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.
1. Gonzaga (5-1)
Last week: 1
Results: beat Long Beach State 84-41, lost to West Virginia 86-78 (OT)
Next up: vs. Kentucky (Dec. 7)
Comment: The Zags were so far ahead of the pack (based on wins over Baylor, Arizona State and San Diego State) that an overtime loss to a quality opponent a continent away from home isn’t reason enough to cast them down from the top rung.
2. Oregon (7-0)
Last week: 6
Results: beat Oregon State 78-75, Texas A&M 80-70 and San Diego State 78-68
Next up: at USC (Wednesday)
Comment: The Ducks are doing the opposite of every instinct they have possessed in recent years: Their health is decent, their chemistry is solid and their results are first rate — all in November. George Costanza would be proud.
3. Saint Mary’s (6-0)
Last week: 2
Results: beat Cal Poly 80-66 and Stanislaus State 78-38
Next up: vs. USC (Thursday)
Comment: If the NCAA Tournament selection committee had a metric to account for resounding wins over second-rate opponents, the Gaels would be tracking for a No. 1 seed.
4. San Diego State (3-2)
Last week: 7
Results: beat Creighton 71-53, lost to Oregon 78-68
Next up: at Fresno State (Wednesday)
Comment: The schedule eases considerably in December, which won’t be a problem. The Aztecs have already played who they needed to play and done what they needed to do.
5. Utah State (5-0)
Last week: Not ranked
Results: beat Iowa 77-69
Next up: vs. St. Bonaventure (Thursday)
Comment: The Aggies did more than beat Iowa. They led for the final 10 minutes — much of that time by multiple possessions. It could prove to be an A-level victory.
6. Colorado (5-2)
Last week: Not ranked
Results: lost to Michigan State 72-56, beat UConn 73-72, lost to Iowa State 99-71
Next up: vs. Pacific (Monday)
Comment: The quality win strengthens CU’s resume more than the quality losses weaken it. But the 28-point margin against ISU shows just how far the Buffs are from the top teams in the Big 12.
7. Arizona (2-2)
Last week: 3
Results: lost to Duke 69-55
Next up: Oklahoma or Providence (Thursday)
Comment: It has been difficult to gain a feel for the Wildcats because of the paucity of games played thus far and the wildly disparate results: two decisive losses to high-level teams (Duke and Wisconsin) and two lopsided wins over third-rate foes (Canisius and Old Dominion). But clarity will emerge this week — one way or the other — courtesy of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
8. Arizona State (5-1)
Last week: 4
Results: beat Cal Poly 93-89
Next up: vs. New Mexico (Thursday)
Comment: The four-spot drop is largely due to Oregon, San Diego State, Colorado and Utah State collecting quality wins, not anything the Sun Devils did wrong. Although Grand Canyon’s surprising loss to UC Davis removes the shine from …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
