streak to three games with an overtime loss to ASU before ending it in style against Arizona.
- UCLA (17-5, 6-3; last week: No. 2) The Bruins were less than impressive during their trip to the Oregon schools, and narrowly avoided a sweep. The Bruins have talent but are still figuring out what to do with it.
- Oregon State (13-8, 5-4; last week: No. 7) Where did these Beavers come from? Craig Robinson's team has won four of its last five games and has to be one of the scarier opponents in the conference right now.
- Arizona State (16-6, 5-4; last week: No. 6) The Sun Devils split the Bay Area road trip and that's always a victory. ASU seems to have settled into its role this season: Jahii Carson and co. are dangerous, but stuck in the middle of the Pac.
- Washington (13-9, 5-4; last week: No. 3) The Huskies looked poised to end the first half of Pac-12 play in a tie for second place early in the second half at WSU. Then the Cougars beat them up over the game's final 15 minutes. A road trip to Colorado and Utah could be make-or-break for UW's season.
- Oregon (15-6, 3-6; last week: No. 11) The Ducks picked up another win but couldn't close against the Bruins. Still, expect Oregon to win more than three games in the second half of conference play.
- Colorado (16-6, 5-4; last week: No. 9) Talk about a lost season. Spencer Dinwidde has my vote for Most Valuable Player.
- Utah (14-7 3-6; last week: No. 8) The Utes look like they can beat anybody at home and can be beaten by anybody on the road. That's a recipe for a finish in the middle of the conference, but last week's loss to Colorado was killer.
- Washington State (9-12, 2-7; last week: No. 12) The Cougars get out of the basement with a nice win over Washington. If they can avenge their earlier loss to Colorado the Cougs could build some momentum.
- USC (10-12, 1-8; last week: No. 11) You don't need a big wooden horse to get past the Trojans' defenses these days.
