Pac-12 Power Rankings and Stock Watch

As conference play winds down, clear tiers have emerged within the Pac-12 Conference. This point in the season is junior year of high school: the social hierarchy is set in stone. Everyone knows each other, and the awkward shortcomings of some are at times painfully obvious. Nonetheless dropouts ain’t happening, so we might as well continue on the quest to crown a team as the best in the Pac-12. Heading down the stretch there are two clear contenders, four teams scrapping for a tournament bid, and six teams playing the spoiler.

I’ll rank the teams in ascending order to build drama and suspense (spoiler alert: USC isn’t #1) . Included among the ranks are the stock trends of each team. People say college athletics is becoming more and more of a business, so I’ll treat it as such. Think of the stock rating as how much a ticket on the bandwagon must cost. For scale I will use $0 to $100. $0 being free (dur) to the point of someone begging you to take their spot on their team’s wild ride to hell. $100 would signify that team one of the all time greats and the heavy favorite to win it all. For reference, I’d say the stock of this year’s Kentucky team is at about $95. Without further ado . . .

Tier 1: Failing Mom and Pop Establishments

These teams are the equivalent of Frank’s Trophy Engraving (est. 1952). The only place they’re going is out of business. Which might be the same fate as their coaches.

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#12 Washington (14-11, 3-10 conference)

That’s about right

Washington fans, please look away. I’ll let you know when you can open your eyes again. The madness must surely be over soon. How it’s possible to go from 11-0 to 14-11 while dropping your last seven is inexplicable (sort of). Washington is your friend that you haven’t seen since college and last you’d heard he landed a job at a Fortune 500 company. That was before he discovered the miracle of crystal meth, and now he’s homeless living under a bridge. Hopefully he can turn things around again. If Washington doesn’t, Lorenzo Romar is about to feel a burning sensation in the seat of his pants.

Trending: Down

Stock: Down to $0.99 and any other change in your pocket

#11 USC (10-15, 2-11)

It reveals something about the state of the program when you tie last season’s conference wins total. When that total is 2, it doesn’t say anything good. Entering conference play at 8-4 must have left Andy Enfield’s squad hopeful, but this season hasn’t gone quite as planned. But hey, losing 11 out of 13 will do that to you. On the bright side, USC snapped it’s 9 game losing streak with a quality 13 point win over Oregon State, thus vaulting them over Washington. By doubling their conference wins, USC’s stock must be up.

Trending: Up

Stock: $5 and a sandwich to pass along to Washington living under a bridge.

Tier Two: This Year is in The Crapper

Depending on where your allegiances lie, this group of teams will play the villain or the underdog for the rest of conference play. Their fate for this fiscal year has largely been decided, but that doesn’t mean they’ll shut it down. The Crappers, as I affectionately refer to them, are going down swinging. They’re sure to play spoiler to the teams ranked ahead of them. These are the swing votes that will decide the fates of conference championships and tournament at large bids.

#10 Washington State (11-14, 5-8)

The Cougars have struggled lately as losers of 7 of their last 9 games, but enjoyed a nice win over Arizona State on Thursday. I’m assuming Washington State used up all of its powers against ASU, as they got beat something awful against Arizona. Sometimes it’s rough being a WSU fan, as reddit user /u/nelsonassassin found out. On the bright side their court acted out in cosmic intervention to deny Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on a fast break, a play that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Trending: Up

Stock: $16

#9 Arizona State (13-12, 5-7)

The honeymoon of beating conference frontrunner Arizona lasted one week. The Sun Devils dropped their first game at Washington State, but rebounded with a victory against listless Washington. A split on the road is nothing to be ashamed of.

Trending: Even

Stock: $21

#8 Colorado (12-12, 5-7)

Josh’s Scotts return from back spasms has powered the Buffs

Colorado continues to fight and play tough under Tad Boyle. Colorado is the crazy kid on the playground everyone thinks they can beat, but no one really wants to try. The prime spoiler for the rest of the season, the Buffs are capable of beating anyone in conference at home. To prove it, they dummied Stanford 64-58 to gut punch the Cardinal’s tournament hopes. Josh Scott‘s has put up 11.3 ppg and 8.3 rebounds per game since returning from back spasms. Look out for Colorado.

