Six Big 12 Teams Remain in Men’s Basketball AP Poll
Six Big 12 teams were among the nation’s best as the Associated Press Men’s Basketball Top 25 was released after the season’s seventh week of games.
The Big 12 ranked teams included:
Kansas at No. 2 (No. 2 last week);
Houston at No. 3 (No. 3 last week);
Oklahoma at No. 12 (No. 7 last week);
BYU at No. 14 (No. 17 last week);
Baylor at No. 17 (No. 10 last week);
Texas at No. 21 (No. 19 last week).
One other Big 12 team received votes, meaning that seven of the league’s 14 teams received at least one vote this week.
Kansas (11-1) hosted Yale and beat the Bulldogs, 75-60, in its final game before the holiday break. The Jayhawks return on Saturday to face Wichita State in a neutral site game in Kansas City. Then Kansas will take a one-week break before the start of Big 12 play.
Houston (12-0) played one game at home last week, defeating Texas State, 72-37. The Cougars return to action on Saturday when they host Penn, which will be their last tune-up before their first Big 12 game against West Virginia on Jan. 6.
Oklahoma (10-1) lost its first game of the season last week, falling to North Carolina, 81-69, in the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. Oklahoma is back on the court Thursday and will host Central Arkansas. The Sooners will also host Monmouth on Dec. 31 as their final tune-up for the start of their last Big 12 season.
BYU (11-1) won its only game last week, defeating Bellarmine, 101-59. The Cougars have one more tune-up against Wyoming on Saturday before they get a break to prepare for their first Big 12 game, which is at home against fellow Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati on Jan. 6.
Baylor (10-2) lost its second game in a row when it fell to Duke, 78-70, in New York City. The Bears followed that with a 10-7-48 win over Mississippi Valley State, which was their final game in the Ferrell Center. The Bears don’t play this week but will host Cornell on Jan. 2 as they christen their new building, Foster Pavilion, ahead of Big 12 action.
Texas (9-2) won its only game last week, beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 71-55. Texas is back in action on Friday at home against UNC Greensboro. Texas has one more tune-up at home on Jan. 1 against UT Arlington.
AP Top 25 Men’s Poll for Dec. 25
No. 1 Purdue
No. 2 Kansas
No. 3 Houston
No. 4 Arizona
No. 5 UConn
No. 6 Tennessee
No. 7 FAU
No. 8 Kentucky
No. 9 North Carolina
No. 10 Marquette
No. 11 Illinois
No. 12 Oklahoma
No. 13 Gonzaga
No. 14 BYU
No. 15 Colorado State
No. 16 Duke
No. 17 Baylor
No. 18 Clemson
No. 19 Memphis
No. 20 James Madison
No. 21 Texas
No. 22 Creighton
No. 23 Wisconsin
No. 24 Ole Miss
No. 25 Providence
Big 12 teams receiving votes: Iowa State 21.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
