Pac-12 women’s basketball standings: USC is in the NCAA Tournament mix, and every game is big
The Pac-12 season is going well for the USC women’s basketball team.
The Trojan women’s team made headlines when they stunned No. 2 Stanford and went right into Charlie Creme’s latest ESPN bracketology. They are in the field according to Creme’s new projections.
Right now, Creme has eight teams from the Pac-12 being projected to make the NCAA Tournament, and the Stanford team USC just defeated is still one of the best women’s teams in the country, in line for a No. 1 seed in March.
With January halfway over and the college basketball season getting even more intense, let us examine the standings for the Pac-12 on the women’s side.
USC has a lot of room to make up, and the schedule in the next couple of weeks will be difficult. The difficulty of the slate makes every game vital. The Trojans face Washington State on Friday and then Washington on Sunday.
UTAH UTES: 5-1
Feb 17, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes head coach Lynne Roberts looks on during the third quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Utah faces Stanford this weekend in a big-time showdown.
STANFORD CARDINAL: 5-1
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Haley Jones (left), coach Tara VanDerveer (center) and forward Cameron Brink pose during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Stanford gets to rebound from the USC loss against Utah, in a matchup of top-10 teams. If Stanford wins, it will solidify its place as a No. 1 seed. If it loses, the Cardinal could fall to a No. 2 seed.
COLORADO BUFFALOES: 5-1
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Jaylyn Sherrod (00) and coach JR Payne pose during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Follow Buffaloes Wire for coverage of CU women’s basketball. The Buffs are really good.
UCLA BRUINS: 4-2
Jan 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close reacts to a foul call in the first half against the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USC lost twice to UCLA this season, by a combined four points. The Trojans and Bruins played two thrillers. USC would love to get another shot at UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament.
ARIZONA WILDCATS: 4-3
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats coach Adia Barnes (left) and guard sHelena Pueyo (13) and Shaina Pellington (1) pose during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona, an elite program, being 4-3 in the Pac-12 shows how tough and deep this conference is in women’s basketball. Eight teams projected to be in the NCAA Tournament? Yeah, that’s a tough conference.
OREGON DUCKS: 4-3
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Endyia Rogers poses during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Follow Ducks Wire for full coverage of Oregon women’s basketball.
USC TROJANS: 3-3
Jan 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb celebrates at the end of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center. USC defeated Stanford 55-46. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC is only 3-3 in the Pac-12, but the losses are all to ranked teams: UCLA twice, Oregon once. There are no bad losses on the slate. USC needs to keep it that way. If it loses to Washington State on Friday, it needs to come back and beat Washington on Sunday.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS: 3-3
Feb 24, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Mary Camille Ethridge reacts after the call during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
USC faces Wazzu on Friday night in Pullman. That’s a true bubble game. It’s very important for both sides. Washington State visits USC later in the season for a rematch.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES: 2-4
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Lauren Schwartz (2) and Haley Van Dyke (11) during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC faces Washington on Sunday in Seattle.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS: 2-5
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck, right, watches the game against Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Dec 11, 2022.
USC already won at Oregon State. That’s an important victory for Lindsay Gottlieb.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS: 1-5
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; California Golden Bears coach Charmin Smith (center) poses with guards Kemery Martin (15) and Jayda Curry (30) during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC smashed Cal last week. The Trojans must continue to take care of business against the Pac-12’s weaker teams. They can’t stumble.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS: 0-7
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils coach Natasha Adair (center) poses with guards Sydney Erikstrup (11) and Jaddan Simmons (2) during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona is a strong program. ASU is rebuilding.
