Before the regular season began, the Pacific-10 Conference media picked Washington and Washington State to finish in the exact middle of the men’s basketball standings.

Now, with conference play about to start, it looks like all 10 teams might belong somewhere in the middle.

Defending champion UCLA doesn’t look as dominating as might have projected in mid-November. Stanford, California and maybe even Oregon State don’t look like the pushovers they once appeared.

“I didn’t know how competitive it would be from one to 10,” UW coach Lorenzo Romar said. “I think there are more clubs that are stepping up, that are making it an even more competitive conference than I even thought it would be. I wouldn’t have predicted Stanford would be undefeated going into conference play. ... There are just some teams across the board that are doing a good job. ... It’s going to be a wild ride again.”

Still, as jumbled as the league race appears now, things have a way of sorting themselves out on the way to the Pac-10 tournament, which will be held March 11-12 at Staples Center in Los Angles.

That process begins Friday as Pac-10 play opens with Arizona at California, No. 17 Arizona State at Stanford, USC at Oregon and No. 12 UCLA at Oregon State. Washington and Washington State join in at 3 p.m. Saturday in Pullman.

“Maybe (the league) doesn’t have the powerhouses or some of the marquee players of last year, but it’s a little better than maybe some of the people thought,” WSU coach Tony Bennett said. “... Some teams that some people thought – the Cals or Stanfords that might be really down; or even us, for that matter – have shown now that they’ll be able to compete. So, I think you’ll see a very hard-fought league – better than people thought. As good as last year? I don’t know; it’s probably hard to say that right now. But I think it’s capable.”

A revised look at the Pac-10 race, with schools listed in their order of that preseason media poll.

1. UCLA

Record: 10-2.

Meaningful games: Lost to unranked Michigan and No. 8 Texas by three and four points, respectively. Now on a six-game winning streak with none of the games closer than 17 points.

Key statistic: Pac-10 leader in scoring margin, winning by an average of 19.3 points per game.

Statistical leaders: G Darrin Collison, 14.3 ppg and 5.5 apg; C/F Alfred Aboya, 5.5 rpg.

Overview: The Bruins lost so much talent from last season there seemed to be some question if they were voted atop the preseason poll because of their potential or simply out of habit. So far, UCLA looks capable of another Pac-10 title, although perhaps not another Final Four.

2. ARIZONA STATE

Record: 9-3.

Meaningful games: Lost to Baylor by nine on a neutral court. Needed overtime to beat Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. And since that’s only one school, that’s a bit of a concern.

Key statistic: Leads Pac-10 in field goal and free throw shooting percentage.

Statistical leaders: G James Harden, 23.8 ppg; F Jeff Pendergraph, 7.1 rpg; G Derek Glasser, 4.8 apg.

Overview: The Sun Devils got voters’ attention by returning all of their starters, most importantly including national player of the year candidate Harden. They have taken care of business so far, but their wobbles and their schedule leave questions about just how good they are.

3. USC

Record: 9-3.

Meaningful games: Lost to No. 6 Oklahoma by one point on the road. Other losses came against Seton Hall and Missouri. Routed Georgia Tech in Los Angeles.

Key statistic: Leads the Pac-10 with six blocked shots per game.

Statistical leaders: G Dwight Lewis, 16.5 ppg; F Taj Gibson, 11.9 rpg; G Daniel Hackett, 6.4 apg.

Overview: This season’s prize recruit – guard DeMar DeRozan – has scored in double-digits over his past seven games, and is shooting .538 from the field through the stretch. But he doesn’t yet look like an upgrade from O.J. Mayo, and the Trojans may need him to be.

4. ARIZONA

Record: 9-3.

Meaningful games: Handed Gonzaga its first loss, 69-64; and dominated Kansas, 84-67. Two of the Wildcats’ losses came by one point: to Alabama-Birmingham and Texas A&M. Other loss was 79-64 at UNLV.

Key statistic: Second in assists and tied for top of the league in assists-turnover ratio.

Statistical leaders: F Chase Budinger, 17.7 ppg; F Jordan Hill, 11.8 rpg; G Nic Wise, 5.4 apg.

Overview: The trio of Budinger, Hill and Wise figured to make the Wildcats dangerous as always – assuming the team wasn’t traumatized by coach Lute Olson’s surprise resignation and the resulting fallout. So far, they’ve handled the distractions well enough to make everyone else in the league nervous.

