2023-24 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 7

3) Oklahoma Sooners

Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)

Record: 9-0

Last week: W vs. Green Bay (81-47)

Next week: vs. North Carolina (Dec. 20 – 9 p.m.)

Quality wins: Providence, Arkansas, USC, Iowa

Bad losses: N/A

There are only four undefeated teams left in the country, and Oklahoma is one of them. They have some quality wins, but their strength of schedule is still lacking, as it’s ranked #331st in the country on Kenpom. If you still have your doubts about them, make sure you don’t have plans on Wednesday, as they’ll take on UNC in a big-time matchup. While we can’t overreact too much from one game, this will give us an idea of how good this Oklahoma team is.

4) Texas Longhorns

Last week’s ranking: 10 (+6)

Record: 8-2

Last week: W vs. LSU (96-85)

Next week: vs. Texas A&M CC (Dec. 22 – 3 p.m.)

Quality wins: LSU

Bad losses: N/A

With Dylan Disu back, it feels like you can throw everything that happened in the previous nine games away and just look at everything from LSU on. In just 20 minutes, Disu finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. He is a special player and makes this team infinitely better. They have an easy schedule to close out the year, but as Disu gets more and more caught up in game speed, the better this Longhorn team will be.

5) BYU Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W vs. Denver (90-74), W vs. Georgia State (86-54)

Next week: vs. Bellarmine (Dec. 22 – 9 p.m.)

Quality wins: San Diego State, Arizona State, NC State

Bad losses: N/A

There’s nothing BYU enjoys more than crushing mid-major opponents. They now have six wins of 29+ points against mid-major schools. The good news? They have two more to close out the year, including Bellarmine this week, who have already lost to Kansas State and West Virginia this season.

6) Baylor Bears

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-4)

Record: 9-1

Last week: L. vs. Michigan State (88-64)

Next week: vs. #21 Duke (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Auburn, Florida, Seton Hall

Bad losses: N/A

Baylor played their toughest opponent of the season, a 4-5 Michigan State team, and got crushed. It was never close, and the defensive issues that haunted them last year returned. Michigan State shot 63% from the field and 66.7% from deep. It’s not time to panic yet, and they have a great bounce-back opportunity next week against Duke. They need Ja’Kobe Walter to step up, as he hasn’t had a 20-point game in the last five games after doing so in four of his first five.

7) Iowa State Cyclones

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)

Record: 9-2

Last week: W vs. Florida A&M (96-58)

Next week: vs. Eastern Illinois (Dec. 21 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa, VCU

Bad losses: N/A

Iowa State had a quiet week, blowing out their opponent as they should. Next week, it should be more of the same. However, Eastern Illinois nearly beat Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse a few weeks ago, so don’t be surprised if this game is closer than expected.

8) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)

Record: 8-2

Last week: W vs. Oral Roberts (82-76), W vs. Vanderbilt (76-54)

Next week: vs. UT Arlington (Dec. 21 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Michigan

Bad losses: N/A

Texas Tech had an unnecessary scare after Oral Roberts nearly pulled off the upset, but they got back on track with a 20+ win against Vanderbilt. This week, a game against UT Arlington should present no issues for the Red Raiders.

9) TCU Horned Frogs

Last week’s ranking: 11 (+2)

Record: 7-1

Last week: W vs. Arizona State (79-59)

Next week: vs. Old Dominion (Dec. 21 – 5 p.m.)

Quality wins: Arizona State

Bad losses: N/A

After the big win against 6-4 Arizona State, TCU’s strength of schedule goes from last to third to last in the country. Still, they’re winning all the games they should, and you can’t punish them too much for that. They should improve to 8-1 this week, with only one game on the slate against Old Dominion.

10) Kansas State Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-4)

Record: 8-3

Last week: L vs. Nebraska (62-46)

Next week: vs. Wichita State (Dec. 21 – 8:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Villanova, Providence, at LSU

Bad losses: N/A

It looked like Kansas State had finally figured it out after back-to-back wins against Villanova and LSU, but that all went out the window on Sunday. Nebraska crushed them in the second half, rolling to an easy road win against Kansas State. The offense looked invisible, and Nebraska isn’t a bad team by any means, but a team Kansas State should beat or at least lose to closely. This team remains a huge question mark, and they’ll face an in-state opponent Wichita State in Kansas City this weekend to try to add to their resume.

11) Cincinnati Bearcats

Last week’s ranking: 9 (-2)

Record: 8-2

Last week: W vs. Bryant (85-53), L vs. Dayton (82-68)

Next week: vs. Merrimack (Dec. 19 – 7 p.m.), vs. Stetson (Dec. 22 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Georgia Tech

Bad losses: N/A

Cincinnati finishes 0-2 against their rivals Xavier and Dayton this year, which has to be disappointing for everyone tied to the program. It’s not the end of the world, but it leaves their non-conference resume lacking, meaning they’ll have to work just a little harder during conference play. For now, they can continue to pile up wins against mid-major opponents, facing two this week.

12) UCF Knights

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-)

Record: 6-3

Last week: None

Next week: vs. Maine (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.), vs. Florida A&M (Dec. 21 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Stetson

UCF took the week off, and hopefully, that break can propel them to a 2-0 week. Maine could be a sneaky competitive game, so keep an eye on that one.

13) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last week’s ranking: 14 (+1)

Record: 5-5

Last week: W vs. Oral Roberts (81-60)

Next week: vs. Wofford (Dec. 20 – 3 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Abilene Christian, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois

Oklahoma State have won two in a row, and look to go on a big win streak here with three more mid-major opponents before conference play. The season isn’t dead yet, but they can’t afford to make any more mistakes the rest of the season.

14) West Virginia Mountaineers

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-1)

Record: 4-6

Last week: L vs. UMass (87-79)

Next week: vs. Radford (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Toledo (Dec. 23 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Monmouth, UMass

This felt like it could be the best week all season for the Mountaineers. First, they get Kerr Kriisa back from the suspension. Then, the transfer portal ruling came out where players who weren’t eligible before are now eligible for the next 14 days, meaning Raequan Battle and Noah Farrakhan were both active. Unfortunately, this all concluded with a loss against UMass, putting them two games under .500. If they can have Battle and Farrakhan for the rest of the season, that would be huge, and with a few games to get back into rhythm, they can win some games they’re not supposed to. It all depends on the ruling in a few days.

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