Trending: Up

Stock: $26

#7 Cal (16-10, 6-7)

What is it with Pac-12 teams having bipolar seasons? Cal must have done performed some bad juju and done a Freaky Friday with Washington a while ago. After enduring their own six game losing streak, Cal ripped off five victories in a row (waving to Washington as they passed them going to opposite directions on the Power Rankings). Unfortunately it looks like the good times may be coming to an end, as evidenced by their 15 point loss to Utah, spoiling their best chance at a resume builder until they head to McKale Center to play Arizona later in the season. With three of their final five conference games at Stanford, Arizona, and on their home court against Oregon, Cal will need to pull out 4 out of 5 wins to have a chance to go dancing come NCAA tournament time.

Trending: Down

Stock: $32

Tier Three: About to Declare Bankruptcy

These teams are fighting off rumors of their demise. They’re one mistake away from going under and missing out on the tournament. The sound of Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’ echoes around them.

#6 Oregon State (16-9, 7-6)

Wayne Tinkle’s team suffered a major setback this weekend, dropping both games against the Los Angeles schools. They’ll have to rebound if they want to avoid the NIT. If anyone can do it, Wayne Tinkle can.

Trending: Down

Stock:$37

#5 Stanford (16-9, 7-6)

Even Chassson Randle’s hair couldn’t save Stanford against Colorado

Stanford is in the same boat as OSU, as it failed to take down Utah before being upset by Colorado. The Colorado loss particularly hurt, but Chasson Randle and company will do their best to claw back into the tournament discussion.

Trending: Down

Stock: $38

Tier Four: Speculative Buys

These are the teams on the upswing. At the beginning of the season they had their bumps and missteps but are starting to grow into their own. They are the average girl that went to college and is now super hot fire all of the sudden.

#4 Oregon (18-8, 8-5)

Oregon came to LA hot, and left with a road split. Such is life during conference play. Losing to UCLA doesn’t help the tourney resume, but if the Ducks can win down the stretch and show up during the conference tournament they could be the last team from the Pac-12 in.

Trending: Even

Stock: $43

#3 UCLA (16-10, 8-5)

Winners of 6 of their last seven, UCLA now looks down the barrel at a schedule sent from heaven: ASU, Arizona, Washington, Washington State, and USC. Take out a tough road game this weekend at Arizona and UCLA is penciling in four of their next five. They hope to finish 20-11 going into the conference tournament and if they perform well will be receiving a call on Selection Sunday.

Trending: Up, Up, Up

Stock: $49

Tier Five: The Fortune 500 (or 2)

And then there were two. As is well known, there can be only one. We’ve reached the top. Two teams remain, destined to duke it out for the championship. A classic battle of finesse versus power.

#2 Utah (20-4, 10-2)

Utah continues to cement its status as a national title contender. On the wings of Delon Wright the Utes continue to knife through the Pac-12. Larry Krystkowiak has the most consistent team in the Pac-12, with losses only to top teams Arizona and UCLA. Since the loss to UCLA they’ve plowed through their last four games, winning by tallies of: 28, 28, 16, and 15. They’re a team on a mission with February 28th circled: a showdown with Arizona.

Trending: Up

Stock: $63

#1 Arizona (22-3, 10-2)

Stanley Johnson

smiles as he crushes the Washington schools

Arizona holds down the top spot due to a head to head win against Utah earlier in the season. Arizona rebounded from an ugly road loss to ASU and answered the questions of their road woes with wallopings of Washington State and Washington. Well, not really answered, but showed they can win on the road against two bad teams. It’s got to mean something right?

Arizona’s season played out just like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s embarrassing missed dunk. Built on a defensive juggernaut, they have the talent for a spectacular dunk of a season. But sometimes they just fall flat on their faces. This week they showed up, and they’ll need for the rest of the season if they want to get their first Final Four berth since 2001.

Trending: Up

Stock: $71

That’s it and that’s all. The Pac-12 Stock Report is in the books. Make your stock trades and purchases accordingly.

Next: 3 Things to Watch: Duke vs. North Carolina

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