I realize this is the weakest of excuses, but at this early stage in Smith’s tenure it’s worth noting that overall the PAC 12 is much stronger this season than in a long time.
Oregon, UCLA, UCS, Oregon State, all made great fires and hires. But it took time and patience for the hires to emerge as successful. Washington had to make its last change, but the jury is still out on its current coach, who won the conference his first year and has since struggled. This season Washington has had a good steak going until Saturday.
College basketball is very competitive. More brutally so than college football.