Pac 12 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 6

By Alex Drude

Pac 12 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 6

Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) cheers from the bench during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-53.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Six teams in the conference seem to be on track for an NCAA berth at this point. As for the other six, there’s still plenty of season to go. But right now, the line between the haves and the have-nots seems to be rather clear.

12. Washington State (4-5) Last week: 12th

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) drives against Washington State Cougars forward Junior Longrus (15) during the second half at Spokane Arena. Bulldogs won 81-66.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

12. Washington State (4-5) Last week: 12th

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) drives against Washington State Cougars forward Junior Longrus (15) during the second half at Spokane Arena. Bulldogs won 81-66.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

The only conference team under .500 is pretty much a lock for this spot.

11. Colorado (6-3) Last week: 10th

Colorado Buffaloes guard Askia Booker (0) reacts to the loss to the Colorado State Rams at the Coors Events Center. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 62-60.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

11. Colorado (6-3) Last week: 10th

Colorado Buffaloes guard Askia Booker (0) reacts to the loss to the Colorado State Rams at the Coors Events Center. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 62-60.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to put this team any higher after leading by 11 and then losing to Colorado State on Wednesday. They also needed a second-half surge to beat Northern Colorado. This is not even close to an NCAA tourney-caliber team at this point. The Buffs can’t seem to believe it either.

10. USC (6-3) Last week: 11th

Southern California Trojans guard Jordan McLaughlin (32) and Army Black Knights guard Scott Mammel (3) and center Kevin Ferguson (31) reach for the ball at Galen Center. Army defeated USC 85-77 in overtime.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

10. USC (6-3) Last week: 11th

Southern California Trojans guard Jordan McLaughlin (32) and Army Black Knights guard Scott Mammel (3) and center Kevin Ferguson (31) reach for the ball at Galen Center. Army defeated USC 85-77 in overtime.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Their only game this week was a loss to Army at home in overtime. Army’s schedule so far is more than a little on the not-impressive side, so what does that make the Trojans? It makes them 10th this week.

9. Stanford (5-2) Last week: 6th

Stanford Cardinal guard Marcus Allen (15), Cardinal guard Chasson Randle (5) and Cardinal forward Reid Travis (22) watch the game from the bench during the final minutes of the second half against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 84-47.
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

9. Stanford (5-2) Last week: 6th

Stanford Cardinal guard Marcus Allen (15), Cardinal guard Chasson Randle (5) and Cardinal forward Reid Travis (22) watch the game from the bench during the final minutes of the second half against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 84-47.
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford had to dig deep to beat Denver 49-43. The Cardinal hadn’t played in two weeks, so there’s a built-in excuse. But Denver is really not very good, ranking 293rd in points and 350th in rebounds. And the Cardinal struggled. That is not a good sign.

8. Arizona State (6-3) Last week: 7th

Arizona State Sun Devils Cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Pepperdine Waves at Wells-Fargo Arena. Sun Devils defeated the Waves 81-74
Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

8. Arizona State (6-3) Last week: 7th

Arizona State Sun Devils Cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Pepperdine Waves at Wells-Fargo Arena. Sun Devils defeated the Waves 81-74
Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The Sun Devils beat Pepperdine 81-74 this week. The Waves are decent, but not great. The same applies to the Sun Devils.

7. Oregon State (6-2) Last week: 9th

Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) heads to the bench after being substituted by head coach Wayne Tinkle, left, during the second half of the game at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 59-49
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

7. Oregon State (6-2) Last week: 9th

Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) heads to the bench after being substituted by head coach Wayne Tinkle, left, during the second half of the game at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 59-49
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State beat Mississippi State at home for their first win over a Power-Five conference opponent this season. That's three straight wins for the Beavs, but the Bulldogs now haven’t won a road game in 19 straight tries.

