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Pac-10 Power Rankings: Halfway Point

We're nine games in to the Pac-10 schedule, and there are nine more to go. Biggest surprise? I've gotta go with the Beavers. Biggest failure? I'll go with the Sun Devils. Here's the rest of my ballot.... feel free to agree or disagree in the thread below.

  1. Washington (16-5, 7-2) - Guard Justin Dentmon looks like a lock to follow OSU's Roeland Schaftenaar as Pac-10 player of the week. He was 7 of 12 from three-point range and scored 23 points against Arizona on Thursday (the Huskies lost...) and then scored 30 points to help is team defeat Arizona State on Thursday. Freshman Isaiah Thomas added 25 points in the win against ASU. They continue to hang on to the #1 spot in my poll, due to their win over UCLA last week in the first meeting between those to schools. This week: The Huskies will travel to the Bay Area to play Cal and Stanford.
  2. UCLA (17-4, 7-2) - The Bruins have tripped up against Washington and Arizona State this season, but those are two of the best teams in the conference. UCLA got back on the right track this week with two wins at home against Cal and Stanford. On Saturday, Darren Collison, Alfred Aboya, and Jrue Holiday each scored 15 points. There was a stretch between the first and second halves where UCLA went on a 40-14 run against the Cardinal, as they went on to win 97-63. This week: It's rival USC on Thursday.
  3. Arizona State (16-5, 5-4) - Swept, at home, against the Washington schools? I never would have suspected it, but the Sun Devils are 5-4 through the first half of the Pac-10 schedule. That's what Oregon State's record could have been, had the Beavers made some free throws against Washington State. Sophomore sensation James Harden is averaging nearly 22 points per game, and Jeff Pendergraph is getting about 14. This week: Eugene and then Corvallis. 
  4. USC (15-6, 6-3) - Solid weekend for the Trojans, as they defeated the Bay Area schools at home. They defeated Stanford by a mere one point, but beat the Golden Bears by eleven, with help from Taj Gibson's 32 points on the weekend. The Trojans have now won five of their last six, having tripped over Oregon State, UCLA, and Washington the first time around the Pac-10 schedule. This week: rival UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.
  5. Cal (16-6, 5-4) - Mike Montgomery's bunch have lost four of their last five, with the only win in that five game stretch coming against Oregon, who didn't win a game in their first trip around the Pac-10. The Golden Bears better figure something out quick, as top-ranked Washington will invade Haas Pavilion on Thursday night, followed by the Cougars on Saturday. You'd expect the Bears to lose to the Huskies and beat the Cougars, but they need to pull of a sweep to get back up the Pac-10 standings. This week: Washington and Washington State at home. 
  6. Oregon State (10-10, 4-5) - The Beavers have won four straight since Obama took the oath of office on Jan. 20, with wins coming against Cal, Stanford, Cal State Bakersfield, and the Oregon Ducks. Craig Robinson started his relationship with the most-oftenest played rivialry game in College Basketball history on a positive note-- with a 57-54 win. They Beavers may have missed six free throws in the final 1:20, but that's why you have a guy like Roeland Schaftenaar who banks in threes from 25 feet deep to give your team a big enough cushion to seal the win. This week: Arizona and Arizona State at Gill.
  7. Arizona (14-8, 4-5) - Lute Olsen can still be spotted at most Wildcat home games, but Arizona has been hot and cold under interim-man Russ Pennell. In the first trip around the Pac-10, the Wildcats were swept by Cal and Stnaford, swept the Oregon Schools, were swept by UCLA and USC, lost to rival Arizona State, then swept the Washington schools. And also, during that stretch, Chase Budinger got stomped on by Houston's Aubrey Coleman. Where will the Wildcats go during the second half of the Pac-10 season? Hard to say. We'll find something out Thursday when Arizona comes to Gill. This week: Corvallis, then Eugene. 
  8. Washington State (12-9, 4-5) - The Cougars found a way to beat Arizona State on the road, but after the loss to Washington, the Cougs are just one of their last four games heading into the second half. They split their home games with the Bay Area schools earlier in the year, but they'll need a sweep this weekend at Cal and Stanford to get back over .500 in conference play. This week: at the Bay Area schools.  
  9. Stanford (13-6, 3-6) - The Cardinal have lost three straight, and won just three games in the first half of the Pac-10 season. They beat Arizona, Cal, and Oregon, all teams who are struggling so far this season. They have three straight games at Maples Pavilion, including a non-conference game with Cal State Bakersfield that could revitalize their season. This week: Washington and Washington State at Maples. 
  10. Oregon (6-15, 0-9) - If the Ducks lose the rest of the games on their schedule, they'll finish with the exact same record (6-24, 0-18) that Oregon State did a year ago. But Ernie Kent is not stopping to that level, saying that this is a completely different situation: "The difference in the game was all the missed layups. That's been the tale of this team all season long." Really, coach? This week: Arizona State, then Arizona. 
Again, your perspective is more than welcome. 

