The makeshift podium room at the A’s Jack London Square offices was jam-packed with reporters, cameras and team executives — including former president of baseball operations Billy Beane standing in the back of the room.

“Wow,” general manager David Forst said as he looked around from the podium. “This is exciting, it’s not something we do every day. It’s been a while.”

The A’s aren’t big on the pricy free agency signings that might warrant a flashy news conference — a recent history of cost-cutting and low budgets forces the front office to keep spending at a minimum. So it has been a while. Think Yoenis Cespedes’ intro in 2013, or Hideki Matsui in 2010.

Fujinami’s one-year, $3.5 million deal with the A’s wouldn’t normally warrant the big gathering, but the international draw was enough to get a large group of Japanese language media who will follow “Fuji” — his preferred American nicknamed — through his MLB journey.

“Like Mt. Fuji,” Fujinami said through Japanese interpreter Issei Yamada.

Fujinami’s deal with Oakland poses a perfect opportunity for both sides. Fujinami was looking for a team that would let him pitch as a starter. And the A’s were in need of another arm in their rotation.

“It was important to him to have a chance to be a starter, and that’s how we’ve seen him perform in Japan,” Forst said.

The opportunity to start alone could have been the ultimate draw to Oakland for Fujinami. The 28-year-old was drafted in the first round into the Nippon Professional Baseball, alongside superstar and high-school rival Shohei Ohtani in 2012. He made four straight NBP All-Star teams during his 10-seasons with the Hanshin Tigers as a hard-throwing starter who can hit triple-digits to go with a low 80’s mph slider and a splitter.

But Fujinami lost his command somewhere along the way. In 2017, at age 23, his walk rate jumped from 3.7 walks per nine innings to 5.7 in 26 games with the Tigers, including 11 starts. His struggles had him switching between starter and reliever toward the latter part of his Tigers career.

Lately, he’s been able to regain some of that control, lowering his BB/9 back down to 3.0 in 25 games. The 6-foot-6 pitcher struck out 65 batters with 21 walks for a 3.38 ERA over 66 2/3 innings last season — both as a starter for 10 games and a reliever for six.

It was Fujinami’s track record as a starter that interested the A’s, who are in desperate need of some stability in their rotation with Daulton Jefferies recovering from Tommy John surgery and James Kaprielian likely to miss time to start the season with an arm injury. Oakland brought back Paul Blackburn on a one-year deal and Cole Irvin also returns, while 2022 trade acquisitions Ken Waldichuk and JP Sears are among the other rotation options.

A.J. Puk will still be stretched out as a starter, Forst said, with an opportunity for the lefty to earn a rotation spot in spring training.  The A’s also signed Drew Rucinski to a one-year, $3 million deal. The 34-year-old spent the past four seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization League.

But Forst sounded certain Fujinami will start.

“I didn’t realize we brought Mt. Fuji to the Bay Area. We’re moving mountains, I guess,” Fujinami’s agent Scott Boras said. “Today marks a very special time for him, it really does.”

The deal also plants the seed for another American League West dynamic. Fujinami could wind up facing his old friend, Ohtan,i when the A’s and Los Angeles Angels match up in at least one of the 13 times they play each other this season, including the opening week.

“No doubt about it. I’m very excited,” Fujinami said. “We’re the same age. Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the world. For the Japanese fans, it’ll be very exciting for us to play against each other. I’m very excited.”

(Mercury News & East Bay Times)

No. 1 PIEDMONT (15-0)

Previous ranking: 1

Update: Beat Castro Valley 85-22, Alameda 73-14, Cathedral Catholic-San Diego 80-37, Salesian 69-63.

Up next: Wednesday at Bishop O’Dowd, 5:30 p.m.

No. 2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (14-2)

Previous ranking: 2

Update: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral 65-45, St. Francis 79-30, Oakland Tech 68-60, Bishop O’Dowd 61-31.

Up next: Friday vs. Valley Vista-Surprise, Arizona, 7 p.m.

No. 3 SALESIAN (15-3)

Previous ranking: 3

Update: Beat St. Mary’s-Berkeley 74-40, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 52-39, Moreau Catholic 57-43. Lost to Piedmont 69-63.

Up next: Wednesday vs. Swett, 5 p.m.

No. 4 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (14-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Update: Lost to Archbishop Mitty 65-45. Beat Valley Christian 57-50, Menlo School 66-44.

Up next: Jan. 25 at St. Ignatius, 7:30 p.m.

No. 5 CARONDELET (17-3)

Previous ranking: 5

Update: Beat Bethel-Spanaway, Wash., 67-29, Lakeside-Seattle 56-40.

Up next: Today at San Ramon Valley, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 OAKLAND TECH (13-5)

Previous ranking: 6

Update: Lost to St. Mary’s-Stockton 65-52. Beat Castlemont 72-16, Skyline 85-7. Lost to Archbishop Mitty 68-60. Beat Pinewood 69-59.

Up next: Friday vs. Oakland, 5:30 p.m.

No. 7 ACALANES (10-5)

Previous ranking: 7

Update: Beat Clayton Valley 95-19.

Up next: Wednesday at Northgate, 7 p.m.

No. 8 SAN RAMON VALLEY (15-3)

Previous ranking: 9

Update: Beat Dougherty Valley 67-35, California 68-39, Dougherty Valley 80-30.

Up next: Today vs. Carondelet, 7:30 p.m.

No. 9 BISHOP O’DOWD (10-5)

Previous ranking: 8

Update: Beat Castro Valley 67-41, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 59-53. Lost to Archbishop Mitty 61-31.

