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Pac-12 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 8

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By @Alex_Drude

Pac-12 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 8

Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) walks off the court as UNLV players celebrate in the final second of a game at Thomas and Mack Center. UNLV won the game 71-67.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The final full non-conference week has ended. Arizona’s loss means a new No. 1 in the Pac-12. Who rose to the top?

NR. USC (7-4), Last week: 7th

Southern California Trojans song girl cheerleader Kiana Henry performs during the basketball game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Galen Center.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NR. USC (7-4), Last week: 7th

Southern California Trojans song girl cheerleader Kiana Henry performs during the basketball game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Galen Center.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

You can’t be ranked unless you play a game. USC didn’t. Again, the Trojans should be commended for taking at least a week off from competition and allowing college kids to, oh, I don’t know, maybe spend time with their families for a couple of days? I know, it’s a weird concept.

NR. Oregon State (8-3), Last week: 9th

Oregon State Beavers head coach Wayne Tinkle watches his team warm up before the start of the game against the DePaul Blue Demons at Gill Coliseum.
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NR. Oregon State (8-3), Last week: 9th

Oregon State Beavers head coach Wayne Tinkle watches his team warm up before the start of the game against the DePaul Blue Demons at Gill Coliseum.
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Whoa, two teams taking the week off? Unheard of! The Beavs have been making strides under new head coach Wayne Tinkle, hopefully OSU didn’t forget everything over the break.

10. Washington State (6-6), Last week: 11th

Washington State Cougars head coach Ernie Kent talks with his team during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at Spokane Arena. Bulldogs won 81-66.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

10. Washington State (6-6), Last week: 11th

Washington State Cougars head coach Ernie Kent talks with his team during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at Spokane Arena. Bulldogs won 81-66.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

The Cougs' modest two-game win streak means the entire conference is at least at .500. After 13 minutes against UC Davis, the Cougs led 30-8. If only the game had stopped there. Instead, the Aggies climbed back (19 WSU turnovers) and the Cougs held on 90-83. In front of 1,400 fans -- winter break in the Palouse, you know.

9. Arizona State (8-5), Last week: 10th

Arizona State Sun Devils forward Savon Goodman (11) looks on against the Detroit Titans during the first half at Wells-Fargo Arena.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

9. Arizona State (8-5), Last week: 10th

Arizona State Sun Devils forward Savon Goodman (11) looks on against the Detroit Titans during the first half at Wells-Fargo Arena.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Also on a two-game win streak, but only beat Harvard by 10 points. Sure, Harvard wins academically, but on the basketball court, the Crimson are ranked 257th in points per game on offense. Even a Harvard man will tell you that’s not very good.

8. Colorado (7-5), Last week: NR (didn’t play)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle reacts to a three point foul called in the first half against the Colorado State Rams at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

8. Colorado (7-5), Last week: NR (didn’t play)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle reacts to a three point foul called in the first half against the Colorado State Rams at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

No hate for the Buffs for playing three games at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii. The Buffs beat DePaul, and then lost to George Washington and Hawaii by three points each. In the third-place game, Colorado outrebounded the Warriors by a healthy margin but missed two threes for the tie in the final seconds. This means head coach Tad Boyle is stuck on 99 wins as the Buffs' head coach at least into the opening week of 2015.

7. Oregon (9-3), Last week: 6th

Cal State Northridge Matadors forward Stephen Maxwell (21) fights for the ball against Oregon Ducks forward Elgin Cook (23) at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

7. Oregon (9-3), Last week: 6th

Cal State Northridge Matadors forward Stephen Maxwell (21) fights for the ball against Oregon Ducks forward Elgin Cook (23) at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

They trailed UC-Santa Barbara by 12 with 12 minutes to go in the second half, and won in overtime? I mean, that’s a good comeback, but Oregon shouldn’t have needed to do that after leading by 11 in the first half. The Ducks have work to do.

6. Cal (10-3), Last week: 4th

California Golden Bears guard Jordan Mathews (24) takes a shot against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Haas Pavilion.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

6. Cal (10-3), Last week: 4th

California Golden Bears guard Jordan Mathews (24) takes a shot against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Haas Pavilion.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Losing to top-10 Wisconsin at home is one thing. Looking out of sorts and losing to 3-10 Cal State-Bakersfield at home is another thing entirely.

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

Alabama Crimson Tide forward Jimmie Taylor (10) grabs a rebound in front of UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum.
Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports

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

Alabama Crimson Tide forward Jimmie Taylor (10) grabs a rebound in front of UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum.
Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports

A two-game losing streak at the hands of top-10 Gonzaga and unquestionable No. 1 Kentucky is acceptable. Making it a three-game losing streak at Alabama is not. The Bruins scored just six more points against the Tide than they did against the Wildcats. Yet UCLA stays here in these rankings because, well, have you read what the other teams have done?

4. No. 21 Washington (11-1), Last week: 2nd

Stony Brook Seawolves guard Kameron Mitchell (3) celebrates after a game against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena. Seawolves won 62-57.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

4. No. 21 Washington (11-1), Last week: 2nd

Stony Brook Seawolves guard Kameron Mitchell (3) celebrates after a game against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena. Seawolves won 62-57.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

I can’t drop the Huskies any further for blowing a 16-point lead to Stony Brook because that would be stupid -- just like UW blowing a 16-point lead to Stony Brook, shown here celebrating on the Huskies home floor. The Seawolves prevented UW from the best start in Lorenzo Romar’s tenure in Seattle, and this is his 13th year there. I promise you the Dawgs would have been the new No. 1 in these rankings with a win.

3. Stanford (7-3), Last week: 8th

Stanford Cardinal guards Robert Cartwright (2) and Chasson Randle (center) and forward Reid Travis (22) react after the game against the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Stanford beat Texas 74-71
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

3. Stanford (7-3), Last week: 8th

Stanford Cardinal guards Robert Cartwright (2) and Chasson Randle (center) and forward Reid Travis (22) react after the game against the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Stanford beat Texas 74-71
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest jump of the week goes to the Cardinal. Remember that these are week-by-week and not completely representative of the whole season. Hey, it makes sense to me. Anyway, the Cardinal beat then- No.9 Texas in Austin in overtime and didn’t just look like an NCAA Tournament team, but a good one.

2. No. 8 Arizona (12-1), Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) loses control of the ball in the final three seconds of a game against UNLV at Thomas and Mack Center. UNLV won the game 71-67.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

2. No. 8 Arizona (12-1), Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

In all likelihood, this is just a one-week drop for the Wildcats. UA lost and didn’t play particularly well. The Wildcats didn’t play like No. 1, so they’re not. Losing at UNLV will do nothing but help them down the road.

1. No. 10 Utah (9-2), Last week: 3rd

South Dakota State Jackrabbits guard Keaton Moffitt (12) is fouled by Utah Utes guard/forward Dakarai Tucker (14) while shooting the ball during the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

1. No. 10 Utah (9-2), Last week: 3rd

South Dakota State Jackrabbits guard Keaton Moffitt (12) is fouled by Utah Utes guard/forward Dakarai Tucker (14) while shooting the ball during the second half at Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few days before UNLV toppled Arizona from the ranks of the undefeated, Utah beat the Running Rebels by 13. That, coupled with the Utes easy win over a not-completely terrible South Dakota State team means the Utes are No. 1 for now.

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+.

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