It’s a light schedule this week across the Pac-12, with eight teams playing just once as the second round of rivalry games gets underway. (Only the Oregon and Arizona schools are on the court twice.)
The respite should help Washington State and UCLA, which, as we explain below, were missing key players in losses last week.
ESPN’s latest Bracketology projections for the NCAA Tournament still have Stanford, Utah, UCLA and Oregon seeded high enough to host first- and second-round games, with Arizona in contention to host a sub-regional.
In the big picture, that’s an important advantage for reaching the Sweet 16 in the new two-regional format for the women’s NCAAs.
Here are the Hotline’s ninth Pac-12 Power Ratings of the season. Three teams make a two-place change over the Hotline’s order-of-finish predictions, which were published last week.
(NET rankings through Monday’s games)
1. Stanford (15-1, 3-0 Pac-12)
Last week: 1
Results: Beat Arizona State 101-69 and Arizona 73-57
Next up: at California (Sunday)
NET ranking: 3
Comment: The second-ranked Cardinal is No. 5 nationally in rebounding, a stat that explains its dominance as much as anything. Stanford’s rebounding margin is plus-19.25 per game, compared to plus-11.77 for the closest Pac-12 competition (Washington). Also, 6-7 freshman Lauren Betts scored 10 fourth-quarter points last week against ASU.
2. Utah (14-0, 3-0)
Last week: 2 Results: Beat Washington State 71-66 and Washington 61-53
Next up: at Colorado (Friday)
NET ranking: 5
Comment: The Utes won big (85-58) over Colorado on Dec. 14, but it could be different in the rematch given that this game is in Boulder and the Buffs are on a four-game winning streak. The five remaining unbeaten teams in Division I are No. 1 South Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Utah and No. 24 St. John’s. Utah’s No. 8 ranking in the AP poll is the best in school history.
3. UCLA (13-2, 2-1)
Last week: 3
Results: Beat Oregon 82-74, lost to Oregon State 77-72
Next up: vs. USC (Sunday)
NET ranking: 23
Comment: The Bruins won by only three over USC with Charisma Osborne on Dec. 15 and might not have her available for the rematch because of a shoulder injury. Still, UCLA nearly pulled out a win at Oregon State without Osborne despite leading for all of 22 seconds.
4. Oregon (11-3, 2-1)
Last week: 4
Results: Lost to UCLA 82-74, beat USC 73-45
Next up: at ASU (Friday)
NET ranking: 11
Comment: Endyia Rogers led the 18th-ranked Ducks’ dominant bounce-back win over her former team (USC) with help from Arizona State transfer Taya Hanson’s five 3-pointers and Phillipina Kyei’s 20 rebounds, the most for Oregon since Jillian Alleyne in 2016. Also, Kennedy Basham returned from a knee injury, offsetting the transfer loss of Jennah Isai to BYU.
5. Arizona (12-2, 2-1)
Last week: 5
Results: Beat ASU 84-66 and Cal 63-56, lost to Stanford 73-57
Next up: vs. Oregon State (Friday)
NET ranking: 24
Comment: Esmery Martinez had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double against ASU but dipped significantly in the Bay Area (partly due to foul trouble). She managed 10 points and seven rebounds combined against Cal and Stanford while fouling out in Berkeley in just seven minutes. Stanford’s post defense, of course, was a key factor.
6. Colorado (12-3, 2-1)
Last week: 7
Results: Beat Washington 64-56 and WSU 65-54
Next up: vs. Utah (Friday)
NET ranking: 30
Comment: Since the first Utah game, Colorado has allowed an average of only 51.2 points over four wins. The improved defense will be tested by the Utes, who average 88.7 points per game (No. 3 nationally) but are playing a third straight road game.
7. Oregon State (9-5, 1-2)
Last week: 8
Results: Lost to USC 69-58, beat UCLA 77-72
Next up: at Arizona (Friday)
NET ranking: 58
Comment: The Beavers, like Colorado, moved up one place in our ratings on the strength of upsetting then-No. 10 UCLA, which was without Osborne. They are the first unranked Pac-12 team to beat one of the five ranked teams. Raegan Beers had three double-doubles last week and is the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
8. Washington State (10-4, 0-3)
Last week: 6
Results: Lost to Utah 71-66 and Colorado 65-54
Next up: vs. Washington (Sunday)
NET ranking: 50
Comment: With Charlisse Leger-Walker in the lineup, the Cougars were upset by Washington on Dec. 11. They might be without her in the rematch as the Pac-12 scoring leader (21.1 ppg) returned to her native New Zealand because of a family issue. Her absence played a major role in the home losses to the Mountain schools and is central to WSU dropping two places in the Hotline ratings.
9. USC (11-3, 1-2)
Last week: 9
Results: Beat Oregon State 69-58, lost to Oregon 73-45
Next up: at UCLA (Sunday)
NET ranking: 42
Comment: Pac-12 Player of the Week Rayah Marshall is on a tear with five consecutive double-doubles. This placement might be too low for the Trojans despite their off game against Oregon. She needs scoring help from Destiny Littleton (only three points against Oregon) and the return of Kadi Sissoko, who missed the Oregon game due to a broken finger.
10. California (10-4, 1-2)
Last week: 12
Results: Lost to Arizona 63-56, beat ASU 74-61
Next up: Stanford (Sunday)
NET ranking: 78
Comment: The Bears move up two places after playing almost to the wire with Arizona and beating ASU. They trailed the Wildcats by one point, then failed to score in the final two minutes. The reverse scenario unfolded against ASU, as the Bears broke open a tied game with a 12-0 fourth-quarter run. Cal was without Peanut Tuitele in both games but had help from Michelle Onyiah and Claudia Langarita.
11. Washington (9-4, 1-2)
Last week: 11
Results: Lost to Colorado 64-56 and Utah 61-53
Next up: at Washington State (Sunday)
NET ranking: 100
Comment: The Huskies trailed by 19 in the third quarter against Colorado before shaving the final margin. Against Utah, they led by one point after three quarters, only to be outscored 24-15 in the fourth. One player, Dalayah Daniels, is averaging in double figures (11.8 ppg).
12. Arizona State (7-7, 0-3)
Last week: 10
Results: Lost to Arizona 84-66, Stanford 101-69 and Cal 74-61
Next up: vs. Oregon (Friday)
NET ranking: 119
Comment: ASU’s current strength-of-schedule (No. 32) is proving too much to handle for a team with low-post limitations and injuries. The Sun Devils have lost six of their last seven games, falling two places in the Hotline ratings. They badly need at least a split at home this week before going back on the road to the Mountain schools.
McKale Center was built at the University of Arizona in the early 1970s. There have been updates through the years.