5. WASHINGTON

Record: 9-3.

Meaningful games: Embarrassed with season-opening loss at Portland. Manhandled by Kansas, but took a step forward the next night in two-point loss to Florida. Signature win was 83-65 rout of Oklahoma State. Win over Portland State without Jon Brockman is looking better all the time.

Key statistic: Leads the league in rebounding margin.

Statistical leaders: F Jon Brockman, 16.5 ppg and 10.2 rpg; G Isaiah Thomas, 3.1 apg.

Overview: These Huskies are more athletic than last year’s version, they’re playing better defense, and they have more experienced leadership. They even shoot free throws better. But their lack of outside shooting and tendency for turnovers may prove much harder to overcome against the UCLAs and Arizonas than it was against the Portland States and Montanas.

6. WASHINGTON STATE

Record: 8-4.

Meaningful games: First three losses came against ranked teams: No. 4 Pittsburgh, No. 24 Baylor and No. 4 Gonzaga. Fell apart late at Louisiana State. Solid win over Mississippi State.

Key statistic: Once again leading Pac-10 in scoring defense, allowing 49.3 points per game.

Statistical leaders: C Aron Baynes, 11.4 ppg and 6 rpg; G Taylor Rochestie, 4.7 apg.

Overview: Last season’s program-changing senior class has departed, but the next generation of Cougars are buying into Bennett’s system. That should keep WSU in almost every game. But this version hasn’t yet been as adept at putting teams away down the stretch.

7. OREGON

Record: 6-6.

Meaningful games: Losses to No. 1 North Carolina, Texas and at Utah were one thing. Losses to Oakland, San Diego and Saint Mary’s were something else. Handled Alabama and Kansas State.

Key statistic: Only Pac-10 team with a negative scoring margin (minus-1.6).

Statistical leaders: G Tajuan Porter, 14.5 ppg; F Joevan Catron, 7.8 rpg; G Garrett Sim, 2.8 apg.

Overview: Ernie Kent paid his dues with a young team that became formidable when it grew up. Now that senior class is gone, and these very young Ducks are paying their dues again.

8. CALIFORNIA

Record: 11-2.

Meaningful games: Lost by three to Florida State and blown out at Missouri. Impressive wins over UNLV, Utah, DePaul and Nevada.

Key statistic: Only Pac-10 team hitting more than half its 3-point attempts (.506), and Theo Robertson is the national leader (.615).

Statistical leaders: G Jerome Randle, 19.5 ppg and 4.8 apg; F Jamal Boykin, 6.2 rpg.

Overview: Legendary coach Mike Montgomery inherited a team almost devoid of big men. But he has a nice stable of athletic players, and he has them playing defense. The result is the Golden Bears’ best start since 2002-03.

9. STANFORD

Record: 10-0.

Meaningful games: Hasn’t played the toughest schedule, but that 111-66 mauling of Texas Tech stamps the unbeaten Cardinal as legit. Closest call was a six-point win over Northwestern.

Key statistic: Pac-10 scoring leader at 80.3 points per game; they’ve topped 100 twice.

Statistical leaders: G Anthony Goods, 18.4 ppg; F Lawrence Hill, 6.9 rpg; G Mitch Johnson, 5.3 apg.

Overview: The Lopez twins departed, and so did coach Trent Johnson. However, Goods, Hill and O’Dea grad Johnson form what may have been an underrated senior core. If the season ended today, Johnny Dawkins would be a contender for national coach of the year.

10. OREGON STATE

Record: 5-5.

Meaningful games: Bad start with losses to Howard, Yale and Montana State. Much better recently with wins over Fresno State, Nebraska, Seattle Pacific, Seattle and payback against Howard.

Key statistic: Last in the league in turnover margin (minus-3.4).

Statistical leaders: G Calvin Haynes, 18.8 ppg; F Daniel Deane and F Omari Johnson, 5.9 rpg; G Rickie Claitt, 3 apg.

Overview: The Beavers have won four straight games since Haynes regained his academic eligibility. But the indication of any real improvement in coach Craig Robinson’s first season will have to come in conference play, considering the Beavers’ 0-18 league wipeout last season.

Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808

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