Up next: Wednesday vs. Piedmont, 5:30 p.m.

No. 10 PINEWOOD (5-5)

Previous ranking: 10

Update: Beat Priory 69-36, Moreau Catholic 58-56. Lost to Oakland Tech 69-59.

Up next: Today vs. Harker, 5 p.m.

No. 11 HERITAGE (13-3)

Previous ranking: 12

Update: Beat Freedom 68-49, Antioch 72-33.

Up next: Wednesday at Deer Valley, 5:30 p.m.

No. 12 MONTE VISTA (13-4)

Previous ranking: 15

Update: Beat Hayward 55-19, Dublin 76-39, California 66-46.

Up next: Today vs. Granada, 7 p.m.

No. 13 MIRAMONTE (16-2)

Previous ranking: 16

Update: Beat Las Lomas 58-18, Alhambra 63-38, Northgate 53-26.

Up next: Friday vs. Acalanes, 7 p.m.

No. 14 ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT (13-3)

Previous ranking: 18

Update: Beat Swett 77-28. Lost to Salesian 52-39, Bishop O’Dowd 59-53.

Up next: Today at De Anza, 7 p.m.

No. 15 PINOLE VALLEY (13-5)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Update: Beat De Anza (forfeit), Swett 66-37, Priory 50-37.

Up next: Today at St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 7 p.m.

No. 16 LOS GATOS (12-3)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Update: Beat Lynbrook 50-43, Palo Alto 55-44, Los Altos 47-29, Evergreen Valley 48-39.

Up next: Today vs. Saratoga, 7 p.m.

No. 17 PALO ALTO (10-4)

Previous ranking: 11

Update: Beat Saratoga 56-36. Lost to Los Gatos 55-44. Beat Monta Vista 54-45.

Up next: Thursday vs. Homestead, 7 p.m.

No. 18 MONTA VISTA (13-1)

Previous ranking: 13

Update: Lost to Palo Alto 54-45. Beat Leland 69-42.

Up next: Today at Homestead, 7 p.m.

No. 19 MOREAU CATHOLIC (9-7)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Update: Beat Mission San Jose 33-21. Lost to Pinewood 58-56. Beat Washington-Fremont 64-25. Lost to Salesian 57-43.

Up next: Today at American, 7 p.m.

No. 20 SAN LEANDRO (13-3)

Previous ranking: 20

Update: Beat Berkeley 52-49. Lost to Francis Parker-San Diego 42-41.

Up next: Thursday vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 6:30 p.m.

Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For updated records, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

(Mercury News & East Bay Times)

No. 1 DOUGHERTY VALLEY (17-1)

Previous ranking: 1

Update: Beat San Ramon Valley 64-48, Granada 53-46.

Up next: Today vs. Foothill, 7:30 p.m.

No. 2 DE LA SALLE (15-4)

Previous ranking: 3

Update: Lost to Monte Vista 57-50. Beat Amador Valley 46-35, West Linn (Oregon) 63-53.

Up next: Wednesday vs. San Ramon Valley, 7:30 p.m.

No. 3 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (12-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Update: Beat St. Francis 68-60, Sacred Heart Cathedral 85-48.

Up next: Today at Archbishop Riordan, 7:30 p.m.

No. 4 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (16-2)

Previous ranking: 6

Update: Beat Campolindo 74-66, Acalanes 62-58, Monte Vista 60-57.

Up next: Wednesday at Las Lomas, 7:30 p.m.

No. 5 SALESIAN (13-6)

Previous ranking: 9

Update: Beat St. Mary’s-Berkeley 80-36, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 63-43, Capital Christian-Sacramento 67-56.

Up next: Wednesday at De Anza, 7 p.m.

No. 6 SAN RAMON VALLEY (16-3)

Previous ranking: 2

Update: Lost to Dougherty Valley 64-48, California 62-58. Beat Menlo-Atherton 59-51.

Up next: Wednesday at De La Salle, 7:30 p.m.

No. 7 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (11-3)

Previous ranking: 5

Update: Beat Serra 44-42, Valley Christian 55-34. Lost to Jesuit-Carmichael 63-52.

Up next: Today vs. Archbishop Mitty, 7:30 p.m.

No. 8 GRANADA (14-4)

Previous ranking: 8

Update: Beat Foothill 56-32. Lost to Dougherty Valley 53-46.

Up next: Today vs. Monte Vista, 7:30 p.m.

No. 9 CALIFORNIA (14-5)

Previous ranking: 7

Update: Beat Amador Valley 77-44, San Ramon Valley 62-58. Lost to Berkeley 52-34.

Up next: Today at Dublin, 7:30 p.m.

No. 10 DUBLIN (13-6)

Previous ranking: 11

Update: Beat Livermore 89-34, Monte Vista 63-46.

Up next: Today vs. California, 7:30 p.m.

No. 11 CAMPOLINDO (12-5)

Previous ranking: 10

Update: Lost to Clayton Valley 74-66. Beat Las Lomas 85-64, Oakland Tech 56-47.

Up next: Wednesday vs. College Park, 7:30 p.m.

No. 12 OAKLAND (15-5)

Previous ranking: 13

Update: Beat Skyline 81-43, Fremont-Oakland 56-48, Piedmont 73-57.

Up next: Wednesday at Castlemont, 6:30 p.m.

No. 13 PINOLE VALLEY (17-3)

Previous ranking: 16

Update: Beat Vallejo 70-48, De Anza 96-79, Miramonte 63-44.

Up next: Today vs. St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 7:30 p.m.

