Ariel Puterman gives his Big 12 basketball power rankings heading into week 12 of the 2023-24 season.
Matchup of the week: Kansas at Iowa State (Jan. 27 – 1:30 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: West Virginia at Oklahoma State (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1) Houston Cougars
Last week’s ranking: 5 (+4)
Record: 16-2 (3-2)
Last week: W vs. #25 Texas Tech (77-54), W vs. UCF (57-42)
Next week: at #21 BYU (Jan. 23 – 9 p.m.), vs. Kansas State (Jan. 27 – Noon)
Quality wins: Dayton, Texas Tech, Utah, Texas A&M, at Xavier
Bad losses: N/A
After an abysmal week, Houston is back on track, dominating both their opponents this week. At home, they’re the team to beat in the Big 12 so far, and defensively, there might not be anyone better in the country. Against UCF, They held the Knights to just 14 points in the first half and 16% from the field for the entire game.
Up next, is a big test against BYU. They still haven’t shown they can win on the road, and the BYU student section won’t make it easy. If they take care of business, then they absolutely deserve this top spot.
2) Oklahoma Sooners
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+6)
Record: 15-3 (3-2)
Last week: W vs. West Virginia (77-63), W vs. Cincinnati (69-65)
Next week: vs. Texas (Jan. 23 – 7 p.m.), vs. #20 Texas Tech (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Cincinnati, Iowa State, Providence, Iowa
Bad losses: N/A
Like Houston, Oklahoma bounced back from a rough road test and looked like their normal selves this week. Most impressively, they beat Cincinnati on the road. These past few weeks have proven how hard it is to win on the road, and Oklahoma was able to do so against Cincinnati. Up next, two great home tests, as they face both Texas and Texas Tech who are coming off big wins this weekend.
3) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 15-3 (4-1)
Last week: L at #5 Houston (54-77), W vs. #20 BYU (85-78)
Next week: at #11 Oklahoma (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Texas, BYU, Kansas State
Bad losses: N/A
Texas Tech looked subpar against Houston, and looked like more of the same against BYU, as they found themselves down 17 in the first half. However, they clawed back, and a career-high 32 from Pop Isaacs allowed them to win and pick up a good one at that. Given their roster, it’s extremely impressive that they sit at 4-1 in conference play, but they have a lot of work to do still until the tournament. Only one game this week, but a big one at that, taking on Oklahoma on the road.
4) Kansas State Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+3)
Record: 14-4 (4-1)
Last week: W vs. #9 Baylor (68-64) OT, W vs. Oklahoma State (70-66)
Next week: at #23 Iowa State (Jan. 24 – 9 p.m.), at #4 Houston (Jan. 27 – Noon)
Quality wins: Baylor, Villanova, Providence
Bad losses: N/A
Like Texas Tech, it’s a pleasant surprise to see Kansas State sitting at 4-1 and sharing the Big 12 basketball lead with Texas Tech. However, they haven’t exactly beaten the most quality Big 12 opponents. Beating Baylor was a terrific win, but UCF, West Virginia, and Oklahoma State are arguably the three worst teams in the Big 12. If you don’t believe in the Cats yet, they will have a chance to prove it during the remainder of the month, as they’ll face three straight Top 25 opponents, starting with Iowa State on the road on Wednesday.
5) Kansas Jayhawks
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-4)
Record: 15-3 (3-2)
Last week: W at Oklahoma State (90-66), L at West Virginia (85-91)
Next week: vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 22 – 9 p.m.), at #23 Iowa State (Jan. 27 – 1:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: UConn, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, TCU, at Indiana
Bad losses: at UCF, at West Virginia
The Jayhawks looked dominant against Oklahoma State, leading from the start and never looking back. Then, against West Virginia, it was the complete opposite. The defense was nonexistent, and late in the game when they had a chance to win, they made mistake after mistake. UCF and West Virginia are two of the easiest games on their schedule, and that makes the rest of the season even tougher if they want to earn the Big 12 title.
The road concerns are legit, and they have to play in one of the toughest road environments, at Iowa State who are 11-0 at home this season. If they drop that one, they’ll be 1-3 on the road in conference play, a definite concern.
6) BYU Cougars
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+4)
Record: 13-3 (2-3)
Last week: W vs. #24 Iowa State (87-72), L at #25 Texas Tech (78-85)
Next week: vs. #4 Houston (Jan. 23 – 9 p.m.), vs. Texas (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: San Diego State, Iowa State, NC State, Arizona State
Bad losses: N/A
BYU had a chance to be the team of the week after a 15-point win against Iowa State at home then took a 17-point lead on the road against Texas Tech. Unfortunately, BYU allowed Texas Tech to come back and lost that one. Still, BYU continues to show they are a quality Big 12 basketball team that can win against anyone.
They have elite scoring depth, and it feels like everyone on the team knows their role. They have a massive opportunity ahead, taking on Houston and Texas at home. If they can beat both, it could be time to start having a conversation about BYU being a top 3 team in the conference.
7) Iowa State Cyclones
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)
Record: 14-4 (3-2)
Last week: L at #20 BYU (72-87), W at #19 TCU (73-72)
Next week: vs. Kansas State (Jan. 24 – 9 p.m.), vs. #7 Kansas (Jan. 27 – 1:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Houston, at TCU, Iowa
Bad losses: N/A
Iowa State looked completely outmatched against BYU but bounced back nicely against TCU on the road. This game should have been even more one-sided, as Iowa State led by 18 at the half, but they allowed TCU to make it a game. Still, winning on the road has proven to be nearly impossible so far in Big 12 play, so picking up that win goes a long way. Plus, they did it without their on-court leader Tamin Lipsey. Up next, is the Kansas gauntlet, where they’ll welcome in the Wildcats and Jayhawks in hopes of picking up two more quality wins.
