Pac-12 basketball power ratings: Arizona on top, UCLA climbs after narrow loss to Marquette

The Pac-12’s non-conference record is steadily deteriorating, which isn’t a surprise given the uptick in competition but constitutes a mounting challenge nonetheless.

To date, the conference is 39-14 — a winning percentage of 73.5. That’s above the 70% mark that historically has translated to success with NCAA Tournament bids and seeds.

But with a slew of premium opponents looming, the 12 teams will be hard-pressed to keep their win rate on the high side of the threshold.

Results over the Thanksgiving holiday in several high-profile showdowns will be critical.

To the power ratings ...

Last week: 1

: beat Belmont 100-68, beat UT Arlington 101-56, beat Michigan State 74-68

: vs. Colgate (Dec. 2)

: The Wildcats have hit the 100-point mark three times and entered Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day tilt with No. 21 MSU averaging 99.6 points per game, third nationally behind Eastern Kentucky and Alabama. No other Pac-12 team is in the 90s.

: 3

: lost to Marquette 71-69, beat Chaminade 76-48

: vs. Gonzaga (Wednesday)

: We count a two-point loss to Marquette on a neutral court (in Maui) as tantamount to a victory for Mick Cronin’s rebuilt roster. The Golden Eagles just beat Kansas and are one of the nation’s best.

: 2

: beat Richmond 64-59, lost to Florida State 77-71

: vs. Iona (Sunday)

: If Florida State fares well in the ACC, the loss won’t undermine Colorado’s resume. If the Seminoles struggle, as they did last season, it could be problematic for CU.

: 4

: beat Tennessee State 92-67, beat Florida A&M 67-54

: vs. Santa Clara (Friday)

: Beware the Broncos. That’s our only comment. Beware. The. Broncos.

: 6

: beat Brown 81-70

: vs. Seton Hall (Thursday)

: The schedule gets vastly more difficult from Thanksgiving through Christmas with Seton Hall, Iowa (or Oklahoma), then Gonzaga and Auburn.

: 5

: DNP

: vs. Brigham Young (Thursday)

: The schedule provided the Sun Devils with a full week to prepare for BYU, and they’ll need it: The Cougars beat San Diego State and are undefeated.

: 7

: lost to Houston 76-66, lost to St. John’s 91-82

: at Saint Mary’s (Monday)

: Two difficult games (SMC and BYU) remain in a fairly stout non-conference schedule. The Utes need to win at least one of the two to carry a quality victory into conference play. (Wake Forest doesn’t qualify.)

: 10

: beat Xavier 74-71, lost to San Diego State 100-97

: vs. UC San Diego (Tuesday)

: The three-point win over Xavier and three-point loss to SDSU constitute 80 minutes of quality play — and hope for a successful season — for a program in dire need of momentum.

: 8

: lost to Mississippi State 76-64, beat Rhode Island 78-57

: vs. Utah Tech (Friday)

: If the Cougars are anything worse than 8-3 when non-conference play concludes, something has gone very, very wrong.

: 9

: beat Eastern Washington 95-70

Next up: vs. Arkansas (Wednesday)

: Stanford has woefully underperformed against power conference opponents in recent years. Will this season be any different? We’ll know by the end of the week.

: 11

: lost to Nebraska 84-63

Next up: vs. Baylor (Wednesday)

: We calculated what a 21-point loss to Nebraska translates to against Baylor, and it’s not pretty.

Last week: 12

: lost to UTEP 75-72

Next up: vs. Tulane (Wednesday)

: The rebuilding Bears are responsible for 21% of the Pac-12 losses thus far. Look for the scale to continue to tilt in that direction.