2023-24 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 18

Ariel Puterman gives his Big 12 basketball power rankings heading into the final week of the Big 12 2023-24 season.

Matchup of the week: Kansas at Houston (Mar. 9 – 4 p.m.)

1) Houston Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)

Record: 26-3 (13-3)

Last week: W vs. Cincinnati (67-59), W at Oklahoma (87-85)

Next week: at UCF (Mar. 6 – 7 p.m.), vs. #14 Kansas (Mar. 9 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa State, Baylor, at BYU, Dayton, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Texas (x2), Texas A&M, Utah, at Cincinnati (x2)

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 1 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, CBS Sports, ESPN)

After starting 1-2 in conference play, Houston has won 12 of their last 13. This team is special, and it’s hard to really see any team in the country beating them on a neutral court. Houston almost dropped a game against Oklahoma on Saturday, but Jamal Shead hit a game-winner. LJ Cryer was terrific last week as well averaging 22.5 PPG in the two matchups. Houston controls their destiny and just needs to win out to claim an outright Big 12 title. Not bad for the first year in the league.

2) Iowa State Cyclones

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)

Record: 23-6 (12-4)

Last week: W vs. Oklahoma (58-45), W at UCF (60-52)

Next week: vs. BYU (Mar. 6 – 8 p.m.), at Kansas State (Mar. 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Houston, Kansas, TCU (x2), at Texas, at Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Oklahoma

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 2 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, ESPN), 3 seed (CBS Sports)

Another 2-0 week for Iowa State, and they need to win just one game this week to secure a top-2 finish in Big 12 play. They are now a borderline two-seed, which would be super important for this team, so don’t expect them to take a day off this week. They are still in play to win the conference outright or at least a share, but they’ll need some help from Houston. This week might be a little tricky for Iowa State. They start with a home game against a red-hot BYU team, then go on the road and play a Kansas State team on the bubble and in desperate need of a resume win against a team like Iowa State.

3) Baylor Bears

Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)

Record: 21-8 (10-6)

Last week: W at TCU (62-54), W vs. #7 Kansas (82-74)

Next week: vs. Texas (Mar. 4 – 9 p.m.), at Texas Tech (Mar. 9 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa State, Auburn, Kansas, at TCU, BYU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Florida, Seton Hall, Cincinnati

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 2 seed (CBS Sports), 3 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, ESPN, Matty Brackets)

This was a huge week to see how much of a contender Baylor can be, and they passed. They won two big games against two great teams and are now in a great spot to earn that double bye in the Big 12 tournament. RayJ Dennis continues to be incredible, both as a scorer and a facilitator, and Yves Missi continues to get better every game. They’re not safe yet, and they have two tough games this week, starting with a Texas team that beat Baylor earlier this season, then closing out at Texas Tech, who will most likely need to beat Baylor to earn that double bye.

4) BYU Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 7 (+3)

Record: 21-8 (9-7)

Last week: W at #9 Kansas (76-68), W vs. TCU (87-75)

Next week: at #6 Iowa State (Mar. 6 – 8 p.m.), vs. Oklahoma State (Mar. 9 – 9 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, San Diego State, TCU, Texas, NC State

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 5 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)

What a week for BYU. First, they go to Allen Fieldhouse, a place known to be impossible to win at, and beat Kansas. Then, they come back from down double digits at half and knock off TCU. This team can shoot like few teams can, and because of that, they can win any game. BYU would love to have that double bye, but that test against Iowa State is in the way.

5) Kansas Jayhawks

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-2)

Record: 21-8 (9-7)

Last week: L vs. BYU (68-76), L at #15 Baylor (74-82)

Next week: vs. Kansas State (Mar. 5 – 9 p.m.), at #1 Houston (Mar. 9 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: UConn, Houston, Tennessee, Baylor, Kentucky, TCU, Oklahoma (x2), at Indiana, Texas

Bad losses: at UCF, at West Virginia

Seed projection: 3 seed (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS Sports)

Kansas never loses at home. Never. Until Tuesday, when BYU came into Allen Fieldhouse and knocked them out. Then, the road struggles continued, losing to Baylor. The good news is, Kevin McCullar is back. The bad news is, they have seven conference losses with a road game against Houston waiting for them. Three-point shooting and depth remain the biggest problems, and at this point, it doesn’t look like they can be fixed.

Kansas dropped a seed line, and 3 seed will most likely be the highest they can get at this point barring them winning the conference tournament. Hopefully, Kevin being back can get them back on track in time for the big dance.

6) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last week’s ranking: 5 (-1)

Record: 20-9 (9-7)

Last week: L vs. Texas (69-81), W at West Virginia (81-70)

Next week: at Oklahoma State (Mar. 5 – 8 p.m.), vs. #11 Baylor (Mar. 9 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Kansas, at Oklahoma, at Texas, BYU, Texas Tech, Kansas State

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 6 seed (CBS Sports), 7 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, ESPN)

There’s nothing worse for Texas Tech than losing at home to Texas. The game was a blowout from the start, and the 12-point margin doesn’t do the game justice. Luckily, they bounced back with a win at West Virginia. Texas Tech is in a great spot to get the double bye with Kansas’ recent struggles. If they go 2-0 or even 1-1, it’s Texas Tech’s. What a terrific job by Grant McCasland in year 1.

7) Texas Longhorns

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+2)

Record: 19-10 (8-8)

Last week: W at Texas Tech (81-69), W vs. Oklahoma State (81-65)

Next week: at #11 Baylor (Mar. 4  – 9 p.m.), vs. Oklahoma (Mar. 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Baylor, at TCU, at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, at Cincinnati

Bad losses: at West Virginia, UCF

Seed projection: 8 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, ESPN), 9 seed (CBS Sports)

Texas needed to beat Texas Tech to sit comfortably in the field, and they did that and more. Now, unless they finish the season 0-3, they will dance. Dylan Disu continues to be incredible, and the defense has improved. A win or two this week would go a long way, and if they play like they did this week, then watch out for the Longhorns to make some noise in the Big 12 tournament.

