AP Poll: Baylor, Texas Remain in Top 5, Texas Tech Moves Up
The Baylor Bears and the Texas Longhorns held steady in the Associated Press Top 25 Men’s Basketball poll, released Jan. 11.
Baylor (11-0, 4-0 in Big 12) had a 2-0 week and remained at No. 2, where they’ve held steady in this poll all season behind No. 1 Gonzaga, which is also undefeated. Baylor defeated both Oklahoma and TCU last week to remain the league’s last undefeated team overall. Guard Jared Butler passed the 1,000-point mark for his Baylor career.
The Bears received one first-place vote this week.
The Bears remained undefeated in Big 12 play as well, and the only other Big 12 team that can make that claim is Texas (10-1, 4-0), which moved up to No. 4 last week and remained there this week, thanks to wins over Iowa State and West Virginia, the latter of which was a 72-70 victory via an Andrew Jones 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
Kansas (10-2, 4-1) bounced back from its loss last weekend to Texas to blow out TCU and Oklahoma last week, and the Jayhawks held steady at No. 6.
West Virginia (9-4, 2-3) remained in the Top 25, in spite of having a under-.500 conference record for the second straight weekend when pollsters voted. The Mountaineers check in at No. 13 this week, rising from No. 14 last week.
WVU rallied from 19 points down to defeat Oklahoma State on the road, while falling by two points to Texas at home. Forward Derek Culver had double-doubles in both games and, along with Butler and Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham, was named to the Wooden Award’s Top 25 Watch List.
Texas Tech (10-3, 3-2) remained in the Top 25, moving up to No. 15 from No. 18 after a 2-0 week in which the Red Raiders defeated Kansas State and Iowa State. The Red Raiders moved on after true freshman Nimari Burnett opted out for the rest of the season for personal reasons.
READ MORE: HCS Big 12 Starting Lineup for Jan. 9
This will be a big week in the Big 12, as there are no games on Monday due to the National Championship Game. But, on Tuesday, Baylor starts a three-game stretch against ranked Big 12 teams — West Virginia, Texas Tech and Kansas. Before the Red Raiders get their shot at the Bears, they have to deal with the Longhorns on Wednesday night. Then, on Saturday, Bedlam Basketball takes hold in Stillwater as the Oklahoma State Cowboys host Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State (8-3, 2-3) received 28 votes, down from the 68 it received last week. The Cowboys lost to West Virginia and defeated Kansas State last week.
Oklahoma (6-4, 2-3) did not receive any votes after receiving 15 votes last week. The Sooners fell to Baylor and Kansas last week.
This Week’s Big 12 Schedule (all times local)
Tuesday, Jan. 12
TCU at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., ESPN/Big 12+
Kansas at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ESPN/Big 12+
West Virginia at Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Iowa State at Kansas State, 6 p.m., ESPNU
Texas Tech at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 14
Iowa State at Kansas, time TBD, ESPN+
TCU at West Virginia, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Baylor at Texas Tech, 3 p.m., ESPN
Kansas State at Texas, 7 p.m., LHN
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ESPN2
**Want to win a $25 gift card? Go sign up here and join our conversation! The best poster each week wins a gift card to your favorite establishment!**