No. 14 THE KING’S ACADEMY (14-0)

Previous ranking: 14

Update: Beat Menlo School 64-60.

Up next: Today at Harker, 6:30 p.m.

No. 15 MONTE VISTA (14-5)

Previous ranking: 15

Update: Beat De La Salle 57-50. Lost to Dublin 63-46, Clayton Valley Charter 60-57.

Up next: Today at Granada, 7:30 p.m.

No. 16 BENICIA (14-2)

Previous ranking: 17

Update: Beat Mt. Diablo 90-58, Ygnacio Valley 77-63. Lost to Cosumnes Oaks 75-68.

Up next: Wednesday at Concord, 7 p.m.

No. 17 MOREAU CATHOLIC (9-5)

Previous ranking: 12

Update: Beat Mission San Jose 86-43, Washington-Fremont 75-53. Lost to San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno 79-55.

Up next: Today vs. American, 7 p.m.

No. 18 ST. FRANCIS (9-4)

Previous ranking: 18

Update: Lost to Archbishop Mitty 68-60. Beat St. Ignatius 74-69 (OT).

Up next: Today vs. Serra, 7:30 p.m.

No. 19 ALAMEDA (13-3)

Previous ranking: 20

Update: Beat San Lorenzo 89-54. Lost to Piedmont 59-57. Beat Berkeley 60-58.

Up next: Wednesday at Castro Valley, 7 p.m.

No. 20 BERKELEY (12-5)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Update: Beat San Leandro 54-42. Lost to Alameda 60-58. Beat California 52-54.

Up next: Wednesday at St. Joseph Notre Dame, 7 p.m.

Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For updated records, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

The Tennessee Titans’ search for a general manager has led them to hire Ran Carthon, the 49ers’ director of player personnel, ESPN first reported.

His departure would send the 49ers compensatory picks in the third round of the next two drafts.

This is the third year since the NFL enacted its incentive program, yielding the 49ers multiple third-round picks with the hiring of Robert Saleh (2021 New York Jets, head coach), Martin Mayhew (2021 Washington Commanders, general manager), and Mike McDaniel (2022 Miami Dolphins, head coach).

In 2021, the 49ers selected cornerback Ambry Thomas with their compensatory pick. Last year, they had two such picks, and after trading away one to Miami as part of the 2021 package to move up and draft Trey Lance. The 49ers used their other pick on wide receiver Danny Gray to close out the third round.

The 49ers will have three compensatory, third-round picks on April 28, for the combination of losing Saleh/Mayhew, McDaniel and Carthon. The 2024 draft would include one more third-round pick, for Carthon’s exit.

If defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is hired elsewhere as a head coach — he’s set to interview with the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans on Thursday and Friday — the 49ers would have a pair of compensatory third-round picks over the 2024 and ’25 draft for his and Carthon’s departures.

Carthon replaces Jon Robinson, who was fired Dec. 6 as the Titans were en route to losing their final seven games in a 7-10 season.

Carthon joined the 49ers’ personnel department in 2017, serving four years as the director of pro personnel and the past two as director of player personnel. Carthon formerly worked in the Falcons’ and the Rams’ front offices after his NFL playing days as an Indianapolis Colts running back. His father, Maurice, played for the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts before becoming an assistant coach.

“Dub Nation is in the house,” Vice President — and Oakland native — Kamala Harris said with pride Tuesday afternoon when she introduced the 2022 NBA champions during a ceremony in the White House’s East Room.

Harris added, “On a personal note, I have been a Warriors fan my entire life, and this team has been a constant source of joy and pride, for me and for so many of us,” speaking to a crowd that included San Francisco Mayor London Breed and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was joined by her husband Paul, as well as Bay Area rap legends E-40, Too $hort and Mistah F.A.B.

President Joe Biden’s Administration rolled out the red carpet for the reigning NBA champions who spent about four hours at the White House in their first visit since 2016.

“The Golden State Warriors are always welcomed in this White House,” Biden said on Tuesday.

Warriors star Stephen Curry presented Biden, the nation’s 46th president, with a custom No. 46 Warriors jersey with his name emblazoned on the back. Curry suggested that Biden hang it in the Oval Office and said he’d be back next year to check.

Biden praised the Warriors for their accomplishments.

“Four NBA titles and six Finals in the last eight seasons,” he marveled. “That ain’t bad, man.”

The president also called the team’s Big Three — Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson — “something incredible” and drew parallels between the Warriors’ heart and hustle and that of the country.

“Critics wondered if this team was gone for good as a championship team,” Biden said. “And fellas, I know what it feels like. … But you never gave up, and you always believed.”

Biden also took time to acknowledge coach Steve Kerr, not only for his leadership but also for his fierce advocacy of gun control. That’s a subject particularly close to Kerr’s heart because his father was assassinated at American University of Beirut in Lebanon in 1984.

“It was incredibly flattering to hear the president introduce me and talk about my dad,” said Kerr, who, along with Thompson and Moses Moody, participated in a roundtable on gun violence with White House officials. “That’s one you write down and keep in the family history. Pretty special moment.”

Harris, discussing her “beloved” Warriors, recalled a time she diverted to BART to make sure she wasn’t late for a playoff game in Oakland after getting stuck in traffic.

Curry presented her with another custom jersey — No. 1 for being a top fan. Harris previously received a No. 49 jersey from the team upon becoming the 49th vice president.

“My pride in the Warriors today is not because they win,” Harris said, “but because these players, their coaches and this entire organization consistently stand for the principles of equity, equality and justice, which they do with great integrity and excellence.”

