All three teams – the Bruins, Ducks, and Golden Bears – have played good basketball and proven to be as good as anyone in the country. However, is their talent and potential enough to be nationally ranked?
In college sports, there is always a debate if a team deserves to be ranked in the Top 25 and distinguishing what qualifies them to be in it. There are three teams in the Pac-12 that some believe have a chance at cracking the national rankings based on their record and how well they have played.
Since the Arizona Wildcats (18-0, 5-0), the number one team in the nation, has set the bar very high for Pac-12 teams, it could be very difficult for UCLA, Oregon, and California to get into the Top 25. However, each team has played well this season and certainly makes a strong argument why they should be ranked.
Let’s look at what each team has done this season and whether or not they will be in the Top 25 this week.
UCLA Bruins (14-4, 3-2)
The Bruins have jumped out to a great start this season under new head coach Steve Alford, who has been able to get this talented squad to mesh together well. Sophomore guards Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson have led the blue and gold offensively.
Adams leads the team in scoring averaging 17.4 points per game and is second in rebounding pulling down 5.8 boards a night. Anderson leads the team in rebounding at 8.9 boards per game and assists with 6.6 and is second on the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game. He is also shooting 52 percent from the field and a scorching 53 percent from the three point line.
The team is stacked with pro-level talent that also includes freshman guard Zach LaVine, sophomore forward Tony Parker and junior guard Norman Powell who have all been very productive for UCLA this year.
The Bruins are 5th in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting over 50 percent a game, 6th in assists at 17.6, and 12th in points per game at 84.4.
Deserve to be in Top 25: No. They were recently ranked #25, but after a loss to unranked Utah, they will drop out of the national rankings. A 3-2 record in the Pac-12 isn’t bad but simply won’t get it done for UCLA who must continue to beat conference foes to get back in the Top 25.
Oregon Ducks (13-4, 1-4)
Oregon was definitely making a name for themselves in college basketball after winning their first 13 games of the season. Then conference play started and they have hit a major rough patch losing four in a row and dropping out of the national rankings.
Junior guard Joseph Young leads the Ducks in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game, shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from downtown. Senior forward Mike Moser is second on the team in scoring averaging 14.6 points a game and leads the team in rebounds averaging 7.7 per game.
Despite a recent funk, Oregon has the second-highest scoring offense in the country averaging 88.4 points per game. They are also 13th in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 49.1 percent as a team.
Deserve to be in the Top 25: No. The Ducks must get some conference wins if they are going to join the conversation of being a ranked team. If they can start winning again like they did in the early part of the season, Oregon can get right back into the Top 25.
California Golden Bears – (14-4, 5-0)
Cal is one of the hottest teams in the Pac-12 right now. The Golden Bears are undefeated in conference play and are tied for first place with Arizona for Pac-12 supremacy. They have also won six straight games overall.
Cal is led by senior point guard Justin Cobbs and forward Richard Solomon. Cobbs is leading the Golden Bears in scoring with 14.9 points per game and assists with 6.4 dimes. Solomon leads the team in rebounding with 10.3 a game and is second in scoring at 12.3 points, while shooting 58 percent from the field.
This team has quietly done some damage in the Pac-12 and if they keep continue to stack up wins in conference play; they will soon be on national notice.
Deserve to be in Top 25: Yes. Cal has had a solid year thus far, and although their team stats are not eye-popping, they have shown to be very balanced. The Golden Bears are definitely worthy of being a ranked team being undefeated in the competitive Pac-12.
UCLA, Oregon, and Cal have played well so far this year and make strong cases to be ranked. They must continue to win conference games and beat some ranked teams in order to be in the Top 25.
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