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College basketball power rankings: How good is the Pac-12?

By Mike Phillips

TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kerr Kriisa #25 of the Arizona Wildcats roars during the first half of the NCAAB game against the California Baptist Lancers at McKale Center on December 18, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kerr Kriisa #25 of the Arizona Wildcats roars during the first half of the NCAAB game against the California Baptist Lancers at McKale Center on December 18, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) /
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TUCSON, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Guard Dalen Terry #4 of the Arizona Wildcats takes a trip to the basket flanked by guard Elijah Thomas #4 of the California Baptist Lancers forward Te’Jon Sawyer #35 of the California Baptist Lancers during the second half of the NCAAB game at McKale Center on December 18, 2021, in Tucson, Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats won 84-60 against the California Baptist Lancers. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Guard Dalen Terry #4 of the Arizona Wildcats takes a trip to the basket flanked by guard Elijah Thomas #4 of the California Baptist Lancers forward Te’Jon Sawyer #35 of the California Baptist Lancers during the second half of the NCAAB game at McKale Center on December 18, 2021, in Tucson, Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats won 84-60 against the California Baptist Lancers. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) /

10. College basketball rankings: Texas Longhorns (10)

  • Record: 8-2
  • Last Week: Won 63-31 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Won 60-53 vs. Stanford
  • This Week: Vs. Rice 12/22

The Longhorns maintain their position from last week by bouncing back from a tough loss to Seton Hall with convincing wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home and Stanford on a neutral floor. The Cardinal were the first power-conference foe Chris Beard’s team has beaten this season but it isn’t quite enough to help them push further up these rankings quite yet.

9. College basketball rankings: USC Trojans (HM)

  • Record: 12-0 (2-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 66-61 vs. UC Irvine, Won 67-53 vs. Georgia Tech
  • This Week: Canceled Vs. Oklahoma State 12/21

The Trojans climb into the Top 10 for the first time after a pair of solid victories help them improve to 12-0 on the season. Unfortunately for USC, COVID issues forced the cancellation of this week’s non-conference showdown with Oklahoma State, depriving the Trojans of a solid road test ahead of Pac-12 play.

8. College basketball rankings: Alabama Crimson Tide (7)

  • Record: 9-2
  • Last Week: Lost 92-78 at Memphis, Won 65-59 vs. Jacksonville State
  • This Week: Vs. Davidson 12/21

Nate Oats loves to schedule strong competition for his team in the non-conference schedule and that will lead to the occasional loss, such as Alabama’s 92-78 defeat against a good Memphis team in a true road game. Those kinds of games will serve the Crimson Tide well in March and Oats added another quality opponent to his schedule on Tuesday with Davidson, an A-10 contender, as a replacement for undefeated Colorado State after the Rams had to back out of their scheduled game due to COVID issues.

7. College basketball rankings: Arizona Wildcats (8)

  • Record: 11-0 (1-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 101-76 vs. Northern Colorado, Won 84-60 vs. California Baptist
  • This Week: At Tennessee 12/22

Perhaps the most surprising undefeated team left outside of Iowa State is Arizona, which took care of business with ease in a pair of buy games last week. The Wildcats have a monster non-conference showdown on Wednesday against Tennessee that can be a statement game for a program that already has a win at Illinois under its belt.

6. College basketball rankings: UCLA Bruins (2)

  • Record: 9-1 (2-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Canceled 12/15 vs. Alabama State, Canceled 12/15 vs. North Carolina
  • This Week: Canceled 12/22 matchup vs. Cal Poly

UCLA is on a COVID pause after head coach Mick Cronin and several other members of the program tested positive prior to Wednesday’s scheduled matchup against Alabama State, leading the Bruins to withdraw from the CBS Sports Classic as well. The program is on pause through the holidays, meaning UCLA will enter its matchup against Arizona on 12/30 with just one game under its belt since Dec. 1.