Before the ceremony in the East Room, Curry and Kerr addressed the media in the White House press briefing room. Curry thanked the president for his work in helping bring WNBA star Brittney Griner home from Russia, where she had been incarcerated for 10 months.

“It’s a big part of our basketball family, and it means a lot to know that she’s here and home safe with her family and all the work behind the scenes to make that a reality,” Curry said. “I just want to say thank you there.”

Although this was the Warriors’ fourth title in eight years, this is only the second trip to the White House for Golden State during the run and the first since 2016 when the 2015 title-winning team met with then-President Barack Obama.

The Warriors skipped out on the honorary visit in 2017; President Donald Trump said he never intended to invite them after Curry said the team would not accept. Instead, when the Warriors made their annual trip to play the Wizards, they took a private tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

With Curry and the Warriors back in the NBA Finals the following year, Trump again said he wouldn’t invite the NBA champions to the White House.

The only NFL team to attend a White House ceremony during Trump’s term, the 2017 Patriots, had several players skip the visit, and only one basketball champion — men’s and women’s college hoops, WNBA or NBA — was celebrated at the White House during the Trump era (Baylor women’s basketball in 2019).

“It’s absolutely amazing to be back after seven years,” Green said. “When you’ve accomplished that before and didn’t quite get the opportunity, it sucks. As a kid from Saginaw, Michigan, you only dream of seeing the White House, let alone having an opportunity to attend or be celebrated.”

Kerr said he was “hopeful” the Warriors could earn another trip to the White House, though they still have some glaring issues they need to figure out on the court. But the always confident Green didn’t hesitate to make a declaration.

“It’s been a very great visit,” Green said before he smirked and added, “And looking forward to coming back next year.”

Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.

For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.

This week, we consider performances from Jan. 9-14.

This week, polls close at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.

Votes by email are not counted.

Scroll to the bottom for the poll.

Winners are announced each Friday online and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.

Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.

On to the nominees:

Alec Balica, Castro Valley soccer: The junior had himself a game against Encinal, scoring four goals to lead the Trojans to a 7-1 victory in West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division play. Balica continued his torrid play to open this week, scoring two goals Monday in a 4-0 win over San Leandro, which improved Castro Valley’s record to 6-2-3 overall and 4-1-1 in the league.

Josh Clark, Oakland basketball: The senior scored in double figures in both of the Wildcats’ victories in Oakland Athletic League play last week. He had 11 points in a 56-48 victory over Fremont-Oakland and 12 in an 81-43 rout of Skyline. Clark shot a combined 50% (8 of 16) from the field.

Andre Gonzalez Lombera, Menlo School soccer: The junior scored in the 75th minute as Menlo defeated The King’s Academy 3-2. He also scored twice in a 3-2 win over Crystal Springs and had a goal in a 3-0 win over Harker as the Knights improved to 3-0 in West Bay Athletic League play.

Max Houghton, Los Gatos basketball: Led the way with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Wildcats defeated Los Altos 52-33 on Friday. Two days earlier, he had 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting — and 6 for 6 free-throw shooting — in a 60-41 victory over Palo Alto. Los Gatos ended the week 11-4 overall and 3-0 in its league.

Braddock Kjellesvig, Christopher basketball: The 6-foot-6 sophomore finished with 28 points on 10-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds as Christopher defeated Oak Grove 59-50 in a BVAL Mt. Hamilton East Division opener. The forward/center followed that game with 26 points and 15 rebounds on 13-of-15 shooting in a 67-42 rout of Santa Teresa on Friday as Christopher improved to 11-3, 2-0.

Samir O’Brien, Berkeley basketball: Coming off a tough loss to Alameda in league play on Friday, Berkeley bounced back on Saturday at its MLK Classic with a stunning 52-34 victory over seventh-ranked California as O’Brien led the Yellowjackets in scoring with 14 points. The result improved Berkeley’s record to 12-5.

Kiratraj Sanghera, American basketball: In a 55-52 victory over Mission San Jose, the 6-foot-5 junior had 24 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Earlier in the week, he filled the stat sheet with 31 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in a 60-59 loss to James Logan. In the two games, he was 25 for 42 shooting (60%).

Gael Segura, Half Moon Bay soccer: The senior scored a goal and assisted on another as Half Moon Bay stayed red hot with a 3-1 victory over South San Francisco in Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division play. The Cougars began this week with a record of 10-0-2 overall and 2-0 in their league.

Tyler Suzuki, Leigh basketball: The junior shooting guard helped the Longhorns open BVAL Mt. Hamilton West Division play with two victories on the road. He scored 19 points in a 64-50 win over Independence and 14 in a 65-51 win over Piedmont Hills.

Angel Vasquez, James Logan soccer: The sophomore scored both of his team’s goals as James Logan beat Kennedy-Fremont 2-0 in a Mission Valley Athletic League match. The victory improved the Colts’ record to 9-5-1, 5-1.

Picked seventh in the Pac-12’s preseason media poll, the Sun Devils are alone in second place thanks to a transfer-heavy starting lineup and scrappy defense.

They are 6-1 in league play for the first time since the early 1980s and have the best chance to provide the conference with a third NCAA Tournament berth, alongside UCLA and Arizona.

But that’s just one of the Tempe twists unfolding as we hit the midway point of the regular season.

Here’s the other: ASU’s greatest vulnerability is typically one of the program’s greatest strengths.

Coach Bobby Hurley has always been willing to play anyone, anywhere — from Kentucky and Kansas to Virginia and Baylor — and typically boasts one of the strongest non-conference schedules in the Pac-12.

