Pac-12 bracketology 2/23: Is Oregon in?

In

Arizona 24-3 (12-2)

Seed: 2

RPI: 7

Good wins: Gonzaga, Utah, San Diego State, at Oregon, at Stanford, Oregon Bad losses: at UNLV

Toughest remaining game: 2/28 at Utah

The Wildcats are still doing what they need to and stay within striking distance of taking the number one seed in the West from Gonzaga while also holding onto their number two seed in the West. An upset loss or two for Gonzaga would be huge for the Wildcats.

Utah 21-5 (11-3)

Seed: 3-4

RPI: 11

Good wins: Wichita State, Stanford

Toughest remaining game: 2/28 Arizona

The Utes took a minor shot at getting up to a two seed or staying steady at a three by losing to Oregon, but the table is still set for them to sneak up and steal the two seed in the West from Arizona is they perform well enough. Here is a prediction though... if the Utes can realistically be seeded at a four, they will be in the West bracket with Gonzaga. The committee seems to love to find ways to make sure Gonzaga plays Pac-12 schools.

On the bubble

Oregon 20-8 (10-5)

Seed: 11-play in

RPI: 45

Good wins: Utah Bad losses: at Washington State

Toughest remaining game: 3/1 at Stanford

The Ducks are red hot, winning six out of seven and fresh off a huge win over Utah. That, combined with their excellent in-conference record should mean that they get a non-play-in seed in my opinion.

Stanford 17-9 (8-6)

Seed: 11-NIT

RPI: 51

Good wins: at Texas Bad losses: at De Paul, at Washington State

Toughest remaining game: 3/7 at Arizona

The Cardinal are fading, but they scored a must-win against Cal last week. They have a tough road from here though, hosting the Oregon schools and traveling to the Arizona schools, so they are going to need to step it up to stay in the tournament.

UCLA 16-12 (8-7)

Seed: Play-in-NIT

RPI: 47

Good wins: Utah, at Stanford, Oregon, Stanford

Toughest remaining game: 3/1 Washington State

The Bruins have an excellent RPI, but they are making it really hard for themselves to get selected with 12 losses and are fresh off getting swept at the Arizona schools. Losing at Arizona is fine, but the Bruins may have knocked themselves out of the tourney for now by losing at Arizona State. The good thing for them is that they have a cupcake schedule remaining in which they never leave Westwood - hosting the Washington schools and then USC.

Hanging by a thread

Arizona State 15-12 (7-7)

Seed: NIT-C tournament

RPI: 86

Good wins: Arizona Bad losses: at Lehigh, at Marquette, at Washington State

Toughest remaining game: 2/26 at Utah

The Sun Devils are not completely dead yet after winning three-straight and four out of five with wins over Arizona and UCLA. There is a remote chance they can get on the bubble if they win 10-11 games in the Pac-12 and a couple in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Oregon State 17-10 (8-7)

Seed: NIT- C tournament

RPI: 95

Good wins: Arizona Bad losses: Auburn, at Quinnipiac, at USC

Toughest remaining game: 2/26 at Stanford

The Beavers are a major longshot, but if they can sweep at the Bay Area schools and upset Oregon and then make noise in the Pac-12 Tournament, they could sneak up to the bubble.