Pac-12 MBB power ratings: Arizona on top, then UCLA and Colorado
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 percent 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 :
Results: beat Belmont 100-68, beat UT Arlington 101-56
Next up: vs. Michigan State (Thursday)
Comment: The Wildcats have hit the 100-point mark three times and are averaging 99.6 points per game, third nationally behind Eastern Kentucky and Alabama. No other Pac-12 team is in the 90s.
Last week:
Results: lost to Marquette 71-69, beat Chaminade 76-48
Next up: vs. Gonzaga (Wednesday)
Comment: 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.
Last week:
Results: beat Richmond 64-59, lost to Florida State 77-71
Next up: vs. Iona (Sunday)
Comment: 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.
Last week:
Results: beat Tennessee State 92-67, beat Florida A&M 67-54
Next up: vs. Santa Clara (Friday)
Comment: Beware the Broncos. That’s our only comment. Beware. The. Broncos.
Last week:
Results: beat Brown 81-70
Next up: vs. Seton Hall (Thursday)
Comment: The schedule gets vastly more difficult from Thanksgiving through Christmas with Seton Hall, Iowa (or Oklahoma), then Gonzaga and Auburn.
Last week:
Results:
Next up: vs. Brigham Young (Thursday)
Comment: 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.
Last week:
Results: lost to Houston 76-66, lost to St. John’s 91-82
Next up: at Saint Mary’s (Monday)
Comment: 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.)
Last week:
Results: beat Xavier 74-71, lost to San Diego State 100-97
Next up: vs. UC San Diego (Tuesday)
Comment: 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.
Last week:
Results: lost to Mississippi State 76-64, beat Rhode Island 78-57
Next up: vs. Utah Tech (Friday)
Comment: If the Cougars are anything worse than 8-3 when non-conference play concludes, something has gone very, very wrong.
Last week:
Results: beat Eastern Washington 95-70
Next up: vs. Arkansas (Wednesday)
Comment: 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.
Last week:
Results: lost to Nebraska 84-63
Next up: vs. Baylor (Wednesday)
Comment: We calculated what a 21-point loss to Nebraska translates to against Baylor, and it’s not pretty.
Last week:
Results: lost to UTEP 75-72
Next up: vs. Tulane (Wednesday)
Comment: The rebuilding Bears are responsible for 21 percent of the Pac-12 losses thus far. Look for the scale to continue to tilt in that direction.
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