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 ASU’s recent win over its crosstown foe.
9. Nevada (6-1)
Last week: 10
Results: beat Oklahoma State 90-78, lost to Vanderbilt 73-71, beat VCU 64-61
Next up: vs. Washington State (Monday)
Comment: Not unrealistic to think Nevada’s resume will depend on Vanderbilt’s success (or failure) in the SEC given the dearth of high-end opposition elsewhere on the schedule.
10. Cal (5-1)
Last week: 11
Results: beat Air Force 78-69 and Sacramento State 83-77
Next up: at Missouri (Tuesday)
Comment: This position assumes the Bears handle their business Wednesday night against Mercyhurst. If they lose to the Northeast conference foe, forget you ever saw them listed here.
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11. New Mexico (5-1)
Last week: 12
Results: beat Grambling 80-58 and Texas Southern 99-68
Next up: vs. Arizona State (Thursday)
Comment: The defense is ahead of the offense at this stage, which isn’t a surprise. If the Lobos can close the gap — with the offense gaining efficiency — they should contend for the Mountain West title.
12. USC (5-1)
Last week: 13
Results: beat San Jose State 82-68 and Grambling 80-69
Next up: vs. Saint Mary’s (Thursday)
Comment: The Muss Bus gets a dose of conference play next week with sizzling Oregon visiting the Galen Center, followed by the Trojans heading to Seattle.
13. UCLA (6-1)
Last week: 14
Results: beat Idaho State 84-70 and Cal State Fullerton 80-47
Next up: vs. Washington (Tuesday)
Comment: One reason for UCLA’s low placement in the Best of the West: a non-conference schedule that currently ranks 327th in the Pomeroy Ratings. That will change next month with showdowns against Arizona, North Carolina and Gonzaga.
14. San Francisco (5-2)
Last week: 5
Results: lost to Memphis 68-64 and Clemson 70-55, beat Fordham 85-64
Next up: vs. Mercyhurst (Sunday)
Comment: The Tigers and Tigers have a combined record of 12-1, so those are anything but bad losses for the Dons.
15. Boise State (5-2)
Last week: 8
Results: lost to Boston College 63-61, beat Hampton 83-69 and South Dakota State 83-82
Next up: vs. Utah Tech (Tuesday)
Comment: We gave serious consideration to removing the Broncos altogether but ultimately determined the loss to BC was not as bad as it might appear.
Also considered: Brigham Young, Grand Canyon, Northern Colorado, Oregon State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Utah, Washington and Washington State and Wyoming
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