Pac-12 basketball power rankings: Arizona thrives, while Oregon falls flat

2. USC (8-0, 2-0)

Last week: Defeated Utah 93-73, Defeated Washington State 63-61
This week: Eastern Kentucky, Long Beach State

The Trojans were expected by some to flounder a bit without generational talent Evan Mobley residing the paint for them, but that has not been the case so far. The Trojans are not as dominant on defense as last year but they are still one of the premier interior defensive groups in the country and have the length to contest outside as well. USC has one of the best defensive field goal percentages in the country and ranks seventh in opponent effective field goal percentage.

Boogie Ellis has been incredible in his first eight games at his new school, averaging a team-high 14 points and shaving his turnover average to a career-low 1.3 per game with a career-high in minutes. Chevez Goodwin has looked great alongside Isaiah Mobley and the Trojans look to battle for the Pac-12 title.

1. UCLA (7-1, 1-0)

Last week: Defeated Colorado 73-61, Defeated Washington by forfeit
This week: Marquette

The Bruins have seemed to sail smoothly throughout non-conference play and the beginning of the regular season with only one poor game on their résumé. That game was against then-undefeated Gonzaga, who outmatched them on every level. They’re still without Cody Riley who injured his knee in the season opener, and Peyton Watson has looked like a freshman in a good chunk of early action.

But the Bruins have the pieces to come together and be truly elite and a top 2 seed come tournament time. They have plenty of time to keep rounding out their team by their first big conference test of Arizona on December 30th.