Pac-12 Basketball Power Rankings: ASU leads, UCLA falls after non-conference play

By Brian Rauf | Jan 2, 2019

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Luguentz Dort #0 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after dunking the ball against the Utah State Aggies during the second half of the championship game of the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Robert Franks #3 of the Washington State Cougars passes against the Oregon Ducks during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks won 64-62 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

12) Washington State Cougars (7-6)

Washington State has played one of the country’s softest non-conference schedules, so the fact that they’re only 7-6 should tell you something about how they’ve played this year.

The Cougars only have one win (Rider) over a team ranked in the top 286 (yes, that means most of their wins have come against the bottom 19 percent of the country) in KenPom’s rankings and have suffered sub-200 losses to Santa Clara and Montana State.

Senior forward Robert Franks (22.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) has a chance to be an All-Pac-12 performer but he is currently out with a hip injury. He has really been Wazzu’s only bright spot this season.

Defensively, Washington State is a mess. They rank 271st in adjusted defensive efficiency and have allowed 11 of their 13 opponents to break the 70-point mark.

Keep in mind, they’ve been that bad against some really poor teams. When they start facing Pac-12 opponents, those numbers should get even worse.

Franks will be fun to watch but don’t expect anything other than a last-place finish from the Cougars this year.

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