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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Power rankings: Arizona regains top spot from Utah

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Tyler Baker
Tyler Baker / The Daily Wildcat

1. No. 7 Arizona (16-2, 4-1 Pac-12 Conference)

After one prominent local columnist wrote that Utah was the new Arizona last week, the Wildcats reasserted their Pac-12 dominance with a convincing win over the Utes. Still, the UA faces a tough road trip in the Bay Area this week.

Last week: Second, W vs. Colorado 68-54, W vs. Utah 69-51
This week: at Stanford (13-4, 4-1), at California (11-7, 1-4)


2. No. 12 Utah (14-3, 4-1)

The Utes’ 18-point loss at Arizona was their worst of the season. Their first two were by a combined seven points.

Last week: First, W at ASU 76-59, L at Arizona 69-51
This week: vs. Washington State (9-8, 3-2), vs. Washington (13-4, 2-3)

3. Stanford (13-4, 4-1)

While the AP is still not showing the Cardinal any love, it did enter the coaches’ poll. Last week, Stanford beat archrival Cal at home and then-defending national champion UConn on the other side of the country.

Last week: Third, W vs. California 69-59, W at Connecticut 72-59
This week: vs. No. 7 Arizona (16-2, 4-1), vs. ASU (9-9, 1-4)


4. Washington (13-4, 2-3)

After winning 11 in a row, then losing four straight, the Huskies swept the Oregon schools. Are they ready to go streaking like Frank the Tank?

Last week: Fifth, W vs. Oregon State 56-43, W vs. Oregon 85-77
This week: at Colorado (9-8, 2-3), at No. 12 Utah (14-3, 4-1)

5. Oregon State (12-5, 3-2)

At this point, the Pac-12 gets pretty tricky. The Beavers earned a split on the Washington road trip, so they did enough to stay in the middle of the Pac.

Last week: Fourth, L at Washington 56-43
This week: vs. UCLA (11-7, 3-2), vs. USC (9-8, 1-4)

6. Washington State (9-8, 3-2)

The Cougars upset Oregon to jump the Ducks but lost to Oregon State, so they’ll stay below the Beavers. The tough Rocky Mountain road trip should be too much for Wazzu, though.

Last week: Seventh, W vs. Oregon 108-99 OT, L vs. Oregon State 62-47
This week: at No. 12 Utah (14-3, 4-1), at Colorado (9-8, 2-3)

7. Oregon (12-6, 2-3)

The Ducks got swept by the Washington schools, causing them to drop. With a trip to Los Angeles this weekend, how low can Oregon go?

Last week: Sixth, L at Washington State 108-99 OT, L at Washington 85-77
This week: vs. USC (9-8, 1-4), vs. UCLA (11-7, 3-2)

8. UCLA (11-7, 3-2)

The Bruins have recovered from their five-game losing streak to win three in a row. However, only one of those wins came against a decent team.

Last week: Tenth, W at USC 83-66
This week: at Oregon State (12-5, 3-2), at Oregon (12-6, 2-3)


9.  Colorado (9-8, 2-3)

The Buffaloes swept the LA schools, but after those two games, they’ve lost three in a row. The only two things keeping them slipping even further is that two of their three losses were getting swept in the Grand Canyon State without two of their starters.

Last week, Eighth, L at Arizona 68-54, L at ASU 78-72
This week: vs. Washington (13-4, 2-3), vs. Washington State (9-8, 3-2)


10. California (11-7, 1-4)

Since opening Pac-12 play with an upset of Washington, the Golden Bears have lost four in a row. With ASU coming to town, Cal will either get some confidence before facing Arizona or drop to last.

Last week: Ninth, L at Stanford 69-59
This week: vs. ASU (9-9, 1-4), vs. No. 7 Arizona (16-2, 4-1)

11. USC (9-8, 1-4)

After losing to UCLA last week, the Trojans have lost two in a row and four of their last five. The difficult Oregon Trail trip doesn’t offer much relief for USC.

Last week: 11th, L vs. UCLA 83-66
This week: at Oregon (12-6, 2-3), at Oregon State (12-5, 3-2)

12. ASU (9-9, 1-4)

The Sun Devils got a conference win against Colorado last week. However, it came against the heavily depleted Buffaloes, who were missing two of their best players.

Last week: 12th, L vs. Utah 76-59, W vs. Colorado 78-72
This week: at California (11-7, 1-4), at Stanford (13-4, 4-1)

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