But this year, ASU owns one of the weakest. If the Sun Devils end the season on the NCAA Tournament bubble, that could be their undoing.

What does the data say?

ASU’s non-conference schedule is No. 182 nationally, and ninth in the Pac-12, in the well-regarded Pomeroy efficiency ratings.

And in the all-important NET rankings used by the NCAA selection committee, 60 percent of ASU’s 15 victories are of the Quadrant III (below average) and Quadrant IV (poor) variety.

One reason: The Sun Devils played three teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (Grambling, Texas Southern and Alcorn State), plus Tarleton from the WAC and Northern Arizona from the Big Sky.

In other words, five of the 11 non-conference opponents (45 percent) are typically viewed as creampuffs.

That said, scheduling depends on both foresight and fortune. Hurley also scheduled a handful of high-level games against opponents whose seasons haven’t gone as expected:

— Michigan was No. 22 in the AP preseason poll but is just 10-7 overall.

— SMU, which won 24 games last year, is a paltry 6-12 this season.

— Nor does it help that ASU lost by 37 points at San Francisco, which is near the bottom of the West Coast Conference.

The Sun Devils are No. 40 in the NET rankings that stand at the heart of the NCAA Tournament selection process, suggesting a position on the bubble.

If that range holds into March, the committee will compare ASU’s non-conference wins, losses and strength-of-schedule to those of other teams on the bubble.

It will find that Hurley attempted to challenge his team a handful of times but also scheduled a slew of low-level foes. Some members might look favorably on the lineup; others might grimace.

The Sun Devils’ best path forward is to remove the risk.

Don’t wobble down the stretch. Don’t lose games they shouldn’t lose. Don’t finish on the bubble and, above all, don’t give the committee any chance to decide they aren’t worth of an at-large bid.

If the Sun Devils keep winning, the non-conference schedule could knock them down a few notches in the brackets, but it won’t keep them out of the tournament.

To the power ratings…

(NET rankings through Monday)

1. UCLA (16-2/7-0)

Last week: 1Results: beat Utah 68-49 and Colorado 68-54Next up: at Arizona State (Thursday)NET ranking: 6Comment: The Bruins have enough Quad I games left to make their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs, but because of the Pac-12’s collective weakness, there is little margin for error in the resume-building process

2. Arizona State (15-3/6-1)

Last week: 3Results: won at Oregon 90-73 and OSU 74-69Next up: vs. UCLA (Thursday)NET ranking: 40Comment: BracketMatrix.com, which aggregates dozens of NCAA projections, currently slots ASU on the 10-seed line. Sweep this weekend, and the Devils will assuredly jump to No. 7 or 8.

3. Arizona (15-3/4-3)

Last week: 2Results: won at OSU 86-74, lost at Oregon 87-68Next up: vs. USC (Thursday)NET ranking: 13Comment: No need to panic, yet. But if the perimeter inefficiency is unchanged a month from now, the Wildcats will have cause for alarm.

4. USC (13-5/5-2)

Last week: 8Results: beat Colorado 68-61 and Utah 71-56Next up: at Arizona (Thursday)NET ranking: 67Comment: Why the jump from No. 8? Because the Hotline has grown weary of all the Mountain school mediocrity and was in the mood for a change.

5. Utah (12-7/5-3)

Last week: 4Results: lost at UCLA 68-49 and USC 71-56Next up: vs. Washington State (Thursday)NET ranking: 63Comment: The Utes are 1-3 against the top half of the conference and 4-0 against the bottom half — a huge improvement over last season but not enough to get them into the NCAAs.

6. Colorado (11-8/3-5)

Last week: 5Results: lost at USC 68-61 and UCLA 68-54Next up: vs. Washington (Thursday)NET ranking: 60Comment: The softest stretch of the conference schedule has arrived. Will the Buffs take advantage? It’s all about avoiding the No. 8-9 game in Las Vegas.

7. Oregon (10-8/4-3)

Last week: 6Results: lost to ASU 90-73, beat Arizona 87-68Next up: at Cal (Wednesday)NET ranking: 68Comment: The Ducks merely need to sweep the Bay Area to generate real momentum. It’s so close, and yet — quite possibly — so far away.

8. Washington State (9-10/4-4)

Last week: 7Results: beat Cal 66-51 and Stanford 60-59Next up: at Utah (Thursday)NET ranking: 71Comment: The NET ranking doesn’t match the loss total, except nine of the 10 are of the Quad I and II variety.

9. Washington (11-8/3-5)

Last week: 10Results: beat Stanford 86-69 and Cal 81-78 (OT)Next up: at Colorado (Thursday)NET ranking: 128Comment: Good thing the Huskies secured that victory over Cal. From the looks of the schedule, their next win won’t be coming for many, many weeks.

10. Cal (3-15/2-5)

Last week: 11Results: lost at WSU 66-51 and Washington 81-78 (OT)Next up: vs. Oregon (Wednesday)NET ranking: 249Comment: We didn’t realize the Bears are taking a religious studies course on the life of Lazarus.

11. Oregon State (11-7/1-6)

Last week: 9Results: lost to Arizona 86-74 and ASU 74-69Next up: at Stanford (Thursday)NET ranking: 229Comment: The Beavers have three losses by five points or less. The opponents in those instances: ASU, USC and Duke.

12. Stanford (5-12/0-7)

Last week: 12Results: lost at Washington 86-69 and WSU 60-59Next up: vs. Oregon State (Thursday)NET ranking: 151Comment: We didn’t hesitate to put Stanford in the 12th spot. Given the state of affairs on the bottom tier of this conference, that’s quite an indictment.

