Advertisement
Breaking News:

Bryson DeChambeau holds off Rory McIlroy to win U.S. Open

Pac-12 women’s basketball power rankings: Oregon State 7-0 for first time since 2019

alec dietz, eugene register-guard
·3 min read
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, left, shoots as UC Riverside guard Makayla Jackson defends during the first half of the game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, left, shoots as UC Riverside guard Makayla Jackson defends during the first half of the game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Los Angeles.

The rankings are mostly unchanged this week as teams get set for Pac-12 play.

While a pair of teams have already started conference play, most others are just getting geared up for the heightened competition.

On to the latest Pac-12 power rankings.

1. UCLA

Last week: 1

What to know: The Bruins haven’t shown any signs of slowing down after a win over UConn in November. UCLA took down another ranked foe in Florida State last week to stay perfect during the nonconference season. The Bruins have two more tests in Ohio State and Hawaii before a showdown in its Pac-12 opener against the surging and also unbeaten USC Trojans.

2. USC

Last week: 2

What to know: JuJu Watkins continues to star for the Trojans, and USC has kept rolling through its relatively easy nonconference slate, aside from its opener against Ohio State. The country will know if the Trojans are legit come Dec. 30 against crosstown rival UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in what could be a top-5 matchup.

3. Colorado

Last week: 3

What to know: The Buffaloes have not played since Dec. 5, so they will stay pat at No. 3. You typically don’t drop in these rankings if you don’t lose.

South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, center, looks to shoot as Utah forwards Alissa Pili, left, and Jenna Johnson, right, defend in the second half of the game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Uncasville, Connecticut.
South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, center, looks to shoot as Utah forwards Alissa Pili, left, and Jenna Johnson, right, defend in the second half of the game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Uncasville, Connecticut.

4. Utah

Last week: 4

What to know: Though the Utes lost to No. 1 South Carolina, Alissa Pili proved her mettle against the top-ranked Gamecocks, scoring 37 points in a losing effort. Two early season losses to ranked teams definitely stings, but don’t count out Utah once conference play rolls around.

5. Stanford

Last week: 5

What to know: The Cardinal’s puzzling double-digit loss to Gonzaga looks even more puzzling after the Bulldogs turned around and needed overtime to beat Cal just a few days later in Berkeley. Stanford has not played since that 96-78 loss and will see its rival Golden Bears Dec. 29 in its Pac-12 opener.

6. Washington

Last week: 6

What to know: After relatively breezing through its first nine games – albeit against lesser competition – the Huskies are still perfect, now with a signature win over rival and previously ranked Washington State. The Huskies got through the Cougars without leading scorer Elle Ladine, using a stifling defense to announce their arrival to the Pac-12 season.

7. Washington State

Last week: 7

What to know: The Cougs dropped their Pac-12 opener at home to Washington but will undoubtedly stay in the mix. I’m sure no Pac-12 coach can forget Washington State’s memorable Pac-12 tournament championship run last season.

8. Oregon State

Last week: 8

What to know: Still without a signature win, the Beavers have gotten through an easy schedule and are 7-0 for the first time since 2019. Oregon State has to get through three games in five days this upcoming week, and open conference play against the Ducks at home Dec. 31.

9. Cal

Last week: 10

What to know: The Bears have just a pair of losses, and their latest was an overtime loss to a Gonzaga team that blew out Stanford. Otherwise, Cal has looked markedly improved.

10. Arizona

Last week: 9

What to know: The Wildcats hung around for a bit with No. 5 Texas but have now lost three of their last five contests. Arizona opens conference play with a trip to Tempe against Arizona State, and a good chance to get back on track.

Oregon forward Kennedy Basham drives under the basket as the Oregon Ducks host Portland State Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon forward Kennedy Basham drives under the basket as the Oregon Ducks host Portland State Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.

11. Oregon

Last week: 12

What to know: The Ducks won three games in four days against Idaho, Portland State, and Southern, and appeared to have found some identity with center Phillipina Kyei averaging over 17 points and 18 rebounds over that stretch.

12. Arizona State

Last week: 11

What to know: The Sun Devils played just once since the last rankings, a 66-59 loss to Grand Canyon that puts them at the bottom of this list. They’ll have a chance to move back up with their Pac-12 opener against Arizona on Sunday.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Pac-12 women’s basketball power rankings: Arizona, ASU set to face off