Ariel Puterman gives his Big 12 basketball power rankings heading into week 17 of the 2023-24 season.
Matchup of the week: Kansas at Baylor (Mar. 2 – 1 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Texas at Texas Tech (Feb. 27 – 9 p.m)
All games listed are EST
1) Houston Cougars
Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)
Record: 24-3 (11-3)
Last week: W vs. #6 Iowa State (73-65), W at #11 Baylor (82-76) OT
Next week: vs. Cincinnati (Feb 27 – 7:00 p.m), at Oklahoma (Mar 2 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at BYU, Dayton, Texas Tech, Texas (x2), Texas A&M, Utah, at Cincinnati, Baylor, Iowa State
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 1 seed (Matty Brackets, CBS Sports, ESPN)
If Houston went 1-1 this week, it would have been successful, but Houston wanted more and did so by taking down Iowa State at home, and then Baylor on the road. Jamal Shead almost hit the shot of the week, but his buzzer-beater three against Baylor was just too late, something Iowa State fans can relate to.
The defense is special, and Jamal Shead continues to step up when needed. They need to go just 3-1 to win at least a share of the Big 12 title, and only have one ranked matchup left. Not bad for a first year team. They are a lock for a one seed barring a collapse, and are the team to beat in the Big 12. Let’s see if they can continue their five game win steak against Cincinnati and Oklahoma, two teams who could really use a win against Houston to boost their tournament odds.
2) Iowa State Cyclones
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)
Record: 21-6 (10-4)
Last week: L at #2 Houston (65-73), W vs. West Virginia (71-64)
Next week: vs. Oklahoma (Feb 28 – 8:00 p.m), at UCF (Mar 2 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Kansas, Houston, TCU (x2), at Texas, at Cincinnati, Texas Tech
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 3 seed (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS Sports)
Not the best week for Iowa State standards, but a good one nonetheless. They were never able to catch Houston on the road, which isn’t a surprise, but they actually struggled a bit with West Virginia before pulling away late. We know what we’re going to get from Iowa State at this point, and they’re not going to lose any games they shouldn’t. They have a terrific opportunity to win out, and if they can do so, we may see them as a top 3 seed in the tournament.
3) Kansas Jayhawks
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)
Record: 21-6 (9-5)
Last week: W vs. Texas (86-67)
Next week: vs. #25 BYU (Feb 27 – 8:00 p.m), at #11 Baylor (Mar 2 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: UConn, Houston, Tennessee, Baylor, Kentucky, TCU, Oklahoma (x2), at Indiana, Texas
Bad losses: at UCF, at West Virginia
Seed projection: 2 seed (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS Sports)
Just one game for the Jayhawks, but a great one at that, crushing Texas at home without Kevin McCullar. Everyone played well, and they were able to control the game early on and not let Texas really get back into the game. The big concern is Kevin McCullar’s availability. Bill Self mentioned he didn’t know when McCullar would be back, thinning the Kansas depth even more.
This will be a tough week for the Jayhawks. They’ll take on BYU at home, which shouldn’t be an issue, but then go to Baylor. Kansas’ road struggles are well documented, so hopefully for them, they can erase that and continue to give themselves a chance to win a share of the Big 12.
4) Baylor Bears
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-1)
Record: 19-8 (8-6)
Last week: L at #25 BYU (71-78), L vs. #2 Houston (76-82) OT
Next week: at TCU (Feb 26 – 9:00 p.m), vs. #9 Kansas (Mar 2 – 1:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Iowa State, Auburn, BYU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Florida, Seton Hall, Cincinnati
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 3 seed (CBS Sports, Matty Brackets), 4 seed (ESPN)
Well, we talked about how this was the toughest week of the season in last week’s power rankings, and it showed, with Baylor going 0-2. Both were very difficult games, but they should have gone at least 1-1. It doesn’t get much easier either. They go to TCU then play Kansas at home this week, then close out conference play with a home game against Texas and finish at Texas Tech.
With the double bye being in place for the top 4 teams, they need to finish the season strong. They are tied at 8-6 with TCU and Texas Tech and play both of those teams, so wins vs both of them can separate Baylor and provide the much-needed rest.
5) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 19-8 (8-6)
Last week: W vs. TCU (82-81), L at UCF (61-75)
Next week: vs. Texas (Feb 27 – 9:00 p.m), at West Virginia (Mar 2 – 9:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Kansas, at Oklahoma, at Texas, BYU, Kansas State, Texas Tech
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 5 seed (ESPN), 6 seed (Matty Brackets, ESPN), 7 seed (CBS Sports)
While it was close, Texas Tech pulled off a massive win against TCU, keeping them in position for the double bye. Unfortunately, they severely hurt themselves shortly after, getting blown out on the road against UCF. The Red Raiders have definitely taken a step back since the Kansas win, but the schedule is in their favor. Their road games are against West Virginia and Oklahoma State, and their home games are against Baylor and Texas. If Williams continues to play at this level, they should cruise to a top 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
6) TCU Horned Frogs
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 19-8 (8-6)
Last week: L at Texas Tech (81-82), W vs. Cincinnati (75-57)
Next week: vs. #11 Baylor (Feb 26 – 9:00 p.m), at #25 BYU (Mar 2 – 9:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at Baylor, Houston, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, at Kansas State
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 6 seed (Matty Brackets, CBS), 9 seed (ESPN)
TCU probably just needs to win one game this week to lock themselves into the tournament. They probably have the best depth in the conference, and Emanuel Miller continues to step up. They aren’t in that same tier as the top 4, but they can certainly make the second weekend if they’re playing like this.
