8) Oregon State Beavers (6-2)
LW: 7
The Beavers have performed better than many expected to this point in the season but have yet to take another step forward, going 1-2 against teams ranked in the KenPom top 100. They’re not a great three-point shooting team (33.7 percent) but are solid defensively.
Led by star Tres Tinkle (20.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.5 apg), Oregon State’s starters are capable of hanging with most teams in the Pac-12. But, outside of those five players, the Beavers don’t get much production. How far can they go with that lack of depth?
7) Colorado Buffaloes (8-1)
LW: 9
The Buffaloes have ripped off six straight wins after suffering their lone loss of the season against San Diego, and that hot streak is enough to put them at No. 7 in this week’s rankings given how much the other teams have struggled.
McKinley Wright IV has become the kind of reliable go-to player the Buffaloes were hoping he would be (as he proved again down the stretch against New Mexico) and their roster has good depth – seven players currently average over 7.5 points per game.
Of course, Colorado has yet to prove themselves against quality competition and that won’t come until the start of conference play in January.