8) Baylor Bears
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-6)
Record: 14-4 (3-2)
Last week: L at Kansas State (64-68) OT, L at Texas (73-75)
Next week: vs. TCU (Jan. 27 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Auburn, BYU, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Florida
Bad losses: N/A
What should have been a 2-0 week turned into a 0-2 week after Baylor failed to close out both games. In the Kansas State game, Baylor led by 6 with 1:57 left and 1 with 16 seconds left, but couldn’t hold on. Then, against Texas, they were tied with five seconds left and let Tyrese Hunter get an easy layup to win at the buzzer. Winning these close games is essential, especially in the Big 12 when every game matters. They don’t have to play on the road again until January 31st, so hopefully, the one game this week will allow them to get back into winning shape.
9) Cincinnati Bearcats
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 13-5 (2-3)
Last week: W vs. #19 TCU (81-77) OT, L vs. #15 Oklahoma (65-69)
Next week: at #7 Kansas (Jan. 22 – 9 p.m.), vs. UCF (Jan. 27 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: at BYU, TCU
Bad losses: N/A
If there was an award for playing close games, Cincinnati is your winner. Their last four games have been decided by four points or fewer. Unfortunately, they are 1-3 in those games, including a 2-2 home record. They still have a lot of work to do to warn a tournament bid, especially after picking up zero quality wins in the non-conference. Hopefully, for the Bearcats, their luck will turn around this week, but it will be extremely difficult against the Jayhawks on the road.
10) TCU Horned Frogs
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-6)
Record: 13-5 (2-3)
Last week: L at Cincinnati (77-81) OT, L vs. #24 Iowa State (72-73)
Next week: at Oklahoma State (Jan. 23 – 9 p.m.), at #15 Baylor (Jan. 27 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Houston, Oklahoma, Arizona State
Bad losses: N/A
TCU has lost three games in conference play. One was a two-point road loss, one was an overtime road loss, and one was a 1 point loss. TCU is a few plays going their way from being in a completely different situation, but like with other teams, if you can’t close out now, you’re going to have bigger problems later on. The good news is the emergence of Trevian Tennyson, who has led TCU in scoring in three of the five conference games after not doing so once in non-conference play. They’ll need him and his teammates to step up this week, as they hit the road and face Oklahoma State and Baylor.
11) UCF Knights
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)
Record: 11-6 (2-3)
Last week: W at Texas (77-71), L at #5 Houston (42-57)
Next week: vs. West Virginia (Jan. 23 – 7 p.m.), at Cincinnati (Jan. 27 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas, at Texas
Bad losses: Stetson
These two games couldn’t have gone differently. Against Texas, they looked in charge and won with ease despite being on the road. Then, at Houston, it looked like they forgot the ball goes into the basket. Now, Houston is a much better team than Texas, so they’ve shown they can hang with most teams in the Big 12, which wasn’t expected in the preseason. This week is a treat for the Knights. They’ll face two unranked Big 12 basketball teams, a rarity in the conference slate, starting with West Virginia at home, then Cincinnati on the road.
12) Texas Longhorns
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)
Record: 13-5 (2-3)
Last week: L vs. UCF (71-77), W vs. #9 Baylor (75-73)
Next week: at #11 Oklahoma (Jan. 23 – 7 p.m.), at #21 BYU (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Baylor, at Cincinnati
Bad losses: at West Virginia, UCF
Texas was a buzzer-beater by Tyrese Hunter away from potentially being 1-4 in Big 12 basketball play with losses to West Virginia and UCF. Luckily, they were able to beat Baylor, a great home win, but they still don’t resemble anything close to a tournament team. If they want to improve their resume, no better time than this week. They’ll take on two presumably top-25 teams on the road in Oklahoma and BYU.
13) West Virginia Mountaineers
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+1)
Record: 7-11 (2-3)
Last week: L at #15 Oklahoma (63-77), W vs. #3 Kansas (91-85)
Next week: at UCF (Jan. 23 – 7 p.m.), at Oklahoma State (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas, Texas
Bad losses: Monmouth, UMass
Watch out for West Virginia! As a road team, they’re not a threat, but at home, they’re 2-1 with wins against Texas and Kansas. Plus, they may be getting Jessie Edwards back this week, who would be a huge boost to their frontcourt. They would pretty much need to win out to make the tournament, but that doesn’t mean that they can play spoiler throughout the season. Plus, this Kansas win can build momentum for the Mountaineers for the rest of the season. They face UCF and Oklahoma State this week, but both are on the road.
14) Oklahoma State Cowboys
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-1)
Record: 8-10 (0-5)
Last week: L vs. #3 Kansas (66-90), L at Kansas State (66-70)
Next week: vs. TCU (Jan. 23 – 9 p.m.), vs. West Virginia (Jan. 27 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Abilene Christian, Southern Illinois
Every team in the Big 12 has two conference wins… except Oklahoma State who doesn’t have one. This team is a mess, and a win doesn’t seem likely. If they want a win, they’ll have their best opportunity at home against West Virginia. If not, it could get more and more ugly for the Pokes.
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