STARTING FIVE
>> Once again the Pac-12 boasts six teams in the AP Top 25: No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Utah, No. 5 Colorado, No. 6 Stanford, No. 10 USC & No. 24 Washington State. It’s the first time ever the Pac-12 has placed five teams in the top 10, and first time any league has done so since March 10, 1997. It’s first time since Jan. 6, 2020, and the seventh time overall, the Pac-12 has showcased three teams in the top five of the AP Top 25.
>> Colorado’s move from No. 20 to No. 5 is the largest in-season poll-to-poll rise ever. It’s the best ranking for the Buffaloes since 1995 when they were ranked No. 2 in that season’s final poll.
>> The Pac-12 went 28-0 during the first six days of play, the most wins without a loss by a Division I conference to start a season over the last 25 seasons, per ESPN Stats Info.
>> Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen was named an Ann Meyers-Drysdale honoree this week, with the weekly award expanding this season and recognizing the top five women’s basketball players of the week as selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. USC’s JuJu Watkins was named the Tamika Catchings Freshman of the Week, and Colorado earned National Team of the Week recognition.
>> The John R. Wooden Award Women’s Preseason Top 50 Watch List was announced on Tuesday and featured 11 Pac-12 student-athletes: Lauren Betts, UCLA; Cameron Brink, STAN; Hannah Jump, STAN; Gianna Kneepkens, UTAH; Charlisse Leger-Walker, WSU; Rayah Marshall, USC; Charisma Osborne, UCLA; Alissa Pili, UTAH; Kiki Rice, UCLA; Jaylyn Sherrod, COLO; JuJu Watkins, USC. The 11 selections lead all conferences, and Watkins is the lone freshman on the list.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Full Schedule)
CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)
2023-24 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva
– Pac-12.com –
