Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: 2019-20 power rankings Feast Week edition

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks and Shakur Juiston #10 of the Oregon Ducks speakduring the second half of the game against the Memphis Tigers at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks and Shakur Juiston #10 of the Oregon Ducks speakduring the second half of the game against the Memphis Tigers at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: McKinley Wright IV #25 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives to the basket against Hunter Thompson #10 of the Wyoming Cowboys during the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Cowboys 56-41. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: McKinley Wright IV #25 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives to the basket against Hunter Thompson #10 of the Wyoming Cowboys during the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Cowboys 56-41. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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.