Scoop Dreams columnist Eli Smukler checks in with this week’s Pac-10 men’s basketball Power Rankings:
1. No. 20 Washington (13-3, 5-1 Pac-10)
The Huskies were finally tripped up and dropped their first game of the Pac-10 season, a two-point loss at Stanford, but then they dominated in Berkeley. We knew U-Dub wasn’t going to go undefeated here, but its first defeat provides hope for the rest of pack.
2. Arizona (15-3, 4-1)
The Wildcats’ Derrick Williams had another 31-point double-double in a rivalry win at home that won Arizona the final spot (No. 25) in this week’s Coaches’ Poll. The ‘Cats and Dogs’ showdown in Seattle Thursday is the conference’s biggest game so far.
3. UCLA (11-6, 3-2)
The Bruins were the only Pac-10 team to go 2-0 last week, eking out wins at OSU and Oregon. These are games that NCAA Tournament teams need to win, as are the two home contests this weekend against UCLA’s NorCal rivals..
4. Stanford (10-6, 3-2)
Stanford gets a big boost in these rankings for knocking off front-runner Washington, but a let-down against an undermanned WSU team shows that the Cardinal is far from refined.
5. Oregon State (8-9, 3-3)
The Beavers almost pulled off a miraculous second-half comeback against the Bruins at home last week and then nearly avoided a big letdown of their own in a victory over the Trojans two nights later. Overall, OSU is sitting higher now than most would have imagined.
6. USC (10-8, 2-3)
There’s something about the state of Oregon that is Kryptonite to USC sports teams these days. The Trojan hoopsters plummeted this week after suffering two road losses there that will scar their NCAA Tournament resume.
7. Washington State (13-5, 3-3)
Cougars’ guard Reggie Moore is out indefinitely after “marijuana-related” charges, but his backup Faisal Aden stayed above the influence and contributed 20 points to the win at Stanford, Wazzu’s first Pac-10 road victory of the season.
8. Cal (9-8, 2-3)
The Golden Bears’ Allen Crabbe has emerged as a candidate for the Pac-10’s freshman of the year with 30 points over WSU. Cal’s issues on the defensive end though will probably keep them in the bottom half of these rankings for the remainder of the season.
9. Oregon (8-10, 1-5)
The Ducks’ new Matt Knight Arena got national attention for its flashiness and Oregon didn’t let that go to waste by topping USC on opening night for its only Pac-10 win this season, but a three-game road trip will fizzle any hoops excitement in Eugene.
10. Arizona State (9-8, 1-4)
The Sun Devils are this week’s choice for the cellar spot after a 80-69 loss at Arizona. And with a road trip to the Washington schools looming, ASU could be in a deeper hole by the end of the weekend.