NCAA Basketball: Kansas State, Providence on the rise on latest top 25 power ranking

8. Arizona (14-2)

There have been times this year when Arizona looks like the best team in the nation. Throughout the first two months, they’ve showed this time and time again, picking up a series of impressive wins. The Wildcats already own victories over San Diego State, Creighton, Indiana, and Tennessee, a slate that will likely only look more impressive as the season continues. Unfortunately, their own conference seems to be where their Achilles heel.

The Wildcats massively struggled this past week, starting on Thursday with a close 70-67 home win over Washington. They trailed at the half before coming back late, getting 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks from Azuolas Tubelis and a 15-point, 7-rebound effort from Oumar Ballo. Those two bigs continue to play well, but this Arizona squad was silenced on Sunday, falling at home 74-61 to a lousy Washington State team. Tubelis had 29 points and 14 rebounds but the Wildcats needed a lot more than that against the Cougars.

What initially looked like an easier week turned into disaster for the Wildcats, who seem to be playing down to their competition. Their 3-2 mark in Pac-12 play is abysmal when you consider how they’ve looked during nonconference play. This is by far one of the best teams in the Pac-12 and these types of performances cannot become commonplace. Arizona heads north next week, hoping to bounce back with road games against Oregon and Oregon State.