Scoop Dreams columnist Eli Smukler checks in with this week’s Pac-10 men’s basketball Power Rankings (you can find last week’s rankings here):
1. No. 21 Arizona (18-4, 7-2 Pac-10)
Even though Arizona lost to Washington two weeks ago, the Wildcats deserve this spot for how they played this week, handily beating both L.A. schools. Derrick Williams is the Pac-10’s best player and he has his team playing like they are, too.
2. No. 20 Washington (15-5, 7-2)
For the first time this season, the Huskies drop from their perch atop these rankings, now tied in the Pac-10 standings with Arizona. Washington guard Isaiah Thomas fouled out and committed seven turnovers in the team’s 87-80 loss to rival WSU.
3. UCLA (14-7, 6-3)
It might not feel like it, but the Bruins escaped the state of Arizona in OK shape. The loss in Tucson was understandable if not agreeable, and the unnecessarily close overtime win in Tempe was, well, a win.
4. Washington State (12-9, 5-4)
The Cougars are back in the hunt. Beating rival U-Dub for the first time in five tries might give WSU enough confidence to make up some ground in the Pac-10’s second go-round and secure an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
5. California (12-9, 5-4)
Cal has now won five of seven after sweeping the Oregon schools at home this week. Though they still aren’t really contenders, Cal is putting itself in position for a much nicer seed come Pac-10 Tournament time.
6. USC (12-10, 4-5)
Trojan big man Nikola Vucevic said he and his teammates “played like women” in their loss at Arizona. USC might want to take after the women’s game and focus more on free throws after shooting just 53 percent from the stripe this week.
7. Stanford (11-9, 4-5)
Cardinal freshman Anthony Brown impressed in his starting debut, netting 21 points and 8 boards in Stanford’s win over struggling Oregon State. It was the team’s first win since upsetting Washington more than two weeks ago.
8. Oregon (10-11, 3-6)
Oregon started the week off historically by winning its first game at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion since 1986, but then failed to complete a comeback in an eight-point loss to Cal in Berkeley.
9. Oregon State (8-12, 3-6)
The Beavers’ season is starting to get tragic. Oregon State was swept by the Bay Area this week, losing to Cal and Stanford by a combined 42 points. This team upset Arizona at the beginning of the month and has since dropped six of seven.
10. Arizona State (9-12, 1-8)
You think your team makes it rough on you? ASU fans suffered through a two-point loss at home to USC, followed by a one-point overtime defeat to UCLA. The Sun Devils’ seven straight Pac-10 losses have them firmly rooted at this lowest tier.