The Barometer Online

Issue date: 1/11/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Contributed Photo Tajuan Porter (12) and the Ducks pulled off the biggest win of the Pac-10 season so far, beating No. 1 UCLA in Eugene, 68-66. The Bruins and the Ducks, along with three other Pac-10 teams, are all ranked in the top 25.

So much for preseason predictions.

In the preseason Pacific-10 poll - compiled, no less, by the media, and not the coaches - UCLA was picked to finish first. Some even thought the Bruins might go through conference play undefeated. But then UCLA went and lost to Oregon, who got its first defeat of the year two nights before losing to USC, who dismantled Washington who-despite size in the paint and a heralded recruiting class - has won just one Pac-10 game.

And Washington State, picked to finish last? All the Cougars have done is knock off teams like Gonzaga in the preseason and Arizona in conference and played with UCLA, losing to the Bruins by three in Pauley Pavilion. And now, for the first time in 24 years, the Cougars have found their way into the top 25, ranked No. 22.

"The Pac-10 is just unbelievably awesome this year," John said.

That might be an understatement.

Across the nation, many college basketball junkies only give respect to the east coast teams and conferences, like the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East and Big Ten. But now, the Pac-10 is also demanding its share of attention.

"Clearly it's the No. 1 league in America, you just look at it top to bottom," said Washington State coach Tony Bennett. "The individual talent in the Pac-10 is quite superior, in my opinion."

Part of the Pac-10's "Hey, look at me!" mindset this season is due to a talented crop of freshman roaming the West. They include Washington Spencer Hawes, Arizona's Chase Budinger, Oregon's Tajuan Porter, twins Robin and Brook Lopez at Stanford and Oregon State's own Josh Tarver.

"There's a lot of really, really good freshmen in the conference and Josh Tarver has done a good job for us," John said. "The conference is just going to continue to get stronger by being able to get guys like that. Hopefully some of those guys are able to stay around for awhile and keep the strength of the conference up."

Continued...

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