The Pac-12 women's basketball landscape endured a number of changes over the past weekend.
USC gave Colorado its first home-court loss of the season, which knocked the Buffaloes out of a second-place tie with Utah. The Utes are now all alone in second place, one game behind first-place Stanford. Later this season, Stanford goes to Utah and Colorado, so the Buffaloes' loss deprives them of a realistic chance to pass Stanford. They might tie Stanford, but it will be very hard to vault past the Cardinal in one month.
UCLA's losses to Colorado and Utah knocked the Bruins out of the Pac-12 title hunt. Arizona's loss to Washington State did the same to the Wildcats' conference championship hopes. Teams eliminated themselves from title contention or at least hurt their odds.
The other big story: Washington State - by beating the Arizona schools on the road - moved into the NCAA Tournament field. If the Cougars can stack together a few more wins in February, they should give the Pac-12 eight teams in the Women's NCAA Tournament.
Here are the full standings at the end of January:
STANFORD CARDINAL (9-1)
Jan 20, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer yells from the bench during the second quarter against the Utah Utes at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
USC remains the only Pac-12 team to defeat the Cardinal, who swept the Oregon schools this past week but didn't dominate. An injury to guard Talana Lepolo has slowed this team down.
UTAH UTES (8-2)
Feb 17, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Utah Utes head coach Lynne Roberts looks on during the third quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Utah had a great weekend, sweeping USC and UCLA to stay one game behind Stanford in the Pac-12 race. Utah hosts Stanford later this season. The Utes have a real chance to share the Pac-12 title.
COLORADO BUFFALOES (7-3)
Colorado basketball coach JR Payne during the NCAA college basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Colorado Buffaloes on Friday, November 25, 2022 in Knoxville Tenn.
Kns Lady Hoops Colorado
USC's win over Colorado likely cost the Buffaloes a shot at the Pac-12 title. They now have to make up ground against Utah and Stanford, and they need to make up two games against Stanford, not just one. Beating the Cardinal later this season won't be enough. They'll need other sources of help. That's asking a lot.
UCLA BRUINS (6-4)
Jan 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close reacts to a foul call in the first half against the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA had a terrible Mountain road trip. USC men's basketball can certainly relate to that. The Bruins lost to Colorado and Utah in one-score games which were decided in the final seconds. UCLA's Pac-12 title hopes are done and gone.
ARIZONA WILDCATS (6-4)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats coach Adia Barnes (left) and guard sHelena Pueyo (13) and Shaina Pellington (1) pose during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona lost at home to Washington State, a crucial blow to any remaining Pac-12 title chances this team might have had.
USC TROJANS (6-4)
Jan 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb celebrates at the end of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center. USC defeated Stanford 55-46. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC didn't just beat Colorado on the road; it dominated in Boulder, handing the Buffs their first home-court loss of the season. USC isn't an NCAA Tournament lock just yet - the Trojans have to win a few more games - but they're now getting very close. It's great to see.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (5-5)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars coach Kamie Ethridge reacts during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Beating Arizona in Tucson has Washington State on the good side of the bubble. The Pac-12 is now likely to send eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.
OREGON DUCKS (5-5)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Endyia Rogers poses during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon gave Stanford a tough battle on Sunday but fell short.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES (3-7)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Lauren Schwartz (2) and Haley Van Dyke (11) during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Washington has been competitive all season but hasn't been able to close down opponents late in tight games.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS (3-7)
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck, right, watches the game against Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Dec 11, 2022.
Oregon State's bubble position took a big hit with a loss to Cal, days after a close loss at Stanford. It was a brutal Bay Area road trip for the Beavers.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (2-8)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; California Golden Bears coach Charmin Smith (center) poses with guards Kemery Martin (15) and Jayda Curry (30) during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Cal beat Oregon State and showed that it is not a pushover.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (0-10)
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils coach Natasha Adair (center) poses with guards Sydney Erikstrup (11) and Jaddan Simmons (2) during Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
ASU came very close to notching its first Pac-12 win of the season on Sunday, but barely lost to Washington in Tempe.
Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire
