2023-24 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 11

Matchup of the week: Texas Tech at Houston (Jan. 17 – 9 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Iowa State at BYU (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.)

All games listed are EST

1) Kansas Jayhawks

Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)

Record: 14-2 (2-1)

Last week: L at UCF (65-60), W vs. #9 Oklahoma (78-66)

Next week: at Oklahoma State (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), at West Virginia (Jan. 20 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: UConn, Kentucky, Tennessee, TCU, Oklahoma, at Indiana

Bad losses: N/A

Even with the loss to UCF, Kansas still has the best resume, especially after a double-digit win against Oklahoma. The road loss to UCF is definitely a concern, but as we’ve seen around the entire Big 12, that first true conference road game is challenging to win. They’ll get two more road tests this week against Oklahoma State and West Virginia this week, the two worst teams in the Big 12 at the moment. If they drop one of those, then their might be major issues with this program.

2) Baylor Bears

Last week’s ranking: 4 (+2)

Record: 14-2 (3-0)

Last week: W vs. #18 BYU (81-72), W vs. Cincinnati (62-59)

Next week: at Kansas State (Jan. 16 – 8 p.m.), at Texas (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Auburn, Seton Hall, Florida, BYU, Cincinnati

Bad losses: N/A

Two teams are undefeated in Big 12 basketball play, and Baylor is one of them, starting 3-0 to begin conference play. They looked strong against BYU, and then a little off against Cincy, but a win is a win. Jalen Bridges was terrific against BYU scoring 25 points and adding 5 rebounds. In their first road game, they barely hung on against Oklahoma State, and they will be put to the test once again, facing Kansas State and Texas in back-to-back road matchups.

3) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+2)

Record: 14-2 (3-0)

Last week: W vs. Oklahoma State (90-73), W vs. Kansas State (60-59)

Next week: at #5 Houston (Jan. 17 – 9 p.m.), vs. #20 BYU (Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Texas, Kansas State

Bad losses: N/A

Heading into conference play, there were many doubters about how good this Texas Tech team was due to a lack of quality wins and losing their two biggest matchups. So far, they’ve silenced those doubters, starting 3-0 in conference play. Grant McCasland has done an incredible job with this team in year one and has shown no signs of slowing down. Up next, is a game on the road against Houston, who are sure to take their anger of losing two in a row against this team.

4) TCU Horned Frogs

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+5)

Record: 13-3 (2-1)

Last week: W vs. #9 Oklahoma (80-71), W vs. #2 Houston (68-67)

Next week: at Cincinnati (Jan. 16- 7 p.m.), vs. #24 Iowa State (Jan. 20 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Houston, Oklahoma, Arizona State

Bad losses: N/A

TCU is a 50/50 call away from being 3-0 in conference play with wins against Kansas, Oklahoma, and Houston. They were terrific this week and proved their home court is one of the best. It came down to the last second against Houston, but they made a tough layup to secure the win. Emanuel Miller continues to be the leader on the court for them on and off the court. Up next, two more tricky games, but the Horned Frogs can continue to build their resume as they fight for the Big 12 basketball crown.

5) Houston Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-4)

Record: 14-2 (1-2)

Last week: L at Iowa State (57-53), L at TCU (68-67)

Next week: vs. #25 Texas Tech (Jan. 17 – 9 p.m.), vs. UCF (Jan. 20 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Dayton, Utah, Texas A&M, at Xavier

Bad losses: N/A

Welcome to the Big 12, Houston. Two Big 12 road environments, two losses. The sky hasn’t fallen for the Cougars, but it’s certainly not the start they wanted. Both games were close, but they just weren’t able to close out in a hostile environment, something they should be able to do with more experience. They have a chance to bounce back this week, playing at home in both matchups.

6) Iowa State Cyclones

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-4)

Record: 13-3 (2-1)

Last week: W vs. #2 Houston (57-53), W vs. Oklahoma State (66-42)

Next week: at #20 BYU (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), at #19 TCU (Jan. 20 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Houston, Iowa, VCU

Bad losses: N/A

Have a week, Iowa State. First, they knock off Houston, handing them their first loss of the season, and then they absolutely dominated Oklahoma State. Tamin Lipsey had a great week, and the Hilton Magic struck again. However, they face the dreaded back-to-back road games this week, and against teams known for their difficult environments.

7) Kansas State Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)

Record: 12-4 (2-1)

Last week: W at West Virginia (81-67), L at Texas Tech (60-59)

Next week: vs. 9 Baylor (Jan. 16 – 8 p.m.), vs. Oklahoma State (Jan. 20 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Villanova, Providence

Bad losses: N/A

Kansas State was up by 8 on Texas Tech with 3:21 left. Then, they allowed the Red Raiders to go on an 11-2 run and lost the game. If they win this game, it’s a whole other story, but instead, they boast a 2-1 record, but against two of the three worst teams in the Big 12. Kansas State can prove themselves this week, welcoming Baylor to the Octogan of Doom.

