ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 18 Power Rankings

1. Washington Huskies (23-6, 14-2 Pac-12) LW: 1

Entering last week, not many questioned Washington’s legitimacy. Sitting 13-1 in conference play, the Huskies were widely considered the Pac-12’s best team.

A loss to the league’s worst team somewhat changed that narrative.

In the first of UW’s two-game road set, the Huskies fell 76-73 to California, who was previously winless in Pac-12 play. According to guard David Crisp, they just didn’t take Cal seriously enough.

But Crisp did his part. He was the Huskies’ leading scorer, finishing with 32 points.

In spite of Washington’s light approach, it didn’t play a horrible game. The team shot just under 50 percent from the field while making 40.7 percent of 3-pointers.

The Golden Bears just played out of their minds. They shot 55.6 and 53.3 percent clips from the field and beyond the arc, respectively. Of Cal’s 30 field goals, 22 were assisted, displaying sound ball movement from the team.

Once again, things were close in Washington’s next game. But this time, the Huskies were on the better end of the scoreboard.

Against Stanford, it was a defensive battle, as both teams each shot around 40 percent.

For Washington, Jaylen Nowell’s 13 points led the team. Noah Dickerson was the only other Husky in double figures. Regardless, Washington was able to hold on and win 62-61 at Maples Pavilion.

Before the Cal loss, Washington was the Pac-12’s lone ranked squad at No. 25. The Huskies are now unranked but still in a favorable position for March.

According to ESPN’s Bubble Watch, Washington is a team that “should be in.” But crazier things have happened.

– FIeld