One night after the Seattle Seahawks blitzed the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl, college basketball took center stage after a crazy week of upsets nationwide as top-ranked Arizona faced Kansas in a matchup of storied programs with championship aspirations. Once again, as it has all season, the Big 12 delivered another memorable game as the Jayhawks stunned previously unbeaten Arizona at historic Allen Fieldhouse. It’s been that type of season for the Big 12, which has several national championship contenders as hot as any teams in the country.
Here is a deep dive inside the league as we unveil Hoops HQ’s latest Big 12 Power Rankings.
*This article is part of an ongoing conference power ranking series. Read our recent editions using the buttons below.
1. Arizona Wildcats
Record: 23-1 (10-1 Big 12)
Tommy Lloyd’s squad saw its 23-0 start — the best in both school and Big 12 history — halted with a loss at Kansas after spending the previous weeks atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Freshman guard Brayden Burries had 25 points against KU, but senior guard Jaden Bradley, freshman forward Koa Peat and senior big man Tobe Awaka had rough outings with only six points apiece for a team that struggled offensively in the second half. Four of Arizona’s next six games are at home, but five of those opponents are nationally ranked, so the road ahead remains brutal. The ‘Cats look to rebound Saturday against Texas Tech in Tucson.
2. Houston Cougars
Record: 21-2 (9-2)
Houston has won four straight by an average margin of 16.5 points since a loss at Texas Tech. Last week featured double-digit wins over projected NCAA Tournament teams UCF and BYU, both of which shot under 40 percent from the floor against a pestering Cougars defense. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings scored 18 points against UCF before adding 19 at BYU as he continues to show why he’s a future lottery pick. This week the level of competition dips as the Cougars face two teams at the bottom of the league standings starting Tuesday at Utah before Saturday’s contest against Kansas State.
3. Kansas Jayhawks
Record: 19-5 (9-2)
The Jayhawks keep proving to be more than Darryn Peterson as they toppled Arizona for an eighth straight win despite missing their freshman phenom for what was reported to be flu-like symptoms. It was the program’s first home win over a top-ranked AP team and its 61st consecutive victory on Big Monday at Allen Fieldhouse. Peterson — still the projected top pick in this year’s NBA Draft — missed his 11th game, but KU got 23 points apiece from senior guard Melvin Council Jr. and sophomore big man Flory Bidunga, as well as another strong effort from freshman forward Bryson Tiller (18 points). The Jayhawks are back in action Saturday on the road against Iowa State, a team they beat by 21 points on Jan. 13.
4. Iowa State Cyclones
Record: 21-2 (8-2)
It’s now five straight wins for the Cyclones after they held off a late rally to beat Baylor last Saturday and remain unbeaten at home this season. Senior guard Tamin Lipsey was big with key buckets down the stretch as he finished with 14 points, 9 boards and 2 steals, while junior sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic (21 points) had his 11th 20-point game of the season. This group will be pushed in the next few weeks with five of its next seven opponents being ranked in the Top 25. A road test against TCU is up next Tuesday in Fort Worth.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Record: 17-6 (7-3)
Following losses to UCF and Kansas, the Red Raiders recovered to win at West Virginia last Sunday in a strong all-around showing. Junior All-American JT Toppin logged 22 points and 9 boards, senior forward Donovan Atwell had 15 points and four of the team’s 13 made three-pointers and sophomore guard Christian Anderson added a 13-point, 11-assist double-double after missing the KU loss due to illness. Texas Tech also limited West Virginia to a 2 for 22 performance behind the arc. A home game awaits Wednesday against Colorado before a trip Saturday to Arizona.
6. BYU Cougars
Record: 17-6 (5-5)
It’s been a rough stretch for the Cougars, who have lost four in a row, including games last week to Oklahoma State and Houston. They must be more efficient on both ends of the court and continue getting strong production from star freshman AJ Dybantsa, senior guard Richie Saunders, sophomore guard Rob Wright III and their supporting cast, beginning Tuesday at Baylor.
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7. UCF Knights
Record: 17-6 (6-5)
The high of a Jan. 31 win over Texas Tech faded quickly for the Knights after blowout losses last week to Houston and Cincinnati. UCF struggled to make defensive stops and hit shots in both games. The Knights, who are 13-2 at home this season, return to Orlando on Saturday to play West Virginia.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers
Record: 15-9 (6-5)
Since a Jan. 10 win over Kansas, the Mountaineers have gone 4-4 with three losses to nationally ranked teams, including Texas Tech last Sunday. Ross Hodge has a team that can defend but needs to shoot it better to get back in the win column Saturday at UCF.
9. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Record: 16-7 (4-6)
Last week, the Cowboys split two games with a 99-92 win over BYU before an 84-47 loss at Arizona. Steve Lutz has a potential NCAA Tournament squad here but needs wins Tuesday at Arizona State and Saturday against TCU to keep that possibility alive.
10. TCU Horned Frogs
Record: 14-9 (4-6)
Last Saturday’s win over Kansas State snapped a two-game losing streak for the streaky Horned Frogs. An upset of Iowa State on Tuesday would move them closer onto the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
11. Cincinnati Bearcats
Record: 12-12 (4-7)
Last week, the Bearcats fell to West Virginia on the heels of a loss to Houston before bouncing back with a 20-point win over UCF. There are must-win games this week at Kansas State on Wednesday and Sunday against Utah as Wes Miller looks to cool the flames on his coaching hot seat.
12. Colorado Buffaloes
Record: 14-10 (4-7)
The Buffaloes won two of three games last week — beating TCU before falling to Baylor and downing Arizona State — to end a six-game losing streak. They will be tested this week with road games against nationally ranked foes, starting Wednesday with Texas Tech before BYU on Saturday.
13. Baylor Bears
Record: 13-10 (3-8)
Short-handed due to injuries, the Bears seemed to be trending upward with two straight wins before falling last Saturday at Iowa State. Baylor led early in the second half, but an offensive drought was too much overcome and now it’s in a tough spot with BYU on Tuesday and Louisville on Saturday in Fort Worth.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils
Record: 12-12 (3-8)
After last Saturday’s loss to Colorado, coach Bobby Hurley called out his team’s defense, and it’s hard to argue otherwise after the Buffaloes shot 51 percent from the floor. The Sun Devils have lost 10 of 13 since a 9-2 start and continue to struggle defensively and on the glass.
15. Kansas State Wildcats
Record: 10-13 (1-9)
It’s been a rough fourth season for Jerome Tang in Manhattan, as the Wildcats have dropped four straight since a Jan. 20 win over Utah. The scoring of junior guard PJ Haggerty (23.3 points per game) has been one of the few bright spots for Kansas State, which has three of its next five on the road.
16. Utah Utes
Record: 9-14 (1-9)
Last week, the Utes went 0-2 after falling at home to Arizona State and losing on the road to Kansas and have now lost five in a row. Junior big man Keanu Dawes was efficient at KU (22 points and 12 rebounds) in the team’s sixth double-digit conference loss of the season.
Meet your guide
