Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas State stays near the top
1. Kansas (12-4, 24-5)
It hasn’t been easy, but Kansas is on a six-game winning steak. They’ve also won eight of nine on the heels of a three-game losing streak that began with a loss to Kansas State in Manhattan. One more victory would mean the Jayhawks clinch at least a share of the Big 12 regular season championship.
That is not too shabby after a national title win. They have their eyes squarely on a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Texas Tech arrives in Lawrence on Tuesday in what should be an easy win for Bill Self’s club. However, we know how unpredictable the conference can be and there is clearly some added pressure since a loss leaves the door open for Texas, K-State and/or Baylor.
2. Texas (11-5, 22-7)
The Longhorns could actually still win the Big 12 outright if Kansas drops both of their final two games. Texas controls their own destiny. If they win their final two contests, they at least guarantee themselves a share of the title with Kansas.
That’s because the two teams will meet in Austin on Saturday. Depending how the mid-week games go (Kansas vs Texas Tech & Texas at TCU), this Saturday could have a ton of implications.
3. Kansas State (10-6, 22-7)
Kansas State has won three games in a row and are back on track. Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson are putting together some of their best basketball of the season, and it is coming at a great time.
The latest win at Oklahoma State snapped an almost two month drought on the road. They are back at Bramlage Coliseum on Tuesday to take on lowly Oklahoma. Remember, the Sooners stunned K-State in Norman earlier this month.
Kansas State needs to win their final two games to give themselves a chance at the league title. To secure a share of it, they would need Kansas to lose out and Texas to fall to TCU on Wednesday. We’ll see if K-State can run into some good fortune.
4. Baylor (10-6, 21-8)
Like Kansas State, the Bears will end their regular season against two unranked opponents and also still have a shot at a share of the Big 12 title.
They logged a massive win over Texas on Saturday and now head to Stillwater Monday evening before finishing things off with Iowa State in Waco. I like Scott Drew’s chances to win out, considering his team has only lost three of their last 14 contests.
5. TCU (8-8, 19-10)
TCU has not had a very friendly second half of the Big 12 slate. They have lost five of their last seven games, including being blown out by K-State in Manhattan, and are in danger of of going .500 or worse in the conference.
They could still achieve 10 league wins, but they have to get through Texas first before traveling to Norman, Oklahoma this weekend.
6. Iowa State (8-8, 17-11)
While Kansas State was rocking and rolling to three consecutive wins, Iowa State was doing the opposite. It all started with the loss to K-State in Manhattan. Since then, the Cyclones have lost back-to-back games by a combined 29 points to Texas and Oklahoma.
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For the first time in a while, TJ Otzelberger and company find themselves outside of the AP top 25. They will look to battle back against West Virginia at home on Monday evening.
7. Texas Tech (5-11, 16-13)
About a month ago, no one envisioned the Red Raiders would win four out of their last five games. It started with big wins over Kansas State and Texas before taking care of business versus West Virginia and Oklahoma.
Texas Tech really can’t afford to lose any more games if they want any shot at making the NCAA Tournament. But the fact that they have even entered some bubble discussions after an abysmal start to league play is pretty impressive from Mark Adams’ group.
Can they pull off the unthinkable and grab a win inside Allen Fieldhouse this week?
8. Oklahoma State (7-9, 16-13)
Four losses in a row has Oklahoma State reeling a bit. In fact, they are the last team in the field of 68 according to some after Saturday’s home loss to K-State. Baylor will look to make that five straight losses for the Cowboys on Monday night.
9. West Virginia (5-11, 16-13)
Bob Huggins’ squad is about as up-and-down of a team as the Appalachian Mountains they reside in, quite frankly. They will play hard one week and either grab a win or lose by a smidge, and the next week they will get blown out by 20 or 30 points.
West Virginia has lost four out of their last five contests. Iowa State and Kansas State are next on the schedule.
10. Oklahoma (4-12, 14-15)
Although they’ve picked up two wins in their last four games, one being versus K-State, the Sooners are simply too late to the party. They have recorded just four conference wins and have two ranked opponents (No. 11 Kansas State and No. 24 TCU) awaiting.
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