Best of the West WBB power rankings: UCLA and USC on top after conference victories, with Cal and Utah next

31.12.2024 20:46

Marinij.com

The Best of the West offers fans a candid assessment of the top teams in the western third of the country — a collection that includes the Mountain West and the former Pac-12 schools now scattered across the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and West Coast Conference.

The rankings will be published on the Hotline weekly throughout the regular season.

(Results through Monday)

1. UCLA (13-0/2-0 Big Ten)

Last week: 1Results: beat Nebraska 91-54Up next: vs. Michigan (Wednesday)Comment: Center Lauren Betts returned from a two-game injury absence with 21 points and eight rebounds in a blowout over the Cornhuskers. Coach Cori Close now has 300 wins in 14 seasons at UCLA. The Bruins remain No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.

2. USC (12-1/2-0 Big Ten)

Last week: 2Results: beat Michigan 78-58Up next: vs. Nebraska (Wednesday)Comment: The fourth-ranked Trojans led by one point late in the third quarter before outscoring No. 24 Michigan 31-12 over the final 12:24 for a comfortable home win before 8,043 fans. Sophomore JuJu Watkins put up 31 points, her 17th 30-point game out of the 47 played in her career. She received scoring help from Kiki Iriafen (18) and Rayah Marshall (15).

3. Cal (13-1/1-0 ACC)

Last week: 3Results: Did not playUp next: at Clemson (Thursday)Comment: The 20th-ranked Bears are among six ACC teams in the national polls and on a seven-game winning streak going into full-time conference play. All five starters are averaging double figures in scoring, although forward Marta Suarez missed the last two games due to injury.

4. Utah (10-2/1-0 Big 12)

Last week: 4Results: Did not playUp next: at Arizona (Tuesday)Comment: The Utes carry a five-game winning streak into a New Year’s Eve game in Tucson, followed by a trip to Iowa State on Sunday. They are receiving votes in the AP poll but have yet to crack the Top 25 this season despite a late-November victory over No. 3 Notre Dame.

5. Colorado (10-2/1-0 Big 12)

Last week: 5Results: Did not playUp next: at TCU (Wednesday)Comment: The Buffaloes are 8-1 since Nov. 12 and notably beat No. 18 West Virginia in their most recent game (Dec. 21). Road tests against No. 11 TCU and Baylor this week will be telling for Colorado given its low strength of schedule (No. 259).

6. Stanford (8-4/0-1 ACC)

Last week: 7Results: Did not playUp next: at SMU (Thursday)Comment: The Cardinal have had a long break (last game: Dec. 20) to regroup from a 1-3 stretch with losses to LSU, Cal and Ohio State. Whether first-year head coach Kate Paye has enough talent in this transition season for Stanford to navigate the ACC is an open question.

7. Portland (14-1/3-1 West Coast Conference)

Last week: 8Results: beat Santa Clara 81-54, lost to Oregon State 76-72 (OT)Up next: vs. Gonzaga (Thursday)Comment: The Pilots led by six midway through the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on against OSU and suffered their first loss of the season Monday in overtime. Kelsey Rees starred for the Beavers with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Three Portland starters fouled out.

8. Grand Canyon (13-2)

Last week: 10Results: beat Park University Gilbert 108-44 and Northern Arizona 79-70Up next: at Southern Utah (Saturday)Comment: Already owning wins over Arizona State and Arizona, Grand Canyon completed a sweep of its in-state Division I competition with the victory against NAU. The Antelopes never trailed, leading 23-10 after the first quarter and 46-29 at halftime. GCU has won 11 straight games — all but one at home — and now goes on the road for the first time since Nov. 18.

9. UNLV (9-4/1-0 Mountain West)

Last week: 9Results: beat Fresno State 78-53Up next: at San Jose State (Wednesday)Comment: The Rebels jumped on Fresno State from the start in their Mountain West opener, leading 20-8 after the first quarter and 41-20 at halftime. Kiara Jackson reached 1,000 career points and was among five players in double-figures.

10. Oregon (9-4/0-2 Big Ten)

Last week: 6Results: lost to Illinois 64-59Up next: at Northwestern (Tuesday)Comment: The Ducks scored 21 combined points in the first and third quarters and were outscored 30-16 on free throws at Illinois, falling to 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Illini are 11-2, so the loss isn’t awful. But combined with other results, it caused Oregon to take a four-place dip in the Hotline rankings.

11. Washington (10-4/1-1 Big Ten)

Last week: Not rankedResults: beat Northwestern 90-71Up next: at Illinois (Tuesday)Comment: Junior guard Elle Ladine was unstoppable against Northwestern, scoring a career-high 40 points on 15-of-25 shooting with six 3-pointers. She tied USC’s JuJu Watkins for most points by a Big Ten player this season and the most by a Huskies player since 2018. Washington jumped back into the Hotline rankings for the first time since Dec. 11.

12. Northern Arizona (8-4)

Last week: 11Results: lost to Grand Canyon 79-70Up next: at Idaho State (Thursday)Comment: The Lumberjacks missed their first nine shots against Grand Canyon and never fully recovered, suffering their third loss in the last four games. Still, they are a contender in the Big Sky and arguably the co-favorite with Montana State based on non-conference results.

13. Arizona (10-4/1-0 Big 12)

Last week: 12Results: Did not playUp next: Utah (Tuesday)Comment: With a three-game winning streak, Arizona has some momentum for games this week against Utah and UCF. The Wildcats’ strength-of-schedule ranking (No. 207) is going to jump against Big 12 competition, quickly testing their postseason chances.

14. San Diego State (12-2/1-0 Mountain West)

Last week: 13Results: beat Boise State 74-59Up next: at Colorado State (Wednesday)Comment: The Aztecs dominated inside (48 points in the paint) against Boise State in their Mountain West opener. They are allowing just 58 points per game. The upcoming date with Colorado State (10-4) is a significant early conference road test.

15. Brigham Young (9-3/0-1 Big 12)

Last week: 14Results: Did not playUp next: at Cincinnati (Wednesday)Comment: BYU hangs onto the final spot this week over Montana State, which was No. 15 for two weeks. The Cougars’ Delaney Gibb is the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for a third time after scoring 23 points against Arizona.

Also considered: Montana State, Colorado State, Washington State

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