Every Wednesday, The State Press will be taking a look around the Pac-12’s uber-competitive women’s basketball landscape as the conference tournament in Seattle nears. With each team fighting for a shot at a NCAA Tournament bid come March, each weekend’s Friday-Sunday set of games should be full of exciting action and marquee showdowns.
If the season ended today, the brackets for that conference tournament would looks as follows, based on conference record:
Here’s our third weekly Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Round-Up heading into another weekend of conference play, including headlines, top performers and power rankings, as well as a look at the bracketology projections of ESPN’s Charlie Creme.
Last Weekend’s Storylines
Tara VanDerveer joined an exclusive club this weekend. The long-time Stanford head coach won her 1,000th game, joining Mike Krzyzewski (Duke men's) and Pat Summit (Tennessee women's) as the only coaches in college basketball to ever reach the 1,000-win pinnacle as of Friday night.
Tara VanDerveer became the 3rd member of the 1⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣-win club on Friday
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 5, 2017
Relive the sights & sounds from Maples! #Tara1K #Pac12WBB pic.twitter.com/rH2C6Ug5YX
The Golden Bears aren't done yet. After starting its season 13-0, California looked to be in business before stumbling through the first half of its Pac-12 schedule. However, six of the Golden Bears' seven league losses have come by 10 points or less, and a win over UCLA has them back in the conversation for a postseason bid.
Player of the Weekend
Chantel Osahor | Senior C | Washington
Friday: 19 points, 20 rebounds in 82-53 win @ Utah
Sunday: 20 points, 16 rebounds, 2/4 3PT shooting in 79-75 win @ Colorado
Chantel Osahor hits her second three and the Huskies go up by six. #GoDawgs https://t.co/ekQSYGn5Pi
— Washington WBB (@UW_WBB) February 5, 2017
Power Rankings
#1 – No. 9 Oregon State (22-2, 11-1) | LW: No. 2
Last Weekend: @ ASU (W, 54-45), @ Arizona (W, 65-57)
Breakdown: In sweeping the Arizona schools, the Beavers regained first in the Pac-12 standings and power rankings. Oregon State has won seven straight, and could stretch it to eight against USC before facing a tough UCLA squad.
This Weekend: vs. USC (Fri.), vs. UCLA (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 2 Seed vs. No. 15 North Dakota (EVEN)
#2 – No. 10 Washington (22-3, 10-2) | LW: No. 3
Last Weekend: @ Utah (W, 82-53), @ Colorado (W, 79-75)
Breakdown: After routing Utah, the Huskies escaped Boulder with a surprisingly slim victory over the Buffaloes. A hungry ASU team comes to Seattle Sunday, but UW will look to stay hot down the stretch.
This Weekend: vs. Arizona (Fri.), vs. Arizona State (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 3 Seed vs. No. 14 UC Davis (DOWN)
#3 – No. 8 Stanford (20-4, 10-2) | Last Week: No. 1
Last Weekend: vs. USC (W, 58-42), vs. UCLA (L, 85-76)
Breakdown: The Cardinal opened the weekend by winning Tara VanDerveer her 1,000th game but turned around and lost at home to UCLA. Two winnable games await this weekend as Stanford looks to stay in the Pac-12 first-place race.
This Weekend: vs. Colorado (Fri.), vs. Utah (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 3 Seed vs. No. 14 Chattanooga (EVEN)
#4 – No. 15 UCLA (18-5, 9-3) | LW: No. 4
Last Weekend: @ California (L, 80-77), @ Stanford (W, 85-76)
Breakdown: Although they picked up a huge win on the road over a top-10 team, UCLA stays put this week thanks to a loss at Cal. A road trip through Oregon will provide a major barometer for the Bruins.
This Weekend: @ Oregon (Fri.), @ Oregon State (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 4 Seed vs. No. 13 Belmont (EVEN)
#5 – No. 23 ASU (15-8, 6-6) | LW: No. 5
Last Weekend: vs. Oregon State (L, 54-45), vs. Oregon (W, 68-63)
Breakdown: ASU stayed above water with a slim win over Oregon, finding its stroke from the three-point line after four consecutive losses. A trip through Washington could prove critical for the Sun Devils, who will look to build off of Sunday's win.