8) Oklahoma Sooners

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-5)

Record: 13-3 (1-2)

Last week: L at TCU (80-71), L at #3 Kansas (78-66)

Next week: vs. West Virginia (Jan. 17 – 8 p.m.), at Cincinnati (Jan. 20 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa State, Providence, Iowa, Arkansas

Bad losses: N/A

Oklahoma joined the list of top 25 teams to struggle this week, going 0-2 with road losses against TCU and Kansas. The defense, which has been great all season, was very underwhelming, allowing 78+ in back-to-back games. They have a home and road this week, and their performance in both games will give us a good understanding of whether this team can compete for the Big 12, or stay a middle-of-the-pack team.

9) Cincinnati Bearcats

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-2)

Record: 12-4 (1-2)

Last week: L vs. #25 Texas (74-73), L at #14 Baylor (62-59)

Next week: vs. #19 TCU (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. #9 Oklahoma (Jan. 20 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: at BYU

Bad losses: N/A

Cincinnati had a few bad bounces this week, and as a result, they lost both games by one score, which would have been huge boosts for their resume. They have a lot of work to do, but they’ve looked like a team that belongs in the Big 12 so far based on the results. They have a chance to turn it around this week with two home games, facing TCU and Oklahoma.

10) BYU Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-2)

Record: 13-3 (1-2)

Last week: L at #14 Baylor (81-72), W at UCF (63-58)

Next week: vs. #24 Iowa State (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), at #25 Texas Tech (Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: N/A

It appears that BYU’s Cinderella run is coming to an end, but they did beat UCF on the road, something the #1 team in this power rankings couldn’t do. Adjusting to Big 12 basketball has proven to be difficult for the new programs, so hopefully with a few games under their belt, they can turn it around. Up next, two more difficult games against two of the hottest teams in the conference.

11) Texas Longhorns

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)

Record: 12-4 (1-2)

Last week: W at Cincinnati (74-73), L at West Virginia (76-73)

Next week: vs. UCF (Jan. 17 – 8 p.m.), vs. #9 Baylor (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: at Cincinnati

Bad losses: at West Virginia

Texas is a last-second game-winner by Max Abmas away from being 0-3 in Big 12 basketball play without playing games against Kansas, Houston, or Baylor. This season has been a mess, and it’s not getting any better. West Virginia is considered the free win on everyone’s schedule, and West Virginia took care of business against this team. Disu and Abmas seem to be the only players who can put the ball in the basket, and the defense is very disappointing.

Texas needs to start racking up wins and improving their resume because, at the moment, they don’t look like a tournament team. They have a very winnable game against UCF up next, then a big-time matchup against Baylor, which could be the game that decides which way this season is going.

12) UCF Knights

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 10-5 (1-2)

Last week: W vs. #3 Kansas (65-60), L vs. #18 BYU (63-58)

Next week: at Texas (Jan. 17 – 8 p.m.), at #5 Houston (Jan. 20 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Kansas

Bad losses: Stetson

UCF is 1-0 all-time against Kansas, so that’s a fun thing to have for the program. They looked great against the Jayhawks in the second half and didn’t crumble when they went down big in the first half. BYU gave UCF a few opportunities to win the game, missing free throws when it mattered, but they couldn’t capitalize. I think Knights fans would be happy with this start so far, especially since they were the preseason pick to finish last in the conference. They have a tough week ahead, going to Texas and Houston in hopes of shocking the college basketball world once again.

13) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)

Record: 8-8 (0-3)

Last week: L at Texas Tech (90-73), L at Iowa State (66-42)

Next week: vs. #3 Kansas (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), at Kansas State (Jan. 20 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Abilene Christian, Southern Illinois

Only one team hasn’t won a conference game yet, and that would be Oklahoma State. They didn’t even come close this week, losing both games by 17+. To be fair with the Iowa State game, they had travel issues due to cold weather in Iowa which prevented them from ever getting settled. They almost beat Baylor at home, so perhaps they can pull off the upset against Kansas in a Bryce Thompson revenge game.

14) West Virginia Mountaineers

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 6-10 (1-2)

Last week: L vs. Kansas State (81-67), W vs. #25 Texas (76-73)

Next week: at #15 Oklahoma (Jan. 17 – 8 p.m.), vs. #3 Kansas (Jan. 20 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Texas

Bad losses: Monmouth, UMass

West Virginia has done the impossible – win a Big 12 basketball game. They looked great against Texas, getting balanced scoring and never letting Texas pull ahead. They are still at the bottom, but this is certainly encouraging. It will be hard to continue their streak, as they face Oklahoma on the road and Kansas at home, but anything is possible in the Big 12.

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