The Big 12 is a bitch. I’m not saying that. Kansas coach Bill Self is.
His Jayhawks are 1-2 in league play after a loss to West Virginia in Morgantown, which gives us one of the odder stats you’ll find this season.
Kansas is not its usual self. But the league is. Back to being college basketball’s best conference after the SEC took a temporary hold on the moniker last season, the Big 12 is the epitome of brutality, to borrow a phrase from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein and putting it in a different context. There are two undefeated teams in the conference. They won’t end the season that way — there is just too much basketball left. Here are this week’s power rankings.
Tier 1 for Big 12 Basketball
1. Arizona (16-0, 3-0) (Last Ranking: 1)
2. Iowa State (16-0, 3-0) (Last Ranking: 2)
There are now five undefeated teams in the country and two of them are in the Big 12. The Wildcats and the Cyclones are national championship contenders and playing some of the best basketball in the country. I got to see it myself with Iowa State on Saturday.
So, what differentiates the two right now? Two things in my opinion. First, I think Arizona is a deeper offensive team. Both teams have incredible starting fives. But I think the Wildcats have a better offensive bench right now. Second, the Wildcats aren’t really being challenged right now. Their last single-digit win was in December over UConn by four points. Since then, 11 straight wins have been by double digits.
Arizona and Iowa State don’t face each other in league play until March. Ugh. Both will likely have a loss by then. But, still, it’s a massive game a week before the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
Hilton was great. Story coming. And, oddly, my other out-of-state road trip takes me to Tucson in February.
Tier 2 for Big 12 Basketball
3. Houston (15-1, 3-0) (Last Ranking: 3)
4. BYU (15-1, 3-0) (Last Ranking: 4)
5. Texas Tech (12-4, 2-1) (Last Ranking: 5)
Remember last week when I wrote that I wasn’t amenable to dropping Houston from No. 3 after that close win over Cincinnati? Did you watch this week? Well, now you know why. The Coogs took care of Texas Tech at home and then blew away Baylor on the road. Houston methodically dismantles whatever is in its way.
AJ Dybansta and BYU had an undefeated week, including a win over rival Utah and an elite uniform matchup at Huntsman, with Utah in red and BYU in blue. I’m going to get the chance to see them next weekend in Lubbock.
There was no temptation to drop Tech from this tier after it lost to Houston. There might have been had it lost to Colorado on Saturday — and it was close. But, the Red Raiders, I believe, remain a tier two team. The 1-4 record against Top 25 teams is troubling. It’s now worse than the 1-3 record for Kansas and TCU.
Tier 3 for Big 12 Basketball
6. UCF (13-2, 2-1) (Last Ranking: 6)
7. Colorado (12-4, 2-1) (Last Ranking: 8)
UCF did what I was worried it would do after the Kansas win — follow it up with a loss on the road at Oklahoma State. The Knights bounced back to beat Cincinnati on Sunday at home, but it was a close one. For now, I’ll hold them steady but I need more proof that they’re “that” team.
I didn’t think that much of Colorado coming into the season. There wasn’t much continuity, I felt some of the transfers weren’t great fits and after last season’s back-slide I wondered if this new world of basketball might not suit head coach Tad Boyle. The jury might still be out on last thought. But this is proving to be a much better team than I expected. The Buffs aren’t winning or losing games by big margins in Big 12 action. But it also means you’re not going to get rid of them easily. CU is tough, defensive-minded and a better scoring team that it looks on paper.
Tier 4 for Big 12 Basketball
8. West Virginia (10-6, 1-2) (Last Ranking: 15)
9. Kansas (11-5, 1-2) (Last Ranking: 9)
10. Oklahoma State (13-3, 1-2) (Last Ranking: 10)
11. TCU (11-5, 1-2) (Last Ranking: 7)
12. Arizona State (10-6, 1-2) (Last Ranking: 12)
Let’s just group the 1-2 teams on one tier because I don’t think there is much difference. That’s the thing about this conference right now. Arizona, BYU, Houston, Iowa State and Texas Tech are the five best teams. After that? The margins are narrow. The rest of the league are playing 50/50 games, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see several of them finishing either 10-8, 9-9 or 8-10 by the end of league play. That could be to the league’s detriment at NCAA Tournament time, depending on which have 20 or more wins going into the Big 12 Tournament.
Honestly? TCU shouldn’t be on this tier. But the Horned Frogs should have beaten Kansas on Tuesday or they wouldn’t be here. If TCU misses the NCAA Tournament on the margins, that loss could be to blame.
Tier 5 for Big 12 Basketball
13. Baylor (10-5, 0-3) (Last Ranking: 11)
14. Kansas State (9-7, 0-3) (Last Ranking: 13)
15. Cincinnati (8-8, 0-3) (Last Ranking: 14)
16. Utah (8-8, 0-3) (Last Ranking: 16)
It’s very strange to see Baylor this low in my power rankings. In all the time I’ve done this I don’t believe I’ve ever had the Bears this low. But, Baylor hasn’t been like this in a long time. We’re talking pre-pandemic. The Bears don’t look good and a potential injury to forward Dan Skillings Jr. could put them in a real bad place. Scott Drew sounded like a coach looking for answers on Saturday. That’s not what you want in January.
I think Jerome Tang may be coaching his last season at Kansas State. The Wildcats are undeniably talented. But, hearing him say what he said on Saturday, per the Kansas City Star/Wichita Eagle’s Kellis Robinett, is troubling.
Utah only lost to BYU by five on Saturday, but that’s the rivalry talking. The other two Big 12 games are double-digit losses. Utes fans need to give coach Alex Jensen some runway.
