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. UCLA (21-8, 12-4 Pac-10)
UCLA had its two most complete games of the season, an 18-point win over ASU and then the masterpiece that was Ol’ Pauley’s swan song, a 71-49 walloping of then-No. 10 Arizona. Given the losses by other teams atop these rankings, it was nearly a perfect week for the Bruins’ standing. Now, the ability to clinch at least a share of the Pac-10 title is in UCLA’s hands this week in Washington.
2. No. 18 Arizona (23-6, 12-4)
Talk about a bad trip. Arizona was riding high on an eight-game win streak until it arrived in Los Angeles. The top two frontcourts in the conference, USC and UCLA, hit the Wildcats hard underneath the basket though, and both scored the upset. Arizona is still the favorite for the Pac-10 Tournament’s No. 1 seed and is still undefeated at home, where it will host the Oregon schools this week.
3. Washington (19-9, 10-6)
If you didn’t pick Washington to win the Pac-10 at the beginning of the season, you were crazy. Now, the Huskies are actually flirting with the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. An 80-69 loss to WSU is Washington’s first loss at home and completes a series sweep by its rival. Lorenzo Romar’s team has a lot to gain and even more to lose with the L.A. schools coming to town.
4. California (16-13, 9-8)
Despite news that the program would face two years’ probation due to self-reported recruiting violations, coach Mike Montgomery made sure his team stayed focused on the road. Or maybe it was the other way around. Thanks to 45 points in two games from freshman Allen Crabbe, the Golden Bears swept Oregon and OSU to clinch a spot in the Pac-10 Tournament quarterfinals.
5. USC (17-12, 9-7)
Great time to have your first four-game winning streak. USC’s 65-57 victory over Arizona at the Galen Center served as a warning to the rest of the Pac-10 that the rather inconsistent Trojans can still win a big game at any time. A No. 3 conference seed is up for grabs if USC can manage the state of Washington’s rabid arenas.
6. Washington State (18-10, 8-8)
All in all, beating the Huskies twice in one season is probably enough for a year of good cheer in Pullman, Wash. The Cougars’ were once again helped by Pac-10 scoring leader Klay Thompson, who had 26 points in WSU’s win over rival Washington in Seattle. The NCAA’s would be a long shot, but this team will not be an easy out for anyone in the conference tournament.
7. Stanford (15-14, 7-10)
The boys from Palo Alto haven’t had a five-game losing streak in 18 years, so it’s good for them Josh Owens decided to show up on Saturday and stop it at four. After Stanford blew a late lead at Oregon State on Thursday night, the Cardinal junior forward scored 31 points at Oregon two nights later to give some hope to the struggling program.
8. Oregon (14-14. 7-9)
After last week’s second win over rival OSU, upstart Oregon was looking even farther up, possibly at the Pac-10’s No. 4 seed. Now, the Ducks seem doomed for one of the tournament’s play-in games after Oregon failed to protect its precious new arena and dropped games to Cal (by 10) and Stanford (by 17).
9. Oregon State (10-17, 5-11)
The Beavers did manage to have a bright spot in what has been a particularly bleak stretch. Sophomore guard Jared Cunningham led his team with 21 points in a home win over Stanford, but Oregon State resumed its ways two days later with an 11-point loss to Cal. Now, the team must finish out the season on the road, playing for pride alone.
10. Arizona State (10-18, 2-14)
The conference’s lowest scoring team lived up to that telling statistic. Playing on the road this week, ASU had team point totals of just 53 and 46 against UCLA and USC, respectively. Originally projected to be the fourth-best team in the conference, the Sun Devils have now clinched the dubious distinction as the Pac-10’s worst team of the year.