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.
Results through Tuesday
1. UCLA (5-0)
Last week: 2Results: beat South Carolina 77-62Up next: vs. Tennessee-Martin (Friday)Comment: By decisively ending defending national champion South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak, the Bruins are No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time. Five players scored in double figures, and Lauren Betts had another double-double in UCLA’s first win over a No. 1-ranked opponent. The Bruins led by 21 at halftime. Kiki Rice made her first start of the season.
2. USC (4-1)
Last week: 1Results: lost to Notre Dame 74-61Up next: vs. Seton Hall (Wednesday)Comment: Playing without freshman Kennedy Smith, the Trojans fell behind early against Notre Dame, rallied to within three in the third quarter but trailed by as many as 21 late. The net impact was a three-place drop, to No. 6, in the AP rankings while the Irish jumped three to No. 3. JuJu Watkins scored 24 point, then Monday signed a high-profile NIL deal with State Farm.
3. Stanford (6-1)
Last week: 6Results: beat Morgan State 91-49 and Cal Poly 81-45Up next: UC San Diego (Friday)Comment: The Cardinal had a pair of breathers after its loss to Indiana and should handle winless San Diego before playing at No. 7 LSU next week. Santa Clara transfer Tess Heal started in both games in place of Talana Lepolo (knee), while freshman Kennedy Umeh had a double-double in 11 minutes off the bench against Morgan State.
4. Oregon (6-2)
Last week: 3Results: beat Auburn 70-68, lost to Georgia Tech 74-58 and South Dakota State 75-70Up next: Washington State (Dec. 4)Comment: The Ducks moved up two places, to No. 21, in the AP rankings then lost twice in Hawaii. Undefeated Georgia Tech broke open a close game with a 28-15 advantage in the fourth quarter with only Deja Kelly reaching double figures (10 points) for Oregon. The Ducks were tied with 2:45 left against South Dakota State before a late fade.
5. California (6-1)
Last week: 4Results: beat Grambling State 86-63 and Auburn 63-59, to lost Michigan State 78-72Up next: vs. Arizona (Wednesday)Comment: Lulu Twidale hit a pair of 3-pointers to lift the Bears past Auburn for a second straight season. Then on Tuesday, Cal led by 12 points entering the fourth quarter, only to be outscored 30-12 by unbeaten Michigan State. Twidale scored 20 in the loss, sending the Bears into a tournament consolation game against Arizona.
6. Gonzaga (4-2)
Last week: 11Results: beat Rice 72-69 and New Mexico 81-68Up next: vs. Missouri State (Thursday)Comment: Yvonne Ejim averaged 24 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in two wins to earn WCC Player of the Week honors. The Zags’ Allie Turner grabbed another WCC award as Freshman of the Week — for the second time this season. Gonzaga also plays Texas Tech and Florida State in the Virgin Islands.
7. Utah (5-1)
Last week: 8Results: beat Saint Joseph’s 72-71 (OT) and Montana State 72-53Up next: vs. Mississippi State (Thursday)Comment: New Utes coach Gavin Petersen was immediately thrown into the fire against Saint Joseph’s, a game that came down to Maya Toure scoring with five seconds left in overtime. Petersen was promoted to replace Lynne Roberts after she was named WNBA Los Angeles Spark head coach on Nov. 19.
8. Arizona (6-2)
Last week: 5Results: lost to NAU 92-75, beat Grambling State 84-60, lost to Vanderbilt 71-60Up next: vs. Cal (Wednesday)Comment: The Wildcats took a hit in Flagstaff, losing without guard Jada Williams and with their post players in foul trouble. Williams returned with 13 points against Grambling State. On Tuesday, against undefeated Vanderbilt, the Wildcats trailed by 13 at halftime and could only make up two points in the second half.
9. Colorado (5-1)
Last week: 10Results: did not playUp next: at Utah Tech (Wednesday)Comment: The Buffaloes had a full week off to prepare for Utah Tech and No. 24 Louisville at home (Saturday). Frida Formann is back from a foot injury, giving Colorado needed offense to go with transfers Lior Garzon and Jade Masogayo.
10. UNLV (4-2)
Last week: 7Results: lost to Oklahoma 88-58Up next: UCF (Wednesday)Comment: The Rebels trailed by one point at halftime against No. 8 Oklahoma before being overpowered 28-4 in the third quarter. Kiara Jackson had a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. UNLV is home against another undefeated team in UCF, then plays East Carolina on Friday.
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11. Northern Arizona (4-1)
Last week: Not rankedResults: beat Arizona 92-75 and Colorado State 84-80Up next: vs. James Madison (Thursday)Comment: Big Sky favorite NAU opened eyes with its first victory over Arizona since 2017-18 and its eighth all-time (in 38 meetings). Nyah Moran scored 22 points (all but two coming in the second half), then Taylor Feldman led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds in a road win over Colorado State. The Lumberjacks are 5-1 for the first time since 2005-06.
12. Washington (6-2)
Last week: 12Results: beat Cal State Fullerton 62-58 and Prairie View A&M 65-50, lost to LSU 68-67Up next: vs. Southern (Wednesday)Comment: Arizona transfer Kailyn Gilbert scored with one second left Monday as No. 7 LSU averted an upset loss to the Huskies in the Bahamas. LSU trailed by 10 at halftime and throughout the second half until Gilbert’s layup after a turnover. Sayvia Sellers scored 24 for UW.
13. Grand Canyon (2-2)
Last week: 13Results: lost to Oregon 70-54Up next: Liberty (Wednesday)Comment: Idle since Nov. 18, the Lopes play three home games in four days starting Wednesday, looking to build momentum going into a date with Arizona on Dec. 5. GCU lost at Liberty last season, so the first of this week’s trio of games is no gimme.
14. Arizona State (3-3)
Last week: 14Results: lost to Kentucky 77-61Up next: vs. South Dakota (Wednesday)Comment: ASU outscored No. 14 Kentucky by a combined two points in the first, third and fourth quarters Tuesday but was blasted 27-9 in the second. Leading scorer Tyi Skinner was just 3-of-19 from the field while Clara Strack and Georgia Amoore combined for 42 points for unbeaten Kentucky.
15. Brigham Young (5-1)
Last week: 9Results: lost to Northern Colorado 67-60 (OT)Up next: vs. Rice (Thursday)Comment: The Cougars took a hit by losing at home to Northern Colorado, dropping six places in the Hotline rankings. BYU shot 35.5 percent overall and 12.5 percent from 3-point range against the Bears while committing 18 turnovers and 26 fouls — a recipe for a loss even after getting the game to overtime.
Also considered: Portland, San Diego State and UC Irvine
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