Each week for the remainder of the college basketball season, The Oregonian/OregonLive will release weekly Pac-12 power rankings.
Click here for last week’s installment.
Three Pac-12 teams are back in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 poll, with No. 5 Oregon and No. 10 UCLA climbing back in as Arizona dropped back to No. 9. This is the second time this season those three teams have sat in the top 10.
The marquee matchup of the week will come Thursday when UCLA hosts Oregon, a rematch of the 89-87 thriller the Ducks won in Eugene on Dec. 28.
1. Oregon (21-3, 10-1)
Last week: Won 71-70 vs. Arizona State, Won 85-58 vs. Arizona
The Ducks demolished Arizona in every way imaginable to authoritatively reclaim their frontrunner status in the Pac-12. That was the Oregon team analysts imagined before the year – maybe even better.
This week: Thursday at No. 10 UCLA, Saturday at USC
2. UCLA (21-3, 8-3)
Last week: Won 95-79 at Washington State, Won 107-66 at Washington
After much of the early college basketball season focused on the rebirth of UCLA, the buzz around the Bruins has taken a backseat to Arizona and Oregon for multiple weeks. Lonzo Ball and crew will have a chance to reclaim the spotlight Thursday when the Ducks arrive at Pauley Pavilion.
This week: Thursday vs. No. 5 Oregon, Sunday vs. Oregon State
3. Arizona (21-3, 10-1)
Last week: Won 71-54 at Oregon State, Lost 85-58 at Oregon
Something hasn’t looked quite right with Arizona in the four games since taking down UCLA on its home floor, culminating in the throttling the Wildcats suffered in Eugene to end a 15-game win streak. However, their schedule may still give them an edge to the Pac-12 title.
This week: Wednesday vs. Stanford, Saturday vs. California
4. USC (20-4, 7-4)
Last week: Won 82-74 at Washington, Won 86-77 at Washington State
Bennie Boatwright returned last week after missing 15 games with a knee injury, averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He may give the Trojans another gear entering three consecutive weeks with games against the big three: Oregon, UCLA and Arizona.
This week: Thursday vs. Oregon State, Saturday vs. No. 5 Oregon
5. California (17-6, 8-3)
Last week: Won 77-75 (2OT) vs. Utah, Won 77-66 vs. Colorado
The Golden Bears have more work ahead to ensure an NCAA Tournament berth, but kept taking care of business while Ivan Rabb had two of his lower-scoring offensive games.
This week: Wednesday at Arizona State, Saturday at No. 9 Arizona
6. Utah (15-8, 6-5)
Last week: Lost 77-75 (2OT) at California, Lost 81-75 at Stanford
Hard to see how Utah reaches the Big Dance after a lost week in the Bay Area. The Utes’ surprise loss at Stanford all but ensured they need to win the Pac-12 tournament to qualify.
This week: Thursday vs. Washington State, Saturday vs. Washington
7. Arizona State (11-13, 4-7)
Last week: Lost 71-70 at Oregon, Won 81-68 at Oregon State
The Sun Devils shoot up the rankings for the way they defended on the road, coming as close as any team to snapping Oregon’s 40-game winning streak at Matthew Knight Arena.
This week: Wednesday vs. California, Saturday vs. Stanford
8. Stanford (12-11, 4-7)
Last week: Lost 81-74 vs. Colorado, Won 81-75 vs. Utah
Stanford may have spoiled Utah’s tournament hopes with a big game from Reid Travis and balanced shooting. The Cardinal is 4-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from three-point range.
This week: Wednesday at No. 9 Arizona, Saturday at Arizona State
9. Colorado (13-11, 3-8)
Last week: Won 81-74 at Stanford, Lost 77-66 at California
The Buffs earned a solid road win Thursday but were without senior starters Wesley Gordon and Xavier Johnson over the weekend due to a team rules violation. Colorado drops in the rankings because head coach Tad Boyle said the suspension could last more than one game.
This week: Thursday vs. Washington, Sunday vs. Washington State
10. Washington State (11-12, 4-7)
Last week: Lost 95-79 vs. No. 11 UCLA, Lost 86-77 vs. USC
Both TJ Leaf of ULCA (32 points, 14 of 17) and Chimezie Metu of USC (29 points, 12 of 14) earned remarkably efficient career-highs against the porous Cougars defense.
This week: Thursday at Utah, Sunday at Colorado
11. Washington (9-14, 2-9)
Last week: Lost 82-74 vs. USC, Lost 107-66 vs. No. 11 UCLA
The highly anticipated duel between likely top NBA draft picks Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball took a back seat to just how out of sorts Washington looks. According to Sports Reference, the Huskies had both their worst offensive rating and defensive rating of the season during their 41-point loss to UCLA.
This week: Thursday at Colorado, Saturday at Utah
12. Oregon State (4-20, 0-11)
Last week: Lost 71-54 vs. Arizona, Lost 81-68 vs. Arizona State
The Arizona loss was encouraging; Arizona State was the opposite. Tres Tinkle is back in a hard cast and, after falling to the Sun Devils, OSU only has one more home game this season against an opponent with a losing conference record (Colorado on Feb. 16).
This week: Thursday at USC, Sunday at No. 10 UCLA
— Danny Moran
dmoran@oregonian.com
@DannyJMoran
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