0 recs  |  Comment 11 comments |

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Oh Ernie... best of luck in the job hunt.

I can’t imagine that U of 0-9 is going to stand for this. His excuses have been pretty lame and while this team is young and he’s done a lot for this program I can only think that my duck friends are right when they say it’s time for them to move on and that Ernie has taken them as far as he can.

Missed layups the only reason for the loss?

Try the OSU defensive adjustment on Porter. He would have gone for 40-something had they not figured him out.

That being said, the fact that the Beavers were able to play so poorly and still win bodes well for the rest of the season. For a rebuilding year this has been fun. Let’s keep it up!

by ArbyOSU on Feb 2, 2009 9:19 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Ernie's a mixed deal for me

Yep, when I read the excuses it is like “huh?” But also I kind-of understand that he has to keep it positive as possible for he has to keep the players (young guys) focused no matter how bad it gets. Personally I like and am annoyed by his fire. Right now I like it for this team is young and a lot of grief has been focused towards this team, but yes not sure that is the best excuse to keep coming back to, you still need to win with whatever team you field out there such as it would be a nightmare if there was any type of post player to go along with Porter. But over the years, even with good post players, the live or die from three-point land has been the name of the game, and that is a reason I think it only can go so far with his schemes.

Overall though I think I have no huge issues with Coach Kent (well besides 200 million reasons?), I like him better than certain UO football coaches, but won’t be breaking out the candles and tissues when he leaves.

About OSU and the game and season = I totally agree!

-RVM

by rvm on Feb 2, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It's funny you say that...

I had an idea for a post regarding Ernie’s excuses last night, but it just ended up being a crappy post. Maybe I’ll edit it up and post it, but we’ll see.

To make a long story short, blaming the loss (and the season) on missed lay-ups is ridiculous.

--JB--
www.buildingthedam.com

by Jake Bertalotto on Feb 2, 2009 4:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Unless, of course

Missed layups really means turnovers, poor shooting from the field, and getting outrebounded, then yes, it absolutely is the reason for their poor season

I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by The VD Special on Feb 2, 2009 8:11 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey VD. I know you mentioned not following Oregon much this year before the Civil War. What he said was very much true. One of the reasons we have such a low field goal percentage is that we miss a LOT in the paint. The reason for being outrebounded all the time is Dunigan and Crittle getting into foul trouble all the time. Turnovers, we were playing too fast for the experience we had. Kids were making passes they could make in high school but just can’t make at the D1 level.

I know people of all sorts like to bag on Ernie but the simple fact of the matter is all he can do is get players in position to have good shots at the basket. If a play gets you a look 3 feet from the hoop and you miss the shot, bounce it off your foot or have it stolen, that just isn’t on Ernie at that point.

--Dominic

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Feb 3, 2009 11:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

OSU, UA and WSU

Hmm, that’s pretty close and I know that expectations and all should fall into it, but not sure I would have them in that order, but tough call. I think I would put UA ahead of OSU right now and if OSU beats UA (no matter the other results OSU vs. ASU and UA vs UO) I would then put OSU ahead.

Not sure about WSU, a tie with OSU?

-RVM

by rvm on Feb 2, 2009 10:00 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Especially seeing as we got blown out by UA

I would have it:
UA
WSU
OSU

WSU still owns the head-to-head at this point, although I think we’d win again if we were to play them

I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by The VD Special on Feb 2, 2009 10:59 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yep, thinking about it more

I agree with your ranking

-RVM

by rvm on Feb 2, 2009 11:02 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Especially good point about WSU, and we are playing them again so you thinking a W in Pullman?

-RVM

by rvm on Feb 2, 2009 11:04 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess I meant at home... not sure about on the road

They did just beat ASU.. Will be an interesting game. Hopefully the boys can keep the train rolling. A series split this weekend would be quite nice

I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by The VD Special on Feb 2, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd put

UA
OSU
WSU

Even though the Cougs beat us I think right now if we played them on a neutral site we’d win.

by ConnorOSU on Feb 2, 2009 9:17 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

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