Pac-12 Basketball power rankings: Ducks, Trojans land at the top
By Connor Hope
12) Washington Huskies 12-9 (2-6)
Is it too early to crown Quade Green as the most important player to his respective team this season? Prior to Green’s academic ineligibility, the Huskies were 11-4 and coming off a massive win over the USC Trojans. Since then, Mike Hopkins’ squad is 1-5 and sitting in last place in the conference. This team has too much talent in guys like Isaiah Stewart, Naz Carter and Jaden McDaniels to be this bad, but they have found a way.
Without a true point guard, this may be the most disappointing season the Huskies have had in a long time, and that includes the Romar era. Washington could legitimately go from first to worst in a single season, and that may help Hopkins make the tough decision that will inevitably come after Jim Boeheim leaves Syracuse.
11) Oregon State Beavers 12-8 (2-6)
The bottom of the Pac-12 isn’t all that lonely for the Huskies, as the Oregon State Beavers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Three of those losses are against teams in the bottom five of the Pac-12 rankings. Like Washington, Tres Tinkle and Ethan Thompson are too talented to forgive this slide to the cellar.
Unlike the Huskies, however, the Beavers have at least shown the ability to win games against the conference’s three tourney locks. This isn’t the worst season Head Coach Wayne Tinkle has had at Oregon State, but his failure to deliver on the talent of his son and the Thompson brothers may bring his tenure to an end.