1. Oregon (18-2, 7-0, Last week: No. 1)
Not only are the Ducks still undefeated, but they’re the only Pac-12 team without two losses after they swept the Washington schools at home and Arizona and UCLA both lost this past week. It’s much harder for anyone to catch Oregon now. Hey AP voters, what’s it going to take for Oregon (No. 10) to surpass Arizona (No. 8) in the polls?
2. Arizona (17-2, 5-2, Last week: No. 2)
With the Wildcats’ loss on their home floor Thursday night, it was interesting to see how they failed to use their big size advantage and let the Bruins calmly shoot over them or get to the free-throw line. Arizona made sure that wouldn’t happen again by suffocating USC in a 74-50 bounce-back win on Saturday.
3. UCLA (16-5, 6-2, Last week: No. 3)
Like the Associated Press voters who still kept UCLA in the “receiving votes” footnote at the bottom of the rankings, Court Visions won’t penalize the Bruins too much for an unimpressive loss at Arizona State after a big win at Arizona. There’s reason to believe that the sidelined Travis Wear could have made a difference in that one. UCLA will need the redshirt junior today against USC’s twin towers.
4. Arizona State (16-4, 5-2, Last week: No. 4)
The Sun Devils were convincing in sweeping the L.A. schools at home this past week. They pass a simple eye test, boasting one great scorer (Jahii Carson), a great defender (Jordan Bachynski) and a do-it-all glue guy (Carrick Felix). Even when Jordan Adams thought he had an open layup before the final buzzer sounded on a blowout loss, Felix was there to swat it away. Effort like that nabbed Felix his third Pac-12 Player of the Week award.
5. Colorado (14-6, 4-4, Last week: No. 7)
In sweeping the Bay Area schools at home this weekend, Colorado steadied its spiraling season and notched its two best wins in conference play. The Buffaloes could build more momentum by winning in Utah on Saturday before they have to head northwest to face the Oregon schools next week.
6. Stanford (12-8, 3-4, Last week: No. 8)
Margin of victory counts for something in these rankings and Stanford winning in Salt Lake City by 31 bodes well for their future in conference play. But the Cardinal also lost by 21 in Boulder, Colo. two days before that, so temper any optimism. Just another week in the maddeningly erratic Pac-12.
7. Washington (12-8, 4-3, Last week: No. 5)
Washington takes a tumble for giving Oregon State its first win of the conference season. There’s little consistency with these Huskies, who won their first three conference games on the road and then came home and lost to Utah before getting swept in by Oregon and extending their losing streak to three games.
8. California (11-8, 3-4, Last week: No. 9)
Earning a split on the road, like Cal did this week, is something any Pac-12 team will take. The Golden Bears will get a soft matchup on Thursday when Oregon State comes to Berkeley. After that, it’s as much of a murderer’s row as the Pac-12 has to offer: v. Oregon, at Arizona State and at Arizona.
9. USC (8-13, 3-5, Last week: No. 6)
The Trojans got swept on the road, not completely unexpected on their trip to the desert. This week’s matchup with UCLA is more intriguing. Can USC use its size advantage on UCLA like Arizona State did Saturday? The Trojans’ guards might have too much on their plate defensively, so anything from the bigs would aide a possible upset.
10. Washington State (11-9, 2-5, Last week: No. 11)
The Cougars held a 10-point halftime lead on the conference leader’s home court before letting the Ducks come back easily to win. Still, that (and beating Oregon State three days later) is a sign of progress from a Washington State team that hasn’t accomplished much before this point.
11. Oregon State (11-9, 1-6, Last week: No. 12)
Slow clap for the Beavers, whose win last Wednesday made them the final Pac-12 team to get a conference win. Oregon State even had a chance at a Washington sweep when it hosted Washington State, but the Beavers narrowly lost. Coach Craig Robinson must have picked up some inspiration during his brother-in-law’s inauguration. Any more losses and the Beavers might have needed a presidential pardon.
12. Utah (9-11, 1-7, Last week: No. 10)
The Utes’ against-all-odds road win in Seattle on Jan. 19 did nothing to inspire the red and white at home, where Utah was swept by the Bay Area schools. Utah will face a team that comes from a higher altitude than its own when it hosts Colorado on Saturday.
Compiled by Ryan Menezes, Bruin Sports senior staff