The first drop of the NET rankings is out, and the Big 12 has officially entered the sorting hat stage of the college basketball season. There are a few teams that look the part, some that are still figuring it out, and others that might want to stop checking the NET altogether.
At the top, Arizona leads the way at No. 6, which should surprise no one. They’ve looked like one of the most complete teams in the country and have already notched a few solid wins. Right behind them is Iowa State at No. 7, and they’ve earned that spot. The Cyclones have been smothering teams on defense and making life miserable for just about anyone who crosses half-court.
BYU checks in at No. 13, which is a strong spot for a team looking to compete in the Big 12. Kansas comes in at No. 17, and Houston is right behind them at No. 18. That’s five Big 12 teams inside the top 20, which tells you the top tier of the league is holding up just fine.
From that point, there are a few teams just outside the Top 35, including No. 37 Texas Tech and No. 46 Colorado. Three straight Big 12 teams follow with Oklahoma State at No. 53, TCU at No. 54, and Kansas State at No. 55. That’s a whole lot of “bubble if the season ended today” energy. UCF is sitting at No. 58, and Baylor, yikes, is at No. 67. Not exactly where the Bears expected to be at this point.
From there, it just gets grim. Arizona State is at No. 100, West Virginia at No. 103, Cincinnati at No. 154, and Utah brings up the rear at No. 175. That’s not “trending in the wrong direction.” That’s “trying to keep the wheels on.”
The good news? It’s early. The NET is going to move a lot over the next two months, and the Big 12 is brutal enough that opportunities to climb the ladder will come weekly. But for the teams sitting outside that top 40, the pressure’s already on. Bad losses won’t just hurt, they’ll bury you.
The top half of the Big 12 looks like it belongs. The rest? It’s time to wake up.