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.

Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.

For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.

This week, we consider performances from Jan. 9-14. Polls close at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.

Votes by email are not counted.

Scroll to the bottom for the poll.

Winners are announced each Friday online and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.

Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.

On to the nominees:

Makiah Asidanya, Salesian basketball: Asidanya scored 14 points, had seven steals and handed out five assists in a league matchup against St. Mary’s Berkeley. Asidanya is committed to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. 

Trinity Chu, California basketball: The sophomore guard scored an efficient 22 points in the Grizzlies’ 60-32 league win over Amador Valley. Chu made 8 of 11 shots and contributed four steals on the defensive side too. 

Kiarra D’Arcangelo, Westmont soccer: D’Arcangelo scored a goal and had an assist in Westmont’s 4-1 win over James Lick. It marked the first time the junior had not scored twice in a game in which she found the back of the net. 

Madelyn Funk, Livermore soccer: Livermore’s junior goalkeeper helped keep another clean sheet during Livermore’s scoreless draw with Granada. According to stats inputted into MaxPreps, she has allowed only three goals in 495 minutes of play and has 31 saves. 

Audrey Le-Nguyen, Campolindo soccer: The senior was arguably Campolindo’s best player in last week’s thrilling 4-3 victory over College Park. She scored one goal and found her teammates for two additional assists. 

Amanda Muse, Heritage basketball: The Patriots’ senior center scored her 1,000th career point in a blowout win over Antioch last Friday. The UCLA commit became only the fourth player in the program’s history to reach that mark. Muse scored 17 in the game. 

Kori Pickelle, Santa Teresa soccer: The senior scored a hat trick (three goals) in Santa Teresa’s 4-1 win over Prospect last week. Earlier in the season, PIckelle had two goals and two assists in a win over Independence. 

Kennedy Schoennauer, Lincoln-San Jose soccer: The Utah commit has continued to have a banner senior season for the Lions. Schoennauer scored five goals in a win over Christopher, the third time she has reached that mark in a match this season. 

Quinn Shirley, Aragon soccer: The sophomore midfielder scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Capuchino. Shirley has three goals and four assists this season for a 6-1 Aragon team. 

Time now for Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott to join the pantheon of quarterback duels in this epic, postseason rivalry.

Come Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in a divisional-round game at Levi’s Stadium, they’ll follow such matchups as John Brodie vs. Roger Staubach (and Craig Morton), Joe Montana vs. Danny White, Steve Young vs. Troy Aikman, and, as recently as last January, Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Prescott.

Defenses will have their say, of course. They’ll have the ultimate say, and they’re enjoying stellar seasons. Dallas’ Micah Parsons leads the way for America’s Team, and Nick Bosa keys, shall we say, Great America’s Team (in a nod to the 49ers’ neighboring, amusement park).

Quarterbacks. Pass rushers. Legacies. Winner advances to next the NFC Championship Game, to keep alive a generational pursuit of a sixth Lombardi Trophy, and that goes for either the 49ers or Cowboys.

Sure, their playoff history is rich, but how do their current editions compare? Here is the tale of the tape:

QUARTERBACKS

Cowboys: Prescott infamously ended last season’s playoff loss at Dallas by scrambling and sliding in the final precious seconds against the 49ers, who won 23-17. His rushing (and bootleg) ability resulted in a fourth-and-goal touchdown in Monday’s playoff return, a 31-14 win over Tampa Bay. This season, he tied for the NFL-high with 15 interceptions, including at least one in seven straight games entering the playoffs. After fracturing his right thumb in their opener, Prescott had a five-game hiatus, and questions about his accuracy have followed in his comeback. Well, up until Monday (305 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions).

49ers: Purdy’s seventh career start comes amid his deification, which grows week by week, win by win. In beating the Seahawks 41-23 in Saturday’s playoff debut, Purdy became the first rookie quarterback in an NFL playoff game to produce four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). Purdy’s completion percentage (67.1) tied with Patrick Mahomes for seventh-best in the regular season, just behind Purdy’s injured predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo (67.2).

RUNNING BACKS

Cowboys: A tremendous tandem exists with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, with the latter having made the Pro Bowl. They combined for 1,831 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground in the regular season. Elliott hasn’t had a 100-yard game since October 2021, and his average of 3.8 yards per carry was the lowest of his seven-year career. In last year’s playoff loss, he had just 31 yards (12 carries), and Pollard just 14 yards (four carries).

49ers: Christian McCaffrey has been a godsend to the 49ers’ offense, and while his receiving ability is unmatched among NFL running backs, he’s run for over 100 yards in four of the past six games. The 49ers can spell him with Deebo Samuel, Elijah Mitchell, and, perhaps rookie Jordan Mason. Samuel’s 26-yard touchdown run seized control for the 49ers’ in last year’s playoff win at Dallas, and he finished 72 yards (10 carries) while Mitchell had 96 (27 carries). Mitchell had just 2 yards (nine carries) on Saturday, and Samuel had 32 yards (three carries).

RECEIVERS

Cowboys: They’ve got a Pro Bowler in CeeDee Lamb (107 catches, 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns). Limited by the 49ers to one catch on five targets in last year’s playoff debut, Lamb couldn’t catch Prescott’s first two passes Monday night (then T.Y. Hilton dropped the third to spoil the opening series.) Tight end Dalton Schultz had two touchdown catches in Monday’s first half, and he was their leading receiver (seven catches, 89 yards) against the 49ers in last year’s playoffs. Michael Gallop and Noah Brown are other options, as are the running backs.

