We are now one month into the women’s college basketball season and it’s time to unveil our second Big 12 power rankings for the season.
It’s been more than two weeks since our last power rankings, in part due to the holiday, and there has been plenty of movement.
Our next power rankings will come on Dec. 16, which is just before the first Big 12 games of the season. So, let’s get to it.
No. 1 TCU (8-0; Last Ranking: No. 3)
The only remaining undefeated team left in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs now have two ranked victories, the second of which came over No. 3 Notre Dame. With a new piece like guard Hailey Van Lith, the chemistry has come together quicker than I expected. Next up? South Carolina in Fort Worth on Sunday.
No. 2 West Virginia (8-1; Last Ranking: No. 4)
The Mountaineers saw their undefeated season end against Texas, but the Mountaineers pushed the Longhorns to the limit. WVU doesn’t have any ranked wins, but they have beaten two power conference teams (Pitt, Texas A&M) and took care of Boise State at a neutral site. This defense is for real. Everyone knew that going into the season. But the offense is more versatile and productive than a season ago.
No. 3 Kansas State (7-1; Last Ranking: No. 2)
This is where things start to get tricky. How much do you punish K-State for a neutral site loss to Duke? Not much. The Wildcats bounced back nicely to blow out DePaul. Kansas State is 2-0 against Big East teams but 0-1 against ranked teams.
No. 4 Baylor (7-2; Last Ranking: No. 5)
Baylor has played, perhaps, the most difficult non-conference schedule of anyone in the Big 12 to this point. The Bears are 1-2 in those games, but neither were “bad” losses and the Bears only continue to prove that they’re contenders for a league crown. Five Bears are averaging double figures.
No. 5 Iowa State (6-2; Last Ranking: No. 1)
This is as far as felt comfortable dropping ISU. But that loss to South Carolina, 75-59, was actually worse than the score would indicate. This in no way derails the Cyclones as a Big 12 championship candidate. But, since that loss to Northern Iowa, ISU is clearly going through a rough patch.
No. 6 Kansas (7-1; Last Ranking: No. 8)
The Jayhawks ramped up the schedule after some warm-ups and are 2-1 in games against power conference opponents, with the loss coming to Iowa at a neutral site. Beating Auburn and Pitt were nice touches and shows that this new-look Kansas team is starting to come together.
No. 7 Utah (6-2; Last Ranking: No. 7)
The Utes weathered the departure of coach Lynne Roberts to the WNBA nicely. The loss to Mississippi State hurts, but it was only by four points. That win over Notre Dame, right after TCU beat the Fighting Irish, is a nice feather in the cap for the Utes.
No. 8 Texas Tech (8-1; Last Ranking: No. 9)
The Lady Raiders are doing what they typically do this time of year — rack up wins. But it’s a bit different this year. Texas Tech is 1-1 against power conference teams, including a win over Washington State. Plus, the win over Gonzaga, a dominant one at that was impressive. So the Lady Raiders slide up a spot.
No. 9 Oklahoma State (7-1; Last Ranking: No. 12)
The Cowgirls have put together two impressive wins — a victory over Fairfield, one of the top mid-majors from a season ago, and a 14-point win over Arkansas. The first loss is their most recent game, a 57-53 loss to Richmond. But, there’s a chance OSU could be 10-1 going into the Big 12 opener against Iowa State.
No. 10 BYU (6-2; Last Ranking: No. 10)
BYU’s only power conference game was a 20-point loss to Iowa. The Cougars aren’t quite there yet, but the win over Colorado State was solid. The Cougars should be smarting from that seven-point loss to Northern Colorado. Delaney Gibb is emerging as one of the league’s most exciting young players.
No. 11 Colorado (6-2; Last Ranking: No. 11)
Colorado holds steady, but the Buffs don’t have a win over a power conference team yet. But, they’ve only had one shot so far, which was an eight-point loss to Louisville. The other loss, against Boise State, was to a quality mid-major.
No. 12 Arizona (6-3; Last Ranking: No. 6)
The victory over UNLV was a quality win as the Rebels are one of the best mid-majors in the country. But their last two losses — to Vanderbilt and Cal — give the young Wildcats an 0-2 record against power conference teams.
No. 13 Cincinnati (4-2; Last Ranking: No. 13)
It’s a bit difficult to gauge where the Bearcats are when they’ve only played six games, the fewest of any Big 12 team so far. UCF is 1-1 against power conference teams — a loss to Seton Hall and a win over Georgetown.
No. 14 UCF (6-2; Last Ranking: No. 14)
The Knights got off to a 6-0 start but have lost their last two games, one of which was to UNLV. UCF does have a win over a power conference opponent that it notched earlier this season against Marquette. But it will be the Knights’ only high major game until hosting TCU on Dec. 21.
No. 15 Arizona State (4-3; Last Ranking: No. 15)
ASU is an interesting team. The wins over SMU and Oregon State are solid. But the 16-point loss to Kentucky shows how far away the Sun Devils are from contending. They won’t get another power conference foe until their Big 12 opener against Utah.
No. 16 Houston (2-6; Last Ranking: No. 16)
The Cougars bookended their two-game winning streak with a pair of three-game losing streaks. That includes two losses to power conference teams. Gigi Cooke and Laila Blair have combined for 21 points. But it’s not nearly enough.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
