College Basketball Pac-12 Power Rankings: Week 18
It’s here … it’s finally here. The Pac-12 Tournament, or as I like to call it, “The last time we get to hear how bad Oregon State has been this season” Invitational.
As it sits right now, three teams are sitting atop the conference and will be fighting it out for not only a conference title but a possible number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. While those three schools are continuing their standoff, teams like Cal, USC and Utah are playing for their tournament lives starting on Wednesday.
Usually, I will rank the teams 1-12, which I will do as always, but I will add my prediction for how they will finish in the Pac-12 Tournament. Even though they may be ranked according to seed, that doesn’t mean that’s how they will end the tournament. So let’s get things started with Oregon State, who draws the 12 seed.
Oregon State Beavers
Last week: 5-26 (1-17 Pac-12)
Last rank: 12
Oregon State has struggled all of of the 2016-17 season so this week will end mercifully at the hands of the Cal Golden Bears. Finishing 1-17 in the conference is one of the worst records in a major conference. Wayne Tinkle just never had this team competitive, so hopefully 2017-18 will bring the Beavers better fortune. I mean, things can’t get worse than what happened this past season, right?
Pac-12 Tournament Finish: Lose in first round to Cal
Washington Huskies `
Last week: 9-21 (2-16 Pac-12)
Last rank: 11
In a season that went down the tubes quickly, the Washington Huskies got some good news as they will not be making a coaching change. Due to the fact that head coach Lorenzo Romar will be bringing in some top recruits next season, that was enough for him to keep his job. That’s fantastic news but now the pressure is on. Win or you’re gone. As for this season, the Huskies will bow out early in the Pac-12 Tournament. They will face off against a USC team who’s got a lot to play for and I expect will be fired up to play in the first round.
Before Romar and the Huskies can get started on the 2017-18 season, he’s got to end the 2016-17 season and USC will help him out in that cause.
Pac-12 Tournament Finish: Lose in first round to USC