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Pac-12 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 12

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By @Alex_Drude

Pac-12 Basketball Power Rankings For Week 12

Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) and forward Brandon Ashley (21) celebrate on the sidelines during the second half of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Stanford Cardinal 89-82.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Another team that looked to contend when the conference season began has seemingly lost all control, while the surprise team continues to surprise and has a huge test this week. It’s all here in the Week 12 power rankings for Pac-12 basketball.

12. Cal (11-9, 1-6 Pac-12) Last week: 11th

Arizona State Sun Devils forward Jonathan Gilling (31) controls the rebound against California Golden Bears forward David Kravish (45) during the first half at Haas Pavilion.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

12. Cal (11-9, 1-6 Pac-12) Last week: 11th

Arizona State Sun Devils forward Jonathan Gilling (31) controls the rebound against California Golden Bears forward David Kravish (45) during the first half at Haas Pavilion.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Cal lost to Arizona State by 35. 35! They were outscored 35-13 in the first half, didn’t score for a 12-minute stretch and then sleepwalked through the Arizona game. What happened? The Bears have lost six in a row. Cal’s only conference win was the league opener against Washington. This weekend’s contests are in Washington, so maybe the Bears can muscle up enough to at least beat the Huskies twice.

11. USC (9-10, 1-6) Last week: 10th

USC Trojans bench reacts against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

11. USC (9-10, 1-6) Last week: 10th

USC Trojans bench reacts against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The Trojans 'only conference win was against Cal. Of course it was. USC’s lost four in a row with Colorado and Utah on the docket.

10. Arizona State (10-10, 2-5) Last week: 12th

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shaquielle McKissic (40) drives against California Golden Bears guard Jordan Mathews (24) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the California Golden Bears 79-44.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

10. Arizona State (10-10, 2-5) Last week: 12th

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Shaquielle McKissic (40) drives against California Golden Bears guard Jordan Mathews (24) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the California Golden Bears 79-44.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Did you see what the Sun Devils did to Cal? Unreal. That was the best game the Sun Devils have played in a long time. Hosting the Oregon schools next will be interesting to see if ASU can get something cooking at home.

9. UCLA (11-9, 3-4) Last week: 4th

UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) and UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) and UCLA Bruins guard Noah Allen (22) and UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) walk off the court defeated by Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

9. UCLA (11-9, 3-4) Last week: 4th

UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) and UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) and UCLA Bruins guard Noah Allen (22) and UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) walk off the court defeated by Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The big dropper this week, the Bruins got absolutely worked in another lost weekend in Oregon. They almost erased a 17-point lead in Corvallis, but after getting it to two with about 2:30 left it got no closer. Then UCLA got slammed in Eugene, where the Ducks led comfortably from about midway through the first half and won by 22. Next up are home games with Utah and Colorado. The buzzards might start keeping an eye on Steve Alford’s whereabouts.

8. Washington State (9-10, 3-4) Last week: 6th

Washington State Cougars guard Ike Iroegbu (0) and forward Junior Longrus (15) leave the court at the end of the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

8. Washington State (9-10, 3-4) Last week: 6th

Washington State Cougars guard Ike Iroegbu (0) and forward Junior Longrus (15) leave the court at the end of the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Oh, the Cougs looked so good at 3-1 and tied for fourth in the conference. And now WSU is 3-4. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Hosting Cal on Thursday, the Cougs will probably get back to .500 for at least a day or so.

7. Colorado (10-9, 3-4) Last week: 9th

Colorado Buffaloes forward Wesley Gordon (1) rebounds in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

7. Colorado (10-9, 3-4) Last week: 9th

Colorado Buffaloes forward Wesley Gordon (1) rebounds in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at the Coors Events Center.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffs are 0-for-6 on the road, and if that streak continues this weekend at USC and UCLA there will be some major head-scratching in Boulder. Colorado ought to be notably better than both of those teams. They nearly beat Washington despite missing two of their best players due to suspension/injury.

6. Washington (14-5, 3-4) Last week: 7th

Washington Huskies guard Andrew Andrews (12) releases the game winning basket as time expired in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. The Huskies defeated the Buffaloes 52-50.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

6. Washington (14-5, 3-4) Last week: 7th

Washington Huskies guard Andrew Andrews (12) releases the game winning basket as time expired in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. The Huskies defeated the Buffaloes 52-50.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Washington is only ahead of Colorado because the Huskies became just the second team to beat CU in Boulder this season on a buzzer-beater by Andy Andrews (shown) -- and Colorado was missing two of their better players, as detailed previously. Well, it is what it is. Hosting Stanford and Cal this week will be another interesting barometer check.

5. Oregon (14-6, 4-3) Last week: 8th

Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) shoots the ball against the USC Trojans at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

5. Oregon (14-6, 4-3) Last week: 8th

Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) shoots the ball against the USC Trojans at Matthew Knight Arena.
Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Sweeping the L.A schools still feels like an achievement even in years like this. Oddly enough, the Ducks have only played two official road games (the one against Illinois was in Chicago but on a “neutral court,” officially). Oregon has lost both, so even getting one in Arizona this weekend would be a good thing. Though it probably won’t happen Thursday in Tucson against the Wildcats.

4. Stanford (14-5, 5-2) Last week: 3rd

Stanford Cardinal center Stefan Nastic (4) blocks a shot by Arizona State Sun Devils forward Savon Goodman (11) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 89-70.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Stanford (14-5, 5-2) Last week: 3rd

Stanford Cardinal center Stefan Nastic (4) blocks a shot by Arizona State Sun Devils forward Savon Goodman (11) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 89-70.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

It was a game effort against Arizona even if it didn’t go the way of the Cardinal and a non-letdown game against Arizona State. Stanford is well on the way to an NCAA berth at this point. On the road in Washington this week is always an interesting road trip for any team.

3. Oregon State (14-5, 5-2) Last week: 5th

Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 66-55.
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

3. Oregon State (14-5, 5-2) Last week: 5th

Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 66-55.
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State is the surprise of the conference and getting better all the time. They didn’t blow that 17-point second-half lead to UCLA (though it got very close late) and held on against USC. The crowds are growing at Gill Coliseum all the time. Now if the Beavs can somehow beat Arizona for a second time in Tucson this weekend, then the rest of country will take notice.

2. No. 11 Utah (16-3, 6-1) Last week: 2nd

Utah Utes center Dallin Bachynski (31) goes up for a shot during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 77-56.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

2. No. 11 Utah (16-3, 6-1) Last week: 2nd

Utah Utes center Dallin Bachynski (31) goes up for a shot during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 77-56.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

It was business as usual for the Utes over the weekend, with a 22-point win against Washington State and a 21-pointer over Washington. There's not much of an expected challenge with two games this weekend in Los Angeles.

1. No. 6 Arizona (18-2, 6-1) Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) dunks the ball against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Maples Pavilion. The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Stanford Cardinal 89-82.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

1. No. 6 Arizona (18-2, 6-1) Last week: 1st

Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) dunks the ball against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Maples Pavilion. The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Stanford Cardinal 89-82.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford kept it close against the Wildcats in a game more notable for the 51 fouls than anything else. But UA has clearly learned something since the loss at Oregon State. Arizona has won four straight, and the Cardinal victory was the only one under 14. And look who’s coming to town this week: the Oregon State Beavers. Will Arizona lose to the Beavs twice? It doesn’t appear likely.

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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