1. University of Arizona (25-2, 12-2)
Arizona is back at the top of the rankings after defeating BYU and University of Houston last week. The Wildcats showed their versatility and depth as they were able to win both games without star freshman Koa Peat. Peat’s leg will be reevaluated this week and his status for their next game against Baylor remains in question.
2. Iowa State University (23-4, 10-4)
Iowa State picked up an impressive win against Houston then followed that up with a loss at BYU. All of Iowa State’s losses have come on the road this season. Their defense travels, but at times they can struggle to find a rhythm offensively away from Hilton Coliseum. However, they are still a top two team in the Big 12 and a serious final four contender.
3. University of Kansas (21-7, 11-4)
Kansas suffered a disappointing loss to University of Cincinnati in a game they were projected to win but responded with an impressive victory over Houston. Despite their seven losses, the Jayhawks have consistently risen to the occasion in marquee matchups. For Kansas to make a serious run in March, Darryn Peterson must play at least 30 minutes per game which is something he has yet to consistently prove he can handle.
4. University of Houston (23-5, 11-4)
Unlike Kansas, the Cougars have struggled against the Big 12’s upper echelon, failing to consistently deliver in marquee matchups. Last night’s loss marked the first time Houston has lost three games in a row since 2017. Surprisingly, Houston’s weakness this year is their defense, a side of the ball the Cougars have dominated in recent years.
5. BYU (20-7, 8-6)
BYU has delivered two strong performances since losing marksman Richie Saunders for the season, narrowly falling to Arizona on the road before securing an impressive win over Iowa State. AJ Dybantsa’s brilliance on the offense gives BYU a chance to win against any team in the Big 12.
6. Texas Tech University (20-7, 10-4)
Tragedy struck the Red Raiders last week when star forward JT Toppin tore his ACL against Arizona State. Toppin had a strong chance to win the Wooden award before being ruled out for the season. Tech still has talent, but they will not be able to beat the top four teams in the Big 12 on a neutral floor without their best player.
7. University of Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7)
Cincinnati has revived their at-large bid chances after winning four straight games. The most impressive win came against Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse. Cincinnati’s top 12 rated defense combined with their streaky offense makes them a dangerous team to monitor as March Madness approaches.
8. University of Central Florida (19-7, 8-6)
UCF is currently projected as a No. 10 seed in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology, leaving little margin for error in securing an NCAA Tournament berth. With their at-large resume still vulnerable, upcoming matchups against BYU and Baylor present critical opportunities to strengthen their case and eliminate any doubt on Selection Sunday.
9. TCU (17-10, 7-7)
TCU remains firmly on the bubble after going 1-1 last week. Upcoming matchups against Kansas State and Arizona State are must win games for the Horned Frogs.
10. Baylor University (14-13, 3-10)
Baylor’s only realistic path to the NCAA Tournament is winning the Big 12 Tournament. The Bears are a rare case of a team with two projected first-round NBA Draft picks, Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou, that is still on the outside looking in. This disappointing season will likely force Scott Drew to reassess his roster construction and transfer portal strategy heading into next year.
11. West Virginia (16-11, 7-7)
The Mountaineers lost two winnable games against TCU and Utah last week, ending their at-large bid chances. Head coach Ross Hodge must retool the roster next season, as their top three leading scorers will graduate this year.
12. Oklahoma State University (16-11, 4-10)
If Oklahoma State misses the tournament, which they likely will barring a miraculous Big 12 Tournament win, the Cowboys will look back at the last two weeks as the reason why. They dropped three winnable games against Arizona State, TCU and Colorado.
13. University of Colorado (15-12, 5-9)
Colorado played a great game against Oklahoma State Saturday, beating the Cowboys 83-69. These late season games continue to provide valuable experience for a young, talented Colorado team.
14. Arizona State (14-13, 5-9)
Arizona State secured their best win of the season Wednesday against Texas Tech. However, it is still likely Bobby Hurley will be fired at the end of the season. Like Kansas State, the Sun Devils will search for a coach that can utilize their NIL resources to bring in elite talent.
15. Kansas State University (11-16, 2-12)
Interim head coach Matthew Driscoll earned his first win with a victory over Baylor last Wednesday but followed it up with a blowout loss to Texas Tech. With significant NIL resources at its disposal, Kansas State will likely target a proven winner on the recruiting trail as it searches for its next permanent head coach.
16. Utah (10-17, 2-12)
Utah had a solid week, defeating West Virginia and narrowly falling to UCF by two points. Despite the competitive performances, the Utes remain the weakest team in the Big 12 and one of the worst Power Four programs in the country.
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