49ers: Samuel, on the eve of his 27th birthday, tallied 133 yards Saturday that were the 49ers’ most in a playoff game since 2014 (Anquan Boldin, 136 at Carolina). All of Brandon Aiyuk’s 73 yards Saturday came in the first half, and he dropped a potential fourth touchdown pass by Purdy, but Aiyuk’s first 1,000-yard season has been the aerial complement needed for this offense. George Kittle caught his only two targets Saturday (37 yards), but he’s been a fabulous target for Purdy, including on improvised plays. Of Kittle’s career-high 11 touchdowns, seven came in the four games entering the playoffs. No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings is battling an ankle issue, and Ray-Ray McCloud lurks as a speedy option from the slot.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Cowboys: Right guard Zack Martin is an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Left tackle Jason Peters tapped out with a hip injury just before halftime Monday night, and Tyler Smith replaced him, rather than immediately shift Tyron Smith back over from right tackle. Center Tyler Biadasz is battling through a recent high-ankle sprain.

49ers: Preseason concerns have been replaced by strong confidence in this cohesive unit. The 49ers boast the NFL’s best lineman in left tackle Trent Williams, who’s flanked to his right by Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford and Mike McGlinchey. Burford has rotated with Daniel Brunskill most of the season, and that’s yielded mixed results.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Cowboys:  Parsons entered Monday night’s game with the league’s best pass-rush win rate (29.8 percent). He opened the playoffs with a tackle-for-loss on his first snap, but he limped into the locker room at halftime, so he might not be at full strength Sunday. Demarcus Lawrence is a ninth-year veteran with 49 ½ career sacks. Keep an eye on the interior for Osa Odighizuwa and Johnathan Hankins, the latter of whom just came off injured reserve.

49ers: Bosa runs this show, as evident by his league-leading 18 ½ sacks and 48 hits. But he had neither sacks nor quarterback hits in the playoff opener, so that showed just fierce the rest of the defensive front can be. Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and T.Y. McGill are stout on the interior. The versatile Charles Omenihu had two sacks in the opener, including the play of the game with a strip sack. Samson Ebukam (ankle) and Jordan Willis round out the rotation unless Drake Jackson gets activated for pass-rush help.

LINEBACKERS

Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch has returned from a neck injury to patrol the middle of their defense. Anthony Barr has the veteran experience to snuff out screen passes. Parsons is technically a linebacker but he’s best used as an edge rusher.

49ers: The NFL’s best unit is led by All-Pro Fred Warner both as a tackler and vocal leader. Dre Greenlaw has been a more electric play-maker with his speed, range and guts (see: asking Tom Brady to autograph the football he intercepted last month). Greenlaw had 11 tackles in the playoff opener, Warner had six and Azeez Al-Shaair three.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Cowboys: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs gambles but, “I love the kid and he makes plays,” former Cowboys and 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders said on ESPN’s “ManningCast” Monday night. “If you continually play with him, he’s going to get you sooner or later.” DaRon Bland gave up a 30-yard touchdown catch as Monday’s third quarter ended. Jayron Kearse made an end zone interception Monday night, but he hurt his left knee late in the third quarter. Fellow safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker are potential play makers.

49ers: Charvarius Ward has been the 49ers’ best cornerback since Richard Sherman in 2019, although Ward struggled Saturday and in their last loss three months ago to Kansas City. Deommodore Lenoir’s interception in his playoff debut likely won’t stop him from being targeted but his confidence hasn’t wavered all season. At safety, the 49ers have an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in Talanoa Hufanga, while Tashaun Gipson Sr. has been a tremendous complement all season. The further the 49ers go, the better return that Jimmie Ward might get in his contract year.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cowboys: Brett Maher missed four point-after kicks Monday night, so that position is a glaring concern for Dallas. KaVontae Turpin is a Pro Bowl return specialist. Punter Bryan Anger, a Cal product, had a 42.8 net average in his 11th season.

49ers: Robbie Gould has been historically automatic in 14 career playoff games, making all 25 of his field-goal attempts and 37 point-after kicks. The 40-year-old kicker feels stronger than his younger days and that shows on touchbacks as a kickoff specialist. Mitch Wishnowsky only punted once Saturday, a 57-yard gem. Ray-Ray McCloud has been sure-handed and on the verge of busting a big return.

COACHING

Cowboys: Mike McCarthy, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator in 2005, is 0-3 against them in the playoffs as a head coach. That includes two meetings as the Packers’ coach before he took over the Cowboys in 2020. McCarthy’s produced back-to-back 12-5 seasons. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is to interview Friday for the Denver Broncos’ post; he got his NFL start as a 49ers assistant in 2001-04 and eventually went 43-42 as coach of the Atlanta Falcons, whom he took to the 2016 season’s Super Bowl with Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator.

49ers: Shanahan’s sixth season has been his best with the 49ers, seeing how they’re on an 11-game win streak and on their third quarterback. Shanahan’s offensive wit is also showing through with McCaffrey joining the air-and-ground assets. DeMeco Ryans, in his second year as defensive coordinator, oversees the NFL’s stingiest unit and that’s set him up for head-coaching interviews this week with the Broncos and Houston Texans, with the Arizona Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts also requesting a shot.

SERIES HISTORY 

Cowboys: All due respect to “The Catch” Dwight Clark made to launch the 49ers’ dynasty in the January 1982 NFC Final, the Cowboys’ playoff history includes wins in the Bay Area. Monday marked the Cowboys’ first road playoff win since January 1993 at Candlestick Park; they’ve also beaten the host 49ers in the 1970 and ’72 playoffs.

