Men's basketball power rankings

1. UCLA (22-7, 12-4 Pac-12)
I have no idea what the Bruins will do in the NCAA Tournament. Part of me thinks their ‘meh’ chemistry (see: selfish superstar) will lead to a first-round exit, but part of me thinks their freshmen will hit their stride and make a run to the Elite Eight. While that’s not a full endorsement of UCLA, you won’t hear me saying “Elite Eight” in the same sentence as any other Pac-12 team.

Tournament status: Probably in (7-seed in ESPN’s Bracketology)
This week (prediction): @ WSU (W), @ UW (W)
2. Arizona (23-6, 11-6)
Just think, if the Wildcats didn’t beat current top-10 teams Miami and Florida, as well as then-No. 17 San Diego State, in December, we might be talking about them being on the bubble at this point in time. But they did, and because of that, they’ll likely be the highest seeded Pac-12 team in the tournament despite winning just three of their last seven.

Tournament status: In (5-seed in Bracketology)
This week: vs. ASU (W)
3. Oregon (23-6, 12-4)
I still don’t think the Ducks are as scary as UCLA or Arizona in a win-or-go-home Pac-12 Tournament game, but if they win both of their games this week they’ll earn themselves the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Tournament status: In (6-seed in Bracketology)
This week: @ Colo. (L), @ Utah (W)
4. Cal (20-9, 12-5)
The Golden Bears are rolling, having won seven straight. Remarkably, they could win the conference title this week if they beat Stanford, and Oregon and UCLA both lose.

Tournament status: Probably in (9-seed in Bracketology)
This week: vs. Stan. (W)
5. Colorado (19-9, 9-7)
The Buffs play the biggest game of their season tomorrow night against Oregon. If they win, they should feel good about their NCAA Tournament chances (assuming they don’t cough one up to OSU on Saturday). If they lose, they might have to win a couple of games in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Tournament status: Barely in (11-seed in Bracketology)
This week: vs. UO (W), vs. OSU (W)
6. Stanford (17-13, 8-9)
Stanford is the dark horse to win the Pac-12 Tournament. It’s the only chance the Cardinal have at getting into the NCAA Tournament, and Stanford’s decent enough to get it done.

Tournament status: Out
This week: @ Cal (L)
7. ASU (20-10, 9-8)
The Sun Devils may still have an outside shot at an at-large bid; they’d need to beat Arizona this weekend and then probably make it to at least the Pac-12 semifinals to have any shot. If they did make a run at the Pac-12 Tournament, it’d serve as the nation’s introduction to Jahii Carson.

Tournament status: Probably out (“Next four out” in Bracketology)
This week: @ Arizona (L)
8. USC (14-15, 9-7)
I haven’t watched the Trojans since they barely beat OSU at home in January, so I have no idea how it’s possible that they’ve won six of their last eight games. The idea that a team could improve so much over the course of a season is foreign to me, given that I cover OSU.

Tournament status: Out
This week: @ Wash. (L), @ WSU (W)
9. Washington (16-13, 8-8)
The Huskies have won three of four, and maybe they’ll enter the Pac-12 Tournament with some momentum if they’re able to ruin UCLA’s quest for a conference title in their final game of the regular season.

Tournament status: Out
This week: vs. USC (W), vs. UCLA (L)
10. OSU (13-16, 3-13)
Will the Beavers finish 10th, 11th or 12th? Does it really matter? Well, they don’t want to finish 12th, because the 12-seed most likely draws Colorado in the opening round and Arizona after that. But there’s not much of a difference between 10th and 11th, so as long as WSU doesn’t beat UCLA or USC, OSU’s week is important for little other than trying to build some momentum.

Tournament status: Out
This week: @ Utah (W), vs. Colo. (L)
11. Utah (11-17, 3-13)
The Utes play OSU tomorrow night, and are fresh off back-to-back 18-point losses.

Tournament status: Out
This week: vs. OSU (L), vs. UO (L)
12. WSU (11-18, 2-14)
The Cougars have lost nine in a row. If you were in Gill Coliseum on Jan. 26, you witnessed their last win.

Tournament status: Out
This week: vs. UCLA (L), vs. USC (L)

Grady Garrett, sports reporter
On Twitter @gradygarrett
sports@dailybarometer.com