The Big 12 entered this season with high hopes as six teams were ranked in the preseason Associated Press top 25, which matched a league record.
So far, so good for a conference that Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said last week was “the second-best league in America behind the NBA.”
With the new season nearly a month old, here’s an updated edition of our Big 12 Power Rankings. This is our third installment in a conference power ranking series which so far includes the Big East and ACC.
1. Arizona (8-0, Preseason ranking – 4)
Iowa State blasted Purdue, but Arizona tops the power rankings due to its body of work. A balanced unit with talent and experience, the Wildcats opened with a win over defending national champion Florida and added ranked wins over UCLA, UConn and Auburn. Freshman forward Koa Peat (15.9 points per game) and senior guard Jaden Bradley (14.5 points per game) lead them into what should be an entertaining game against Alabama.
2. Iowa State (9-0, Preseason ranking – 6)
Picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll, the Cyclones made 11 three-pointers in a 23-point win last weekend at Purdue in the largest nonconference home loss by a No. 1 team in AP poll history. That comes after an earlier win over ranked St. John’s. As always, T.J. Otzelberger has a team that can defend, but this one can also score, with Milan Momcilovic (18.3 points per game) as the top offensive option.
3. Houston (8-1, Preseason ranking – 1)
The Cougars are younger a season removed from falling in the national title game, but Kelvin Sampson just keeps winning games, with the lone loss at the hands of Tennessee. Emanuel Sharp (27 points) and Kingston Flemings (21 points) were big in the recent win over Florida State. Consistency is needed from Flemings and fellow freshman Chris Cenac Jr., who had 15 points and 10 boards against the Seminoles.
4. BYU (7-1, Preseason ranking – 3)
Another preseason top-10 team, the Cougars lost to UConn without suspended starting guard Kennard Davis Jr. before beating Wisconsin to spark a four-game winning streak. Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa (19.4 points per game), returning all-conference guard Richie Saunders (18.9 points per game) and Baylor transfer Robert Wright III (16.9 points per game, 6.3 assists per game) form a potent trio heading into a game against Clemson in Madison Square Garden.
5. Kansas (7-3, Preseason ranking – 5)
The Jayhawks split their first two games with star freshman Darryn Peterson (20.0 points per game) in the lineup before a hamstring injury sidelined him until the recent win over Missouri. Bill Self’s squad actually got better without Peterson on the floor, winning three games at the Players Era Festival and playing tough in losses to Duke and UConn. Look for KU to continue getting better as the season progresses.
6. Oklahoma State (9-0, Preseason ranking – 11)
The Cowboys emerged as one of the nation’s early surprise teams with their undefeated start, which featured a win over Texas A&M. Steve Lutz coached Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Western Kentucky to NCAA Tournament appearances and has this squad trending in that direction. The upcoming game against Oklahoma will be a measuring stick for just how good this team is.
7. Texas Tech (7-2, Preseason ranking – 2)
Once a preseason top-10 team, the Red Raiders fumbled opportunities against Illinois and Purdue but recently toppled previously undefeated LSU behind Christian Anderson’s 27 points and 8 assists. Anderson (19.1 points per game, 7.2 assists per game) has taken a big step forward as a sophomore and become a lethal weapon alongside JT Toppin (20.8 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game). A big game awaits this week against Arkansas.
8. Baylor (6-2, Preseason ranking – 7)
Even after losing every player from last season’s NCAA Tournament team, Scott Drew continues to win with Tennessee transfer Cameron Carr (21.8 points per game) leading the way. The Bears can score (87.8 points per game) but must improve on the other end, ranking 325th nationally in scoring defense (81.0 points per game). They struggled on both ends in a recent loss at Memphis.
9. TCU (6-3, Preseason ranking – 8)
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Horned Frogs, who lost their opener to New Orleans before playing well in a loss at Michigan and downing Florida and Wisconsin to win the Rady’s Children Invitational. They bounced back from a loss to Notre Dame with a win over North Texas.
10. Colorado (8-1, Preseason ranking – 13)
Last season was rough for Tad Boyle and his Buffs, but it appears they benefited from the growing pains. They opened with eight straight wins, including a victory over Washington, before a tough loss at Colorado State.
11. Arizona State (7-2, Preseason ranking – 16)
Bobby Hurley’s young, inexperienced squad beat Texas in the Maui Invitational and rebounded from a loss to USC by blasting Oklahoma. Pepperdine transfer Maurice Odum (18.9 points per game, 6.0 assists per game) has been a dynamic playmaker for the Sun Devils.
12. UCF (8-1, Preseason ranking – 15)
Johnny Dawkins has the Knights off to a strong start, notching a win over Texas A&M while suffering its lone loss to Vanderbilt. They hope to gain more confidence against a soft nonconference schedule before facing tougher competition in the Big 12.
13. West Virginia (7-3, Preseason ranking – 14)
New coach Ross Hodge won big at North Texas but has yet to get it going in Morgantown. So far the Mountaineers are 1-4 against high-majors, with the only win over a .500 Pitt squad.
14. Cincinnati (6-3, Preseason ranking – 10)
This was considered a make-or-break season for Wes Miller. So far it’s been disappointing as the Bearcats recently lost a headscratcher to Eastern Michigan and fell to rival Xavier.
15. Utah (7-3, Preseason ranking – 12)
Few things have gone right for the Utes under first-year head coach Alex Jensen. They have won two of three, with a win over Ole Miss since tough losses to Cal Poly and Grand Canyon.
16. Kansas State (6-4, Preseason ranking – 9)
It’s been a rough third season for Jerome Tang as the Wildcats have dropped four of five since a 5-0 start. Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty (23.6 points per game) leads the nation in scoring but needs help.
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