49ers: Levi’s Stadium is offering its best home-field advantage yet in nine seasons. The 49ers have won 13 of their past 14 appearances, although that followed a calendar year between home wins. A year ago, the 49ers ousted the host Cowboys in the wild-card round, 23-17.

The Raiders exposed a few vulnerabilities in Week 17. The Seahawks found a few more in the Wild Card Round. Now the Dallas Cowboys seem poised to challenge this Niners’ defense in a whole new way on Sunday.

The Niners’ secondary is scrambling. The pass rush lacks the same punch it had early in the season. The rush defense is getting pushed around a bit.

This 49ers’ defense is still strong — you don’t simply go from excellent to awful — but we haven’t seen greatness from this unit since the calendar flipped.

But fret not, Niners fans, because the 49ers’ offense has turned into a juggernaut — a unit capable of carrying this team to the Super Bowl.

It was sneaky, like Brock Purdy’s athleticism, but the 49ers have scored 34 points per game since the seventh-round rookie took over the offense in the first quarter of the team’s Week 13 game against the Dolphins.

A small sample size? Sure. But the points output is no fluke. In the NFL, yards translate into points, and the Niners have averaged 396 yards per game with Purdy at the helm. Only two teams in the NFL had a higher per-game average over the course of the season — the Chiefs and the Bills.

There’s an obvious answer as to why the 49ers’ offense has jumped 10 points per game since Jimmy Garoppolo was at the helm.

And no, it’s not just the quarterback.

The Niners’ trade to acquire running back Christian McCaffrey would have been the turning point of any other team’s season. He’s been exceptionally impactful, not just statistically, but tactically, too.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan has long coveted a running back who was as effective as a pass catcher as he was running the ball. In the coach’s first full offseason, he signed Jerick McKinnon to a four-year, $30 million contract. The idea was that Shanahan could move McKinnon all over the field — if the defense keyed in on the running back, another player (or two) would be left with a great matchup; if the defense deprioritized defending the running back, he’d be the one to burn them.

It never worked out with McKinnon, who was frequently injured during his Niners’ tenure, only playing one unremarkable season — 2020.

Shanahan was so keen on the idea of a do-it-all running back, though, that he turned wide receiver Deebo Samuel into a running back last season. That worked well, but it wasn’t precisely what Shanahan wanted.

This season, McKinnon is living out Shanahan’s fantasy in Kansas City — the do-it-all back has nine touchdowns since Week 13. That’s OK, though, because the Niners finally found their perfect running back with McCaffrey.

Not only is the former Carolina Panther a brilliant between-the-tackles runner, but his route-running, particularly from the slot, gives Shanahan access to every page of his playbook for the first time in his Niners’ tenure.

Add Samuel to the mix, and defenses have no idea what personnel grouping to have on the field. That creates the mismatches that are the foundation of Shanahan’s offensive philosophy.

If only that was the end of the Niners’ weapons: There’s also Brandon Aiyuk — who has developed into Shanahan’s latest prolific ‘X’ receiver — third-down maestro Jauan Jennings, and, some guy named Kittle.

The only weakness on this 49ers’ offense right now is the interior of the offensive line, and they’re pretty good. Yes, Seattle’s massive defensive tackles tossed around undersized center Jake Brendel and left guard Dan Brunskill on Saturday, but Brendel bounced back in the second half of the game, and rookie left guard Spencer Burford proved up to the task when he was subbed into the game.

The Niners’ offense, with McCaffrey confusing defenses and Samuel adding to their problems, can paint the entire canvas. The Niners can run the ball inside or outside and throw it sideline-to-sideline and deep, too.

They can do that because they have a quarterback who can execute all those plays.

Purdy’s received countless accolades over the past few weeks, and all earned, but what stands out the most to me is how much rhythm the Niners’ offense has with him at the helm.

It helps to have an absurd amount of weapons and arguably the NFL’s best play-caller on your side, but if being a “system” quarterback for Shanahan and the 49ers were so easy, we’d be talking about C.J. Beathard or Brian Hoyer right now.

Shanahan hasn’t coddled the rookie. No, he’s throwing even more on his plate than his predecessors. The importance of the moment calls for it. Purdy — with his excellent decision-making and plus talent with both his arm and his legs — has proven he’s capable of it.

“We didn’t have the luxury to sit there and worry about stuff the way the game was going,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s first action, in Week 13 against the Dolphins. “We just had to call plays to try to win the game, and he did such a hell of a job, and he’s done it every time since. We have a lot of confidence in him, and he gives us more and more confidence each week.”

Purdy is delivering the ball on time and in stride to receivers. He’s selling play-action concepts and keeping defenses honest with his scrambling ability. The Niners’ offense flows with him at the helm. It allows Shanahan to find rhythm with his play calls. Top-to-bottom, the Niners’ offense is making beautiful music right now.

And it’s needed with the Niners’ defense — so outstanding for so much of the season — slipping a bit in recent weeks.

In particular, the Niners have struggled to corral No. 1 receivers.

They’re hardly unique in that distinction — those top receivers are paid a lot for a reason — but in the Purdy era, we’ve seen Tyreek Hill (9 catches, 146 yards, touchdown), Davante Adams (7 catches, 153 yards, two touchdowns), and D.K. Metcalf (10 catches, 136 yards, two touchdowns) give the Niners the business.

Even the Washington Commanders were carving up the Niners’ secondary. With Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb coming to town Sunday, the trend might continue.

But if Sunday’s game is a shootout, the Niners are well-equipped to win.

This is an offense-first team now, and that’s anything but an issue.