Pac-12 men’s basketball standings for January 30
This last week in the Pac-12 was bizarre by all means. On Thursday, USC stunned UCLA and Washington surprised everyone by beating Arizona State in overtime.
Washington State took Arizona to the brink on Thursday, but the Wildcats got a win. Then, on Saturday, Arizona blew out Washington, Oregon topped Utah, Washington State beat Arizona State by 17, and Oregon State stunned Colorado in another unpredictable game.
With that, the Pac-12 standings shifted a little bit, although UCLA and Arizona remain at the top with USC right behind them and aiming to get into the top two spots and crack the top 25. Here are the latest standings.
UCLA BRUINS (8-2)
Jan 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA;The opening tipoff between UCLA Bruins forward Adem Bona (3 and Southern California Trojans forward Joshua Morgan (24) at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA is still in first place, but the Bruins no longer have a multi-game cushion. They lead USC and Arizona by only one game. Those are the top three teams in the standings. The Trojans are in the Pac-12 championship hunt, along with the two heavyweights in the conference.
ARIZONA WILDCATS (8-3)
Jan 7, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) leaves the court after being defeated by the Washington State Cougars at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
USC hosts Arizona in early March. Can the Trojans make that Arizona game a Pac-12 championship game? We’ll find out.
USC TROJANS (7-3)
Jan 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Tre White (22), Southern California Trojans forward Kobe Johnson (0) guard Boogie Ellis (5), guard Zach Brooker (15) and forward Harrison Hornery (30) celebrate at the end of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It’s very impressive that a team which didn’t have Vince Iwuchukwu for two months is legitimately in the Pac-12 title chase. This team survived, and now it is thriving with a fuller roster. Let’s see if the Men of Troy can get better. If Reese Dixon-Waters and Joshua Morgan can develop, this team’s ceiling will rise.
UTAH UTES (8-4)
Jan 14, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) battles for the ball with Southern California Trojans forward VIncent Iwuchukwu (3), guard Boogie Ellis (5) and guard Reese Dixon-Waters (2) in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Utah’s loss to Oregon on Saturday was a significant bubble loss for the Utes, who have to make up ground. They get Stanford, Cal and Colorado as their next three games. They must go 3-0. Any loss in that stretch would be very damaging.
OREGON DUCKS (7-4)
Feb 12, 2022; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman reacts during the second half against the California Golden Bears at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon meets its most defining stretch of the season over the next two weeks: Arizona, Arizona State, USC, UCLA.
The Ducks need to go 3-1 to enter late February with a realistic bubble chance. 2-2 won’t get it done.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (6-5)
Jan 26, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts to a jump-ball call by the officials during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Four straight losses have pushed ASU outside the tournament field. The Sun Devils were solidly in the field before this losing skid. Their game against Oregon later this week is a massive bubble game.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES (5-7)
Feb 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins (left) and Southern California Trojans head coach Andy Enfield before the game at the Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC hosts Washington later this week. It’s a game the Trojans cannot afford to lose.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (5-7)
Feb 20, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington State Cougars forward DJ Rodman (11) fouls USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (0) in the second half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USC’s next opponent is Washington State, which beat the Trojans on January 1. USC cannot get swept by the Cougars if it wants to make the NCAA Tournament.
COLORADO BUFFALOES (4-8)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Lawson Lovering #34 of the Colorado Buffaloes grabs a rebound in front of Vincent Iwuchukwu #3 of the USC Trojans in the first half at Galen Center on January 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Colorado lost at Oregon State this past week. USC needs to be able to win in Boulder in late February when that game arrives on the schedule.
STANFORD CARDINAL (3-7)
Jan 21, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Spencer Jones (14) shoots against Oregon Ducks guard Rivaldo Soares (11) during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Stanford obliterated Cal. Stanford is no longer the worst team in the Pac-12. It was for awhile.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS (3-8)
Jan 13, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view of the opening tipoff between Oregon State Beavers center Roman Silva and Southern California Trojans forward Chevez Goodwin (1) at center court on the SC logo at the Galen Center. USC defeated OSU 81-71. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC goes to Oregon State on February 11. The Trojans cannot lose that game in Corvallis if they want to feel safe for the NCAA Tournament.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (2-8)
Feb 6, 2020; Boulder, Colorado, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Mark Fox calls out in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Cal is back at the bottom of the Pac-12 after a brief run of good play.
