Sports

Dane Miller’s Week 16 Best-in-West Hoops Power Rankings

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3 hours ago

23 February 2026

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  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

It’s coming down to it.

March is right around the corner, and the at-large resumes are coming under scrutiny.

Last week, UCLA helped itself with a critical win over Illinois while USC shot itself in the foot with two losses.

At the same time, San Diego State played its way out of the projected field with two defeats, while Utah State hurt its projected seed by dropping a game to Nevada.

Over in the ACC, California stayed in contention while essentially knocking Stanford out.

This week, there are several critical games in the WCC and MWC that will affect the Bubble conversation.

Here’s how I view the Top 10 College Basketball Teams in the West with three weeks to go until Selection Sunday.

1. Arizona (25-2, 12-2)

Without Koa Peat, the Wildcats took down BYU and Houston.

The victories underscore the depth of Arizona’s roster and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust. Sidi Gueye and Evan Nelson transitioned from bench warmers to rotational roles, contributing critical minutes in both games.

If anything, the absence of Peat and Dwayne Aristode has made Arizona stronger in the long run.

2. Gonzaga (27-2, 15-1)

The Zags crushed San Francisco and beat Pacific last week. But nobody has forgotten about that loss to Portland earlier this season.

Facing the Pilots in Spokane on Wednesday, Gonzaga has the chance for revenge. Looking further beyond to the Big Dance, it’s probably unwise to doubt Mark Few.

Yet, it’s reasonable to wonder if the Bulldogs go deeper than the Sweet 16.

3. BYU (20-7, 8-6)

Kevin Young and his players are beginning to adjust to the loss of Richie Saunders. In the win over Iowa State, Mihailo Boskovic and Kennard Davis Jr. stepped up.

Young needs his supporting players to continue increasing their production while AJ Dybantsa keeps dominating.

If the season ended today, Dybantsa would be the betting favorite to win the Big 12’s Player of the Year award.

4. Utah State (23-4, 13-3)

A shot at a 5-seed just went out of the window with the road loss to Nevada. Now, the prospect of the dreaded 8 or 9-seed is becoming more realistic.

Utah State does have the talent to get out of the First Round in that scenario, but it likely won’t beat any of the projected 1-seeds.

To make a Sweet 16 run, the Aggies might need to win their final four regular-season contests and at least make the Mountain West Tournament Championship Game.

5. UCLA (18-9, 10-6)

Mick Cronin got another signature win this season with a victory over Illinois. Combined with the previous result against Purdue, the Bruins have effectively moved off the cut line.

And with games remaining against USC, Minnesota, and Nebraska, UCLA could enter the Big Ten Tournament on a five-game winning streak.

Even so, any unexpected stumbles could put the Bruins back into the danger zone.

6. Saint Mary’s (25-4, 14-2)

The Gaels escaped with a two-point win over Seattle and then crushed Washington State.

The close margin of victory over the Redhawks is concerning at this stage of the season. But none of that matters with Santa Clara and Gonzaga coming to Moraga this week.

Beat both opponents, and Saint Mary’s becomes a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Lose both, and the Gaels might drop outside of the projected field.

7. New Mexico (21-6, 12-4)

It took a historic comeback to beat Fresno State on the road. Yet, at the end of the day, a win is a win.

There’s no time to dwell on the result with Nevada and San Diego State up next. The Lobos play the Wolf Pack on the road after Steve Alford’s team just took down Utah State.

Still on the cut line, New Mexico can’t afford to lose this week.

8. Santa Clara (23-6, 14-2)

Santa Clara’s NCAA Tournament hopes are on the line this week against Saint Mary’s. Facing the Gaels on the road, the matchup could wind up being a de facto elimination game.

The WCC probably only gets one at-large bid, which leaves three teams fighting for two spots.

Anything can happen, yet the Broncos will feel much more comfortable on Selection Sunday if they beat Saint Mary’s on Wednesday.

9. California (19-8, 7-7)

Mark Madsen has the Bears in position to make the NCAA Tournament. If the Selection Show were held today, it would be a toss-up.

That makes this week’s game against SMU critical. In some ways, it’s Cal biggest game of the year. Beat the Mustangs, and the Bears will probably move into the projected field.

A loss wouldn’t eliminate California, but it would be a substantial missed opportunity.

10. San Diego State (18-8, 12-4)

The Aztecs are on the wrong side of the conversation. The prospects of an at-large bid were already in question, even prior to the losses to GCU and Colorado State last week.

Fortunately, there are opportunities remaining. San Diego State faces Utah State, New Mexico, Boise State, and UNLV to close the year.

Go 4-0 over that stretch, and a bid seems much more likely.

Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.

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