8) TCU Horned Frogs

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-2)

Record: 19-10 (8-8)

Last week: L vs. #15 Baylor (54-62), L at BYU (75-87)

Next week: vs. West Virginia (Mar. 6 – 7 p.m.), vs. UCF (Mar. 9 – 5 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Baylor, Houston, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, at Kansas State

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 7 seed (Matty Brackets), 9 seed (Waldo’s Watchlist, ESPN, CBS Sports)

TCU is starting to slip at the wrong time. They’ve lost three of the last four, all against tournament teams. They won’t get that double bye thanks to the loss against BYU, but they have a favorable schedule this week to build momentum heading into the conference tournament. If they don’t go 2-0, we might have to have a bigger conversation about this TCU team.

9) Kansas State Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 10 (+1)

Record: 17-12 (7-9)

Last week: W vs. West Virginia (94-90 OT), L at Cincinnati (72-74)

Next week: at #14 Kansas (Mar. 5 – 9 p.m.), vs. #6 Iowa State (Mar. 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Kansas, Baylor, BYU, Villanova, Providence

Bad losses: at Oklahoma State

Seed Projections: OUT (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, CBS), NEXT FOUR OUT (ESPN)

What a wild week for the Wildcats. First, they jump out to a 20+ point lead against West Virginia. West Virginia comes all the way back and forces overtime. Luckily, Kansas State doesn’t lose in overtime and they avoid the bad loss. Then, they are seconds away from earning a huge road win against Cincinnati, but allow a game-winning three to hurt their tournament chances.

If Kansas State wants to play itself back into the field, there’s no better week than this one. They’ll have two opportunities to pick up Quad 1 wins, and with the help of their fellow bubble teams that can be enough. However, an 0-2 week all but solidifies an early offseason for the Wildcats.

10) Oklahoma Sooners

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-2)

Record: 19-10 (7-9)

Last week: L at #8 Iowa State (45-58), L vs. #1 Houston (85-87)

Next week: vs. Cincinnati (Mar. 5 – 8 p.m.), at Texas (Mar. 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa State, BYU, at Cincinnati, Providence

Bad losses: N/A

Seed projection: 8 seed (Matty Brackets, Waldo’s Watchlist, ESPN), 9 seed (CBS Sports)

Oklahoma is trending in the wrong direction. They’ve lost four of the last five, and it should be five in a row if not for that buzzer-beater against Oklahoma State. They are still firmly in the bracket, but the losses are piling up, and eventually, it’s going to be a problem. Luckily, they have no ranked matchups this week, but two teams just as desperate as Oklahoma for a win.

11) Cincinnati Bearcats

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)

Record: 17-12 (6-10)

Last week: L at #1 Houston (59-67), W vs. Kansas State (74-72)

Next week: at Oklahoma (Mar. 5 – 8 p.m.), vs. West Virginia (Mar. 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: at BYU, at Texas Tech, TCU

Bad losses: at West Virginia

Seed projection: First Four Out (Waldo’s Watchlist), OUT (ESPN, Matty Brackets, CBS Sports)

That Lukosius three was massive for the Bearcats. They still have a chance to avoid playing in the first round of the tournament, and they stay in bubble consideration for now. They need to go 2-0 this week and get some help from the teams above them. West Virginia shouldn’t be a problem, but Oklahoma will be a tough one.

12) UCF Knights

Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)

Record: 15-13 (6-10)

Last week: W at Oklahoma State (77-71), L vs. #8 Iowa State (52-60)

Next week: vs. #1 Houston (Mar. 6 – 7 p.m.), at TCU (Mar. 9 – 5 p.m.)

Quality wins: Kansas, at Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma

Bad losses: Stetson

Seed Projection: OUT (Waldo’s Watchlist, Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)

Like Cincinnati, getting a win last week was huge for UCF to avoid playing on that first day. As I’ve mentioned before, UCF was supposed to be the free win heading into the season, so the fact they have 6 wins is a huge success. UCF looks to finish out the regular season strong with games against Houston and TCU.

13) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)

Record: 12-17 (4-12)

Last week: L vs. UCF (71-77), L at Texas (65-81)

Next week: vs. Texas Tech (Mar. 5 – 8 p.m.), at #20 BYU (Mar. 9 – 9 p.m.)

Quality wins: BYU, at Cincinnati

Bad losses: Abilene Christian, Southern Illinois

Seed Projections: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)

After it looked like Oklahoma State was building something, they’ve lost three in a row and are back at the bottom. Oklahoma State is getting closer to the end of a brutal season and perhaps the end of head coach Mike Boynton.

14) West Virginia Mountaineers

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 9-20 (4-12)

Last week: L at Kansas State (90-94) OT, L vs. Texas Tech (70-81)

Next week: vs. TCU (Mar. 6 – 7 p.m.), at Cincinnati (Mar 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Kansas, Texas, Cincinnati

Bad losses: Monmouth, UMass

Seed Projections: OUT (Matty Brackets, ESPN, CBS)

Can West Virginia get to 10 wins? Probably not, but no harm in trying. Just two more games plus the conference tournament, and then a busy offseason can begin.

Week 17 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 16 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 15 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 14 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 13 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 12 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 11 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 10 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 9 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 8 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 7 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 6 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 5 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 4 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 3 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings

Week 2 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings