2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 14

Ariel Puterman gives his Big 12 basketball power rankings heading into week 14 of the 2024-25 season.

Matchup of the week: Kansas at Iowa State (Feb 3 – 9:00 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: UCF at Baylor (Feb 8 – 2:00 p.m)

All games listed are EST

1) Houston Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)

Record: 17-4 (9-1)

Last week: W at West Virginia (63-49), L vs. #22 Texas Tech (81-82 OT)

Next week: vs. Oklahoma State (Feb 4 – 8:00 p.m), at Colorado (Feb 8 – 4:00 p.m)

Quality wins: at #16 Kansas, West Virginia (2x), at UCF, BYU

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: 2 seed (Making the Madness, ESPN), 3 seed (CBS Sports)

There’s no team who hates overtime more than the Houston Cougars. This is the 4th time they’ve made it that far, and have lost three of those times. Houston suffered their first conference loss of the season after starting 9-0, but have a terrific week ahead to get back on track, taking on Oklahoma State and Colorado. Don’t be surprised if the two teams combined fail to reach 100 points.

2) Iowa State Cyclones

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)

Record: 17-4 (7-3)

Last week: L at Arizona (75-86 OT), L vs. Kansas State (61-80)

Next week: at #16 Kansas (Feb 3 – 9:00 p.m), vs. TCU (Feb 8 – 12:00 p.m)

Quality wins: #11 Marquette, #16 Kansas, Baylor, at #13 Texas Tech, Dayton (Neutral), at Iowa, UCF

Bad losses: Kansas State

Seed projection: 1 seed (ESPN), 2 seed (Making the Madness), 3 seed (CBS Sports)

Iowa State came into the week with two losses in 19 games. This week, they had two losses in two games. They could have easily gone 1-1 on the week, but a shocking three-quarters court shot was the difference between that. The true shocker was the Kansas State game, especially losing at home and by that much. Was this week a fluke or is Iowa State in trouble? No better way to find out than an immediate game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse.

3) Arizona Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)

Record: 15-6 (9-1)

Last week: W vs. #3 Iowa State (86-75 OT), W at Arizona State (81-72)

Next week: at BYU (Feb 4 – 11:00 p.m), vs. #13 Texas Tech (Feb 8 – 10:00 p.m)

Quality wins: Baylor, at Cincinnati, at West Virginia, UCF, #8 Iowa State

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: 5 seed (ESPN, Making the Madness), 6 seed (CBS Sports)

As we just mentioned, it took a miracle, but a Caleb Love three-quarters court shot gave them their biggest win of the season and a tie for the top of the Big 12. Then, they beat their in-state rival on the road by 9. No one has it better than Arizona State right now, but no reason to celebrate early. They’ll face a hot BYU team on the road, before an even hotter Texas Tech team on Saturday.

4) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)

Record: 17-4 (8-2)

Last week: W vs. TCU (71-57), W at #6 Houston (82-81 OT)

Next week: vs. Baylor (Feb 4 – 9:00 p.m), at #20 Arizona (Feb 8 – 10:00 p.m)

Quality wins: #20 Arizona, at BYU, at #5 Houston

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: 4 seed (Making the Madness), 5 seed (CBS Sports), 6 seed (ESPN)

There isn’t a hotter team in the Big 12 than Texas Tech. They’ve now ripped off six straight wins, including a stunner on the road at Houston. They did that without JT Toppin and Coach Grant McCasland, who both got ejected after a questionable flagrant two call.

It took a little time, but since the UCF loss to start conference play, all the pieces have started to fit perfectly. The jobs not finished though, as they’ll face another tough week ahead. If they can win both, there starts to be a serious conversation about this team’s chance to win the Big 12.

5) Baylor Bears

Last week’s ranking: 6 (+1)

Record: 14-7 (6-4)

Last week: L at BYU (89-93 OT), W vs. #11 Kansas (81-70)

Next week: at #13 Texas Tech (Feb 4 – 9:00 p.m), vs. UCF (Feb 8 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: Arkansas (Neutral), #12 St. John’s (Neutral), Cincinnati, at Arizona State, #16 Kansas

Bad losses: at Gonzaga

Seed projection: 9 seed (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

6) Kansas Jayhawks

Last week’s ranking: 5 (-1)

Record: 15-6 (6-4)

Last week: W vs. UCF (91-87), L at Baylor (70-81)

Next week: vs. #8 Iowa State (Feb 3 – 9:00 p.m), at Kansas State (Feb 8 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: #2 Duke (Neutral), UNC, #9 Michigan State (Neutral), at UCF, at Cincinnati, Arizona State

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: 3 seed (ESPN), 4 seed (CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

Is it time to hit the panic button? Kansas led at half against a severely banged-up Baylor team. They then allowed a 60-point second half and completely collapsed on the road. At 6-4, Big 12 title hopes are all but dead, but they still have the talent to do more.

Monday’s game against Iowa State will tell us all we need to know. If they win, no matter how they do it, then things are looking up. If they drop a third game at home, it might be time to look to the future.

7) West Virginia Mountaineers

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)

Record: 14-7 (5-5)

Last week: L vs. #6 Houston (49-63), W at Cincinnati (63-50)

Next week: at TCU (Feb 5 – 8:00 p.m), vs. Utah (Feb 8 – 5:00 p.m)

Quality wins: #8 Iowa State, at #16 Kansas, Gonzaga (Neutral), #20 Arizona (Neutral), Georgetown

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: 8 seed (CBS Sports), 9 seed (ESPN, Making the Madness)

West Virginia stayed firmly in the tournament with a double-digit road win against Cincinnati. Javon Small continues to lead the way, scoring 19 in that one. West Virginia has the wins, and like we’ve mentioned, as long as they keep winning the games they’re supposed to, things are looking bright. They have two games they should win this week against TCU and Utah, so anything but a 2-0 week may raise eyebrows.

8) BYU Cougars

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+1)

Record: 15-6 (6-4)

Last week: W vs. Baylor (93-89 OT), W at UCF (81-75)

Next week: vs. #20 Arizona (Feb 4 – 11:00 p.m), at Cincinnati (Feb 8 – 6:00 p.m)

Quality wins: Baylor, at UCF, Arizona State

Bad losses: at Providence

Seed projection: Last Four in (CBS Sports, Making the Madness), First Four Out (ESPN)

BYU is heating up at the right time, winning four straight and going from out of the tournament picture onto the bubble. The Baylor home win was huge, but the UCF road win might have been even bigger. Now, they just need to add some quality wins to the resume. Baylor is their only win against a current tournament team, so beating Arizona at home could go a long way for this team.

9) Kansas State Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 12 (+3)

Record: 10-11 (4-6)

Last week: W vs. Oklahoma State (85-57), W at #3 Iowa State (80-61)

Next week: at Arizona State (Feb 4 – 10:00 p.m), vs. #16 Kansas (Feb 8 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: West Virginia, at #8 Iowa State

Bad losses: Liberty, Wichita State

Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

What a week it was for K State. Whatever sliver of hope this team had became a little bigger based on the way they played. They started off with a near 30-point win against Oklahoma State. They were expected to win, but not by this margin, especially after losing to them earlier in the season. Then, they went to Hilton, a place where no one wins, and beat Iowa State comfortably.

It seems like Coleman Hawkins is finally starting to figure it out, and Dug McDaniel and Brendan Hausen have been key pieces for the team as well. Let’s see if this run continues against Arizona State and Kansas, or if they return to old form.

10) UCF Knights

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-2)

Record: 13-8 (4-6)

Last week: L at #11 Kansas (87-91), L vs. BYU (75-81)

Next week: vs. Cincinnati (Feb 5 – 7:00 p.m), at Baylor (Feb 8 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: vs. #10 Texas A&M, at #13 Texas Tech, at Arizona State

Bad losses: Kansas

Seed projection: Last Four in (ESPN), First Four Out (CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

Really tough week for UCF, who needed at least one win to stay off the bubble. Now, they find themselves as one of the last teams in or out, which is never where you want to be as a team. Perhaps this week they’ll be able to turn it around, taking on two teams they haven’t faced yet this season.

11) TCU Horned Frogs

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)

Record: 11-10 (4-6)

Last week: L at Texas Tech (57-71), W vs. Colorado (68-57)

Next week: vs. West Virginia (Feb 5 – 8:00 p.m), at #8 Iowa State (Feb 8 – 12:00 p.m)

Quality wins: at Baylor, Xavier, BYU

Bad losses: Santa Clara (Neutral), Colorado State (Neutral)

Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

TCU won the game they’re supposed to, and lost the one they’re supposed to, a tale we’ve seen all conference play. The tournament hopes are all but dead, but they’d love to play spoiler this week against West Virginia and Iowa State. David Punch scored a season high 19 points, so maybe the freshman breaks-out again this week.

12) Utah Utes

Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)

Record: 12-9 (4-6)

Last week: W vs. Cincinnati (69-66), L at Oklahoma State (72-81)

Next week: vs. Colorado (Feb 5 – 9:00 p.m), at West Virginia (Feb 8 – 5:00 p.m)

Quality wins: BYU

Bad losses: None

Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

For a team projected to finish last in the Big 12, a 4-6 record through 10 games is nothing to be upset about. Ezra Ausar and Gabe Madsen have traded being leading scorer in eight straight games, so if they can just get a third option, maybe they can sneak in some more wins. They’ll face winless Colorado to start, before a tough matchup on the road against West Virginia.

13) Arizona State Sun Devils

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-3)

Record: 12-9 (3-7)

Last week: W at Colorado (70-68), L vs. Arizona (72-81)

Next week: vs. Kansas State (Feb 4 – 10:00 p.m), at Oklahoma State (Feb 9 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: at West Virginia, Saint Mary’s (Neutral), Grand Canyon (Neutral), New Mexico (Neutral)

Bad losses: None

Seed Projection: First Four Out (ESPN), Next Four Out (Making the Madness), OUT (CBS Sports)

Like UCF, this team needed a big week, and didn’t really get it. They beat Colorado by 2, which is not much to puff your chest about, albeit they were without BJ Freeman and Jayden Quaintance. Then, they lose at home to their rivals in a game that involved multiple ejections and Bobby Hurley refusing to shake hands with Tommy Lloyd.

The Saint Mary’s and New Mexico wins continue to age very nicely, but they need to start winning some of these conference games because a 3-7 record won’t cut it. They face Kansas State and Oklahoma State this week, two teams with losing records in conference play. If they can improve to 5-7 in conference play, we can start having some different conversations about this team.

14) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last week’s ranking: 15 (+1)

Record: 11-10 (3-7)

Last week: L at Kansas State (57-85), W vs. Utah (81-72)

Next week: at #5 Houston (Feb 4 – 8:00 p.m), vs. Arizona State (Feb 9 – 2:00 p.m)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: FAU (Neutral)

Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

It’s a battle to finish above .500 for Oklahoma State, as they fell to 10-10 before going back up again. It’ll be close, and with this week’s schedule, they’ll definitely fall in danger of going below. Bryce Thompson has at least started to figure it out, leading the team in scoring three of the last four games.

15) Cincinnati Bearcats

Last week’s ranking: 15 (-1)

Record: 12-9 (2-8)

Last week: L at Utah (66-69), L vs. West Virginia (50-63)

Next week: at UCF (Feb 5 – 7:00 p.m), vs. BYU (Feb 8 – 6:00 p.m)

Quality wins: Xavier, Dayton (Neutral)

Bad losses: None

Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

It’s conference tournament or bust for this team, who may be the most disappointing team in college basketball at this point. They’ve dropped four in a row, and their only wins are against 3-7 ASU and 0-10 Colorado. The seat is as hot as it can be for Wes Miller, and they still have tons of tough matchups ahead. Let’s see if they can snap the streak this week against UCF and BYU, two teams currently on the bubble.

16) Colorado Buffaloes

Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)

Record: 9-12 (0-10)

Last week: L vs. Arizona State (68-70), L at TCU (57-68)

Next week: at Utah (Feb 5 – 9:00 p.m), vs. #5 Houston (Feb 8 – 4:00 p.m)

Quality wins: #19 UConn (Neutral)

Bad losses: None

Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)

The most exciting story in the Big 12 could be whether Colorado wins a game in conference play this season. They came close, losing to Arizona State by two and having several chances to win, but alas, an 0-10 start for them. Arguably their best opportunity comes on Tuesday in Utah. If they don’t win that one, we might be in for a historically bad start for the new Big 12 member.

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