7) BYU Cougars
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+1)
Record: 19-8 (7-7)
Last week: W vs. #11 Baylor (78-71), L at Kansas State (74-84)
Next week: at #9 Kansas (Feb 27 – 8:00 p.m), vs. TCU (Mar 2 – 9:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Iowa State, San Diego State, Texas, NC State, Baylor
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 5 seed (Matty Brackets), 6 seed (ESPN), 7 seed (CBS)
BYU has been incredible at home in conference play, losing just once, and that being to Houston. However, they have struggled on the road, losing three straight and four of their last five. They have just two apiece remaining, so a 2-2 finish would not be the worst-case scenario for a BYU team originally projected to finish toward the bottom of the conference.
8) Oklahoma Sooners
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+1)
Record: 19-8 (7-7)
Last week: W at Oklahoma State (84-82) OT
Next week: at #6 Iowa State (Feb 28 – 8:00 p.m), vs. #2 Houston (Mar 2 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Iowa State, at Cincinnati, BYU, Providence
Bad losses: N/A
Seed projection: 7 seed (Matty Brackets), 8 seed (ESPN, CBS)
Is there a better feeling than hitting a buzzer-beater three on the road against your biggest rival? Ask Javian McCollum, who did just that, silencing the home crowd and avoiding a huge resume loss. Oklahoma is probably safe, but if they want to avoid any sort of drama on selection Sunday, then a win this week against one of the top 2 teams in the Big 12 would be a long way.
9) Texas Longhorns
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)
Record: 17-10 (6-8)
Last week: W vs. Kansas State (62-56), L at #9 Kansas (67-86)
Next week: at #23 Texas Tech (Feb 27 – 9:00 p.m), vs. Oklahoma State (Mar 2 – 2:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Baylor, at TCU, at Oklahoma, at Cincinnati
Bad losses: at West Virginia, UCF
Seed projection: 8 seed (Matty Brackets), 9 seed (ESPN), First Four Out (CBS)
Texas split the Kansas teams, winning the one they were supposed to and losing the one they were supposed to. That’s going to have to change soon. The committee’s patience on Texas is running lower and lower, and if they reach 13 losses, it’ll be hard to put them in, especially if those two losses are on the road to Baylor and Texas Tech.
They have the talent but just haven’t been able to win. Is Rodney Terry on the hot seat if they don’t make it? We’ll see, but still a long way to go until then, and a win on Tuesday will help greatly.
10) Kansas State Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+1)
Record: 16-11 (6-8)
Last week: L at Texas (56-62), W vs. #25 BYU (84-74)
Next week: vs. West Virginia (Feb 26 – 7:00 p.m), at Cincinnati (Mar 2 – 7:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Kansas, Baylor, Providence, Villanova, BYU
Bad losses: at Oklahoma State
Seed Projections: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)
Kansas State will probably need to win out and then some to make the tournament, but a win against BYU is a good start. Kaluma had his best game of the season, but Perry continues to not be the player they thought he’d be when he committed. If both can bring their A-games, then they have a shot, and a 2-0 week this week is not only doable but could help them avoid playing on that first day of the Big 12 tournament.
11) Cincinnati Bearcats
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-1)
Record: 16-11 (5-9)
Last week: L vs. Oklahoma State (76-80), L at TCU (57-75)
Next week: at #2 Houston (Feb 27 – 7:00 p.m), vs. Kansas State (Mar 2 – 7:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at BYU, at Texas Tech, TCU
Bad losses: at West Virginia
Seed projection: Next Four Out (ESPN, Matty Brackets), OUT (CBS)
Cincinnati is officially free-falling, losing four of their last five and both games this week. They are just one game out of last place and have only won two conference games by double digits. The Bearcats somehow still find themselves on the bubble and can help themselves in a big way on Tuesday if they can beat Houston.
12) Oklahoma State Cowboys
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)
Record: 12-15 (4-10)
Last week: W at Cincinnati (80-76), L vs. Oklahoma (82-84) OT
Next week: vs. UCF (Feb 28 – 8:00 p.m), at Texas (Mar 2 – 2:00 p.m)
Quality wins: BYU, at Cincinnati
Bad losses: Abilene Christian, Southern Illinois
Seed Projections: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)
Oklahoma State continued to look impressive as of late, winning a game at Cincinnati, then nearly beating Oklahoma, and honestly should have if not for an impressive three-pointer at the buzzer. It feels like with Bryce Thompson out, it has opened up the offense, and as a result, they’ve been scoring at a higher rate and have looked like a new and improved team. They’re not going to make the tournament, but they can definitely hurt their conference mates’ chances at making it, especially Texas if they beat them this Saturday.
13) UCF Knights
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)
Record: 14-12 (5-9)
Last week: L at West Virginia (67-77), W vs. #23 Texas Tech (75-61)
Next week: at Oklahoma State (Feb 28 – vs. #6 Iowa State (Mar 2 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Kansas, at Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech
Bad losses: Stetson
Seed Projection: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)
UCF picked up a big win, a blowout against Texas Tech, but it might be too little to late at this point. They have four really strong wins, but 12 losses might be too many. For a team like UCF, they might want to be in the bottom four of the standings to get that extra game and boost their resume. Darius Johnson has been phenomenal as of late, and hopefully, for the Knights, he can keep it up throughout the conference tournament and the remaining regular season games.
14) West Virginia Mountaineers
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 9-18 (4-10)
Last week: W vs. UCF (77-67), L at #6 Iowa State (64-71)
Next week: at Kansas State (Feb 26 – 7:00 p.m), vs. #23 Texas Tech (Mar 2 – 6:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Kansas, Texas, Cincinnati
Bad losses: Monmouth, UMass
Seed Projections: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)
The good news for West Virginia is they won last week. The bad news is they are still just 1-5 in February. There’s not much left to say about this team. They are clearly the worst team in the Big 12 and at this point should just try to hit the ten-win mark.
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