This Weekend: @ Washington State (Fri.), @ Washington (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 7 Seed vs. No. 10 South Dakota State (DOWN)
#6 – Oregon (15-9, 5-7) | LW: No. 6
Last Weekend: @ Arizona (W, 79-65), @ Arizona State (L, 68-63)
Breakdown: Oregon had the chance to bolster its resume once again and fell short, marking their third straight single-digit loss to a ranked team. UCLA at home could finally be the breakthrough for the Ducks, who still sit firmly on the bubble.
This Weekend: vs. UCLA (Fri.), vs. USC (Sun.)
Bracketology: No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Marquette (EVEN)
#7 – California (17-7, 5-7) | LW: No. 9
Last Weekend: vs. UCLA (W, 80-77), vs. USC (W, 63-56)
Breakdown: The resurgent Golden Bears will look to improve to .500 in conference play and get back in the NCAA Tournament discussion when they host the Rocky Mountain schools, fresh off a huge top-15 win over UCLA.
This Weekend: vs. Utah (Fri.), vs. Colorado (Sun.)
Bracketology: Last Four In — No. 9 Seed vs. No. 8 Creighton (UP)
#8 – Washington State (10-13, 5-7) | LW: No. 7
Last Weekend: @ Colorado (L, 70-58), @ Utah (W, 61-55)
Breakdown: The Cougars, whose tournament hopes are looking dim, still hold a top-five strength of schedule nationally, and will look to pick up a win or two when ASU and Arizona visit this weekend.
This Weekend: vs. Arizona State (Fri.), vs. Arizona (Sun.)
Bracketology: Out (EVEN)
#9 – Utah (14-9, 3-9) | LW: No. 8
Last Weekend: vs. Washington (L, 82-53), vs. Washington State (L, 61-55)
Breakdown: The Utes are falling hard after a 29-point loss to UW and a slim defeat from the Cougars — both at home. They'll now have to go on the road to face two of the league's hottest.
This Weekend: @ California (Fri.), @ Stanford (Sun.)
Bracketology: Out (DOWN)
#10 – Colorado (13-10, 3-9) | LW: No. 11
Last Weekend: vs. Washington State (W, 70-58), vs. Washington (L, 79-75)
Breakdown: Colorado lost its chance at a season-saving win when they fell by four to Washington and have a difficult task ahead when they visit the bay area schools. A pair of loss should officially end the Buffs' postseason hopes.
This Weekend: @ Stanford (Fri.), @ California (Sun.)
Bracketology: Out (EVEN)
#11 – USC (12-11, 3-9) | LW: No. 10
Last Weekend: @ Stanford (L, 58-42), @ California (L, 63-56)
Breakdown: USC was riding high and playing its way back into the conversation before suffering back-to-back losses in the bay area. Things won't get any easier for the Trojans when they visit the Oregon schools this weekend.
This Weekend: @ Oregon State (Fri.), @ Oregon (Sun.)
Bracketology: Out (EVEN)
#12 – Arizona (11-12, 2-10) | LW: No. 12
Last Weekend: vs. Oregon (L, 79-65), vs. Oregon State (L, 65-57)
Breakdown: The Wildcats appear to be done after increasing their losing streak to six. Two road games up in Washington could very well add to the struggles.
This Weekend: @ Washington (Fri.), @ Washington State (Sun.)
Bracketology: Out (EVEN)
Games to Watch This Weekend
No. 15 UCLA @ No. 9 Oregon State – Sunday, 2 p.m. MT: UCLA will look to build off its win over Stanford by staying hot in the road in Corvallis. The Beavers, by this point, could stretch their win streak to ten games with a win over the Bruins.
No. 23 ASU @ No. 11 Washington – Sunday, 6 p.m. MT: Fresh off a key win over Oregon, the Sun Devils will head to Seattle looking to avenge a game they almost pulled out at home in January. UW can stay on the gas pedal in the race for the Pac-12's top seed with a victory.
Reach the reporter at jeff.griffith21@asu.edu or follow @Jeff_Griffith21 on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
