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Pac-10 Basketball update & Power Rankings 02/22

 

Welcome to the Pac 10 conference race where nothing is as it seems. Three weeks ago, it looked as if UCLA was going to take command of matters and run off with its fourth consecutive conference crown.

Now, the Bruins look ordinary after dropping three of their last four including a stunning 82-81 loss to Washington State, which won at Pauley Pavilion for only the second time in 52 attempts.

USC had the talent between forward Taj Gibson and point guard Daniel Hackett seemed to be a least a given to make the NCAA tournament. Now at 7-7, the Trojans are really going to have to scramble to make the tournament.

Washington now has control of the conference race after picking up a big win at USC. The Huskies (20-7) reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2005-06 squad advanced to the NCAA Region I semifinals.

The rest of the season plays out favorably for Washington as its final four home games are in Seattle. The Huskies play Arizona State and Arizona, the University of Seattle and Washington State.



Oregon State owns California

Probably the stunning storyline for the 2008-09 season is Oregon State’s turnaround. After suffering through a 23-game conference losing streak, the Beavers have not only recovered, but they actually are playing pretty well.

California knows that all too well. But when the Beavers knocked off the Bears, 65-54, it marked the first sweep of this series since 1994-95.

In turn, it may actually turn out to hurt the Golden Bears if they find themselves on The Bubble to get into the NCAA tournament in mid-March. At 20-7, the Bears are trying to reach the tournament for the first time in three seasons. But the committee could look at those losses to the Beavers and re-think.

However, the good news is that Bears can control their destiny because their last four games against USC, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State.

 

Arizona-Arizona State = The rematch

Arizona suspended reserve players Garland Judkins and D.J. Shumpert for Sunday’s game at Arizona State because interim coach Russ Pennell said neither met team obligations.

The Sun Devils survived, 70-68, and pulled to within a half game of Washington. It also snapped Arizona’s seven-game winning streak.

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Briefly…

Oregon is going through a 20-loss season, but the Ducks will not be going through a winless conference season. The Ducks defeated Stanford, 68-60, on Feb. 21 to pick up their first win and improve to 1-14. Oregon had not won this year. The Ducks’ last win was Dec. 29 against Long Beach State….at 4-10, Stanford has not lost double digit games in conference play this decade. Yes, it’s been that kind of season for first-year coach Johnny Dawkins

 

Power Rankings

  1. Washington
  2. Arizona State
  3. UCLA
  4. California
  5. Arizona
  6. USC
  7. Oregon State
  8. Washington State
  9. Stanford
  10. Oregon

 

 

By Kevin Lonnquist
Pac-10 Correspondent