:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53360187/DaughertyJune012713-03.0.jpeg)
When you think parity in college athletics, you shouldn't think of Pac-12 women's basketball.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8025353/2017-02-21_23_12_58-Women_s_Basketball_Standings___Pac-12.0.png)
As you can see, there are just three classes of teams in the conference: that nationally ranked teams, the .500 teams, and other. Luckily for the Cougs, their group of "other" is the biggest.
Even though the injury riddled Washington State team is sitting at 5-11 in conference play, there is still plenty on the line as the final pair of regular season games approach. WSU will face Utah on Thursday and Colorado on Saturday and they can still finish anywhere between 7th place and 12th place heading into the Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle.
In the Pac-12 Tournament, the top 4 seeds all get byes in game one, so the Cougs will avoid taking on a team in the "nationally ranked" tier of teams, so they'll face them in the second round. But, in stating the obvious, the Cougs would much rather face a struggling Arizona team in the first round than a team like Kelly Graves and an always dangerous Oregon squad.
The good news is, Washington State has already beaten Utah, their opponent on Thursday, this season. They topped the Utes 61-55 on the road on February 5th, one game after falling to the Buffs 70-58. It anyone's best guess as to where the Cougs will land come Sunday, but it should be fun to watch.
On the other side of the spectrum, the conference title could also be decided this weekend when Oregon State takes on Stanford Friday night on the Pac-12 Network. The winner will be in the drivers seat for the one seed heading into Seattle next week.
Basketball
Washington State women’s basketball team takes shot at better Pac-12 seeding | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State coach June Daugherty sees this week’s final homestand as chance to gain momentum for next week’s Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle.
Opinion: Pac-12 Tournament bracketology, CU edition
A look at Pac-12 Tournament scenarios as the Buffs fight for optimal seeding heading into Las Vegas. By Drew Sharek
Not Basketball
Teams set for 2017 women's swimming and men's and women's diving Championships | Pac-12
Last year, the Cougars finished seventh at the Pac-12 Championships for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
John Blanchette: And the Oscar, not Robertson or De La Hoya, goes to ... | The Spokesman-Review
All I know about the Academy Awards is, Meryl Streep would have a better chance at winning another Oscar on Sunday if she hadn’t starred in “Florence Foster Jenkins” and instead made “Florence Griffith Joyner.”
PAC-12 Baseball Roundup - Pacific Takes
A roundup of all the baseball games over the weekend.