The Best of the West offers fans a candid assessment of the top teams in the western third of the country — a collection that includes the Mountain West and the former Pac-12 schools now scattered across the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and West Coast Conference.
The rankings will be published on the Hotline weekly throughout the regular season.
(Results through Monday)
1. UCLA (12-1/2-0 Big Ten)
Last week: 1
Results: won at Ohio State 82-75
NET: No. 4
Up next: at Penn State (Wednesday)
Comment: Fourth-ranked UCLA led No. 19 Ohio State by 16 points with 5:44 remaining Sunday, only to be outscored 12-2. Gianna Kneepkens’ 3-pointer at 1:35 stemmed the Buckeyes comeback. Lauren Betts had 18 points and 16 rebounds in the win, and five players scored in double figures for the Bruins.
2. USC (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten)
Last week: 2
Result: won at Nebraska 74-66
NET: No. 22
Up next: at UCLA (Saturday)
Comment: Down by two at halftime Monday, No. 17 USC dominated previously unbeaten No. 20 Nebraska 29-14 in the third quarter en route to an eight-point win. Londynn Jones scored all 13 of her points in the third, going 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Jazzy Davidson and Kennedy Smith combined for 34 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.
3. Stanford (12-2, 1-0 ACC)
Last week: 3
Result: beat Cornell 82-50
NET: No. 35
Up next: at North Carolina State (Thursday)
Comment: Stanford’s 16-4 start Sunday snowballed into a one-sided win over Cornell in the Cardinal’s final non-conference game. Nunu Agara scored 19 and Lara Somfai, the ACC Rookie of the Week, had 18 rebounds plus nine points. The 6-foot-3 Somfai is a freshman and native Hungarian who grew up in Australia before attending IMG Academy in Florida.
4. Oregon (12-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Last week: 4
Result: lost to Michigan 92-87 (2 OT)
NET: No. 25
Up next: vs. Northwestern (Thursday)
Comment: Oregon overcame a 16-point halftime deficit Monday and led by three in the first overtime before giving up the first six points of second overtime in a loss to No. 6 Michigan. The Wolverines had a 20-0 edge in second-chance points and won despite going 16-of-38 from the foul line. Five Ducks, including four starters, fouled out in their second straight loss and third in the last five games.
5. Arizona State (14-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Last week: 5
Results: did not play
NET: No. 43
Up next: at Utah (Wednesday)
Comment: ASU needs one more win to tie the 2008-09 and 2015-16 teams for most consecutive victories in school history. The Sun Devils play the Utes, BYU (Saturday) and UCF (Jan. 7) before facing their first nationally-ranked opponent (No. 8 TCU) on Jan. 11.
6. Washington (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last week: 6
Result: beat Northwestern 94-73
NET: No. 36
Up next: vs. Michigan (Thursday)
Comment: Sayvia Sellers reached 1,000 career points Monday, scoring 19 in Washington’s win over Northwestern. Elle Ladine and Avery Howell scored 23 apiece for the guard-dominant Huskies, who stay at home to face No. 6 Michigan on Thursday, then No. 24 Michigan State on Jan. 8.
7. BYU (12-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Last week: 7
Results: did not play
NET: No. 46
Up next: vs. TCU (Wednesday)
Comment: BYU’s five-game winning streak will be put to the test by No. 8 TCU. (After that, the Cougars host currently unbeaten ASU on Saturday.) Questions remain because of their No. 195 strength of schedule. Last season’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Delaney Gibb, returned from a foot injury on Dec. 20 to provide a major boost.
8. Utah (10-3, 1-0 Big 12)
Last week: 8
Results: did not play
NET: No. 48
Up next: vs. ASU (Wednesday)
Comment: Utah carries a seven-game winning streak into home games against undefeated ASU on Wednesday and No. 8 TCU on Saturday. The Utes are a concerning 12th in the Big 12 in scoring margin. Lani White (14.2 ppg) and Reese Ross (7.4 rpg) are individual leaders.
9. Colorado State (11-2, 2-0 Mountain West)
Last week: 9
Results: did not play
NET: No. 59
Up next: at Grand Canyon (Wednesday)
Comment: By player efficiency rating, Lexus Bargesser is the second most improved player nationally. She’s a 5-foot-9 guard transfer from Indiana who’s averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. After visiting Grand Canyon, the Rams are home against Fresno State on Saturday.
10. Colorado (9-4, 0-1 Big 12)
Last week: 10
Results: did not play
NET: No. 71
Up next: vs. Arizona (Wednesday)
Comment: Colorado will be without starting point guard Kennedy Sanders for the rest of the season due to hip surgery. The sophomore played in 10 games and averaged 9.3 points. The Buffs are next-to-last in the Big 12 in scoring (69.9 ppg) and 13th in scoring margin.
11. Santa Clara (11-3, 1-0 WCC)
Last week: 11
Result: beat San Diego 68-46
NET: No. 55
Up next: vs. Seattle (Tuesday)
Comment: Santa Clara used a 19-4 second quarter and solid defense to open West Coast Conference play with a win. Freshman Kate Schat led the Broncos with 14 points off the bench. They play three games in six days starting Tuesday and culminating at home Sunday against Gonzaga.
12. Cal (9-5, 0-1 ACC)
Last week: 12
Result: beat Cal Poly 91-50
NET: 64
Up next: at North Carolina (Thursday)
Comment: The Bears hammered Cal Poly in the second half Sunday, turning a 12-point lead into a blowout with 57 points. Lulu Twidale scored 19, going 5-of-11 from 3-point range. The Bears ended a two-game losing streak but are back against ranked competition Thursday vs. No. 16 North Carolina.
13. Gonzaga (9-5, 1-0)
Last week: 13
Result: won Loyola Marymount 87-80 (2 OT)
NET: No. 79
Up next: vs. Pepperdine (Tuesday)
Comment: Gonzaga scored the final six points of the second overtime to escape with a win in its WCC opener. Lauren Whittaker had an 18-point, 16-rebound double-double, and Allie Turner scored 20 points. The Zags have won six of their last seven with the only loss by two points to ASU.
14. UC Irvine (11-2, 2-0 Big West)
Last week: 14
Results: did not play
NET: No. 73
Up next: Cal State Bakersfield (Thursday)
Comment: Guard Hunter Hernandez has won three straight Big West Player of the Week awards, the first player to three-peat since February 2017. (She had 36 points in 34 minutes at UTEP on Dec. 18.) Guard Jada Wynn, a transfer from Texas Tech, is ranked third nationally in most-improved-player efficiency rating.
15. UC Santa Barbara (10-1, 2-0 Big West)
Last week: 15
Results: did not play
NET: No. 81
Up next: Cal State Fullerton (Thursday)
Comment: UC Santa Barbara is seeking to extend a nine-game winning streak at home against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday and Cal State Northridge on Saturday. The Gauchos last made the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and would need to win the Big West Tournament to do so this season.
Also considered: Oregon State, San Diego State and Montana State
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