With the Pac-12 conference tournament about to be underway in Las Vegas, the Pac-12 appears to have four virtual locks for the NCAA Tournament, and could send as many as seven.
Here are the Pac-12 power rankings entering the tournament:
1) Oregon (25-6, 14-4 Pac-12): It’s hard to bet against the Pac-12 regular season champs. The Ducks are on a five-game winning streak, including wins over UCLA and USC to clinch the championship during the final weekend. Tyler Dorsey seems to have found his second wind, and combined with Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher and Elgin Cook, this team is the favorite to win it all.
2) Utah (24-7, 13-5 Pac-12): The Utes are the hottest team in the conference and are winners of their last seven. To win the tournament, Utah will lean heavily on Jakob Poeltl and Jordan Loveridge, two players who have been nearly unstoppable during the winning streak.
3) Arizona (24-7, 12-6 Pac-12): Although the Wildcats are the defending tournament champs, they return only one starter from last year’s squad in Kaleb Tarczewski. Still, the low post play of Ryan Anderson combined with the athletic Allonzo Trier and sharpshooting of Gabe York make Arizona as dangerous as ever.
4) California (22-9, 12-6 Pac-12): The Golden Bears have won eight of their last nine — the only defeat coming in a three-point loss at Arizona — and seem to be clicking at the right time. Arguably the most talented team in the conference — five players average double figures in scoring — Cal is finally living up to its lofty preseason expectations.
5) Colorado (21-10, 10-8 Pac-12): Colorado suffered a loss to Utah in the regular season finale. But before that, the Buffaloes swept Arizona and the Washington schools at home. This team has proved it can play with the best — evident in victories over every team above them except Utah — but can they win in an arena other than their own?
6) Oregon State (18-11, 9-9 Pac-12): The Beavers, winners of seven of their last 10 games, have the star power. And if Gary Payton II can lead them to the conference semifinals, it should guarantee the desperate Beavers a spot in the NCAA tournament.
7) Washington (17-13, 9-9 Pac-12): The Huskies boast the conference’s leading scorer in Andrew Andrews and maybe the most versatile athlete in Dejounte Murray. Like Oregon State, Washington is a bubble team so two wins could mean a lot.
8) USC (20-11, 9-9 Pac-12): If USC can shoot the ball well from 3-point territory, it has the talent to run the table and earn the conference’s automatic bid. On the other hand, if the Trojans struggle on offense, they could be bounced in the first round.
9) UCLA (15-16, 6-12 Pac-12): The dark horse to win the conference tournament has arguably the conference’s most clutch player in Bryce Alford and the person playing the best in Isaac Hamilton. What’s going to hurt UCLA is the four games in four days schedule. But, if there was a team talented and stubborn enough to do it, it’s the Bruins.
10) Stanford (15-14, 8-10 Pac-12): Stanford ended the regular season after getting throttled by 32 at Arizona so its confidence isn’t very high at the moment. Roscoe Allen will give them a chance but don’t except much from them this week.
11) Arizona State (15-16, 5-13 Pac-12): Tra Holder is an explosive offensive player and Eric Jacobsen is coming off his best game of the year in the regular season finale. But that’s about all the Sun Devils have going for them.
12) Washington State (9-21, 1-17 Pac-12): Miracles do happen, but not for Washington State this week.
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