6. Oregon (6-3) Last week: 8th

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ahmad Starks (3) defended by Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Benjamin (0) during the second half at the United Center. Oregon won 77-70.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

6. Oregon (6-3) Last week: 8th

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ahmad Starks (3) defended by Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Benjamin (0) during the second half at the United Center. Oregon won 77-70.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Did anything else happen in the Oregon sports world this week? I think there was some football awards ceremony, but I can’t put my finger on it. The Duck hoopers also beat Illinois and are now 6-3. The basketball team has as many losses as the football team has had in two years. The Illini had only lost to ranked Miami and Villanova before this, and this game was at a “neutral court” in Chicago. The Ducks are finally looking decent.

5. UCLA (8-3) Last week: 5th

UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) loses the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Gary Bell Jr. (5) during the game at Pauley Pavilion
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

5. UCLA (8-3) Last week: 5th

UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) loses the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Gary Bell Jr. (5) during the game at Pauley Pavilion
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins needed a solid second-half push to beat UC-Riverside 77-66 and then didn’t threaten No. 9 Gonzaga in losing 87-74. UCLA is a serious middle-of-the-road team right now. They haven’t impressed but haven’t really disappointed, with all of their losses coming to quality tournament teams (Oklahoma, North Carolina, ‘Zags). Next up is No. 1 Kentucky on Dec. 20. That won’t be pretty.

4. Cal (8-1) Last week: 4th

California Golden Bears forward Christain Behrens (14) celebrates the 45-42 win over the Wyoming Cowboys with teammates at Haas Pavilion.
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cal (8-1) Last week: 4th

California Golden Bears forward Christain Behrens (14) celebrates the 45-42 win over the Wyoming Cowboys with teammates at Haas Pavilion.
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

This is the best start by the Bears in more than a decade. First, they outmuscled a Wyoming club that held Colorado to 33 points not long ago and won 45-42. Then they trailed Princeton (3-8) by nine at the break but outscored the Tigers by 19 in the second half to win by 10. I understand that Princeton runs the often confounding “Princeton Offense,” but you do realize that Princeton is now 3-8, right?

3. No. 16 Washington (8-0) Last week: 3rd

Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar and Washington Huskies guard Andrew Andrews (12) walk back to the locker room following a 49-36 victory against the San Diego State Aztecs at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

3. No. 16 Washington (8-0) Last week: 3rd

Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar and Washington Huskies guard Andrew Andrews (12) walk back to the locker room following a 49-36 victory against the San Diego State Aztecs at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Huskies trailed for most of their only game this week and were down 10 to Eastern Washington with about 11 minutes to play. Instead of folding and dropping behind Cal in these rankings, UW came back, took the lead for good with about 1:15 to play and won by four. The surprising Eagles dropped to 8-2, and the Huskies are off to their best start in almost a decade.

2. No. 14 Utah (7-2) Last week: 2nd

The Utah Utes bench celebrates a basket against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Sprint Center. Kansas won the game 63-60
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

2. No. 14 Utah (7-2) Last week: 2nd

The Utah Utes bench celebrates a basket against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Sprint Center. Kansas won the game 63-60
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

In an officially neutral court game against No. 10 Kansas in Kansas City, the Utes at one point trailed by 21, then came all the way back to take the lead 55-53 before losing in the final minute, 63-60. Utah also side-stepped a solid BYU team 65-61 this week. Don’t forget this is all happening days after becoming the first team to beat No. 11 Wichita State in the regular season in nearly two years. The Utes are for real.

1. No. 3 Arizona (10-0) Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) dunks the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-53.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

1. No. 3 Arizona (10-0) Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) dunks the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-53.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona destroyed Michigan on 80-53 on Saturday, but it's not like that’s a big deal anymore, considering who else the Wolverines have lost to recently. But the ‘Cats stayed focused all the way against a clearly inferior team, and that’s a big deal. Sean Miller is not a coasting kind of coach. UA also beat Utah Valley 87-56 this week. You can make a decent argument that Utah Valley played the ‘Cats tougher than Michigan did.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like