Pac-12 Basketball: 2019-20 power rankings Feast Week edition
By Connor Hope
4) Washington Huskies
Preseason Ranking: 4
Record: 5-1
Notable Result: 67-64 Neutral Site Win vs Baylor
As was the case with USC, the Washington Huskies have ridden their strong frontcourt play for the early part of the season. Shooting has been an issue, but the guard play has been more consistent. Also, Mike Hopkins has his team playing excellent defense once again, holding opponents to 60 points per game. Nahziah Carter may be the biggest surprise of the season, quickly establishing himself as the second scoring option behind Isaiah Stewart.
The Huskies got a resume-building win on opening night, beating Baylor by three, but their matchup against Gonzaga may be the most important game of the nonconference slate. If they can beat the Bulldogs, the Huskies will enter the Pac-12 schedule with a huge win that should move them up in the rankings. For now, however, they fall just behind three remaining teams at the top of the conference.
3) Colorado Buffaloes
Preseason Ranking: 3
Record: 4-0
Notable Result: 81-71 Neutral Site Win vs Arizona State
The Buffaloes may have looked horrible in the first half against Wyoming, but the fact of the matter is that Colorado has won every game by double-digit margins. As expected, Tyler Bey, McKinley Wright and D’Shawn Schwartz have been the top performers on this experience Buffaloes team. What has been surprising, however, has been Head Coach Tad Boyle’s limited use of his deep bench.
The Buffaloes face a relatively tough road ahead, with games against Kansas and Dayton before tipping off Pac-12 play with a game against Oregon, but they should manage just fine. Coach Boyle’s teams have always had a ceiling in the middle of the Pac-12, but this roster is showing signs of changing that. It hasn’t been a particularly pretty performance thus far, but it has worked well for Colorado.