Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas State holding on in top half
1. Kansas (10-4, 22-5)
Kansas has won their last four games and won six of seven contests. Ever since the three-game losing streak a month ago, the Jayhawks have been on a mission that included knocking off Kansas State, Texas, and most recently Baylor. All were at home.
Bill Self’s club housed the Bears by almost 30 points in the second half after trailing by double-digits to Baylor in the first frame. Gradey Dick continues to improve and Jalen Wilson has been exactly what they’ve needed him to be in the final season of his Kansas career.
2. Texas (10-4, 21-6)
The Longhorns have split their last four contests ever since defeating Baylor and K-State in back-to-back games three weeks ago. The biggest blemish was the loss to Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders have now shocked three Big 12 teams in a row after once looking like the clear last place team in the league.
Texas needed to sneak past Oklahoma in overtime and now Rodney Terry’s bunch welcome in Iowa State to Austin. Texas fell to the Cyclones on the road a little over a month ago.
3. Baylor (9-5, 20-7)
Prior to the collapse in Lawrence, Baylor was on a four-game heater. In their last 12 contests, they’ve won 10. Scott Drew’s backcourt is potent and is led by two fantastic guards in Adam Flagler and Keyonte George.
The freshman hasn’t been the most efficient player, but when he finds a rhythm, he might be the toughest guard in the country to defend given his elite ability to create space off the dribble for open jumpers.
They will need every bit of that and more to upend Kansas State in their second meeting with the Wildcats.
4. Kansas State (8-6, 20-7)
K-State is still searching for back-to-back wins. The last time they achieved that was with victories over Kansas and Texas Tech about a month ago. They have the chance to do it if they come out on top tomorrow against a hungry and talented Baylor squad.
5. Iowa State (8-6, 17-9)
The Cyclones have had a similar conference season as Kansas State.
And it extends beyond the fact they have the same Big 12 record. Both teams started off league play on fire, and since about midway through the slate, both have sputtered a bit. It doesn’t get any easier when Iowa State travels to Austin for a Tuesday night game.
6. TCU (7-7, 18-9)Â
Before the much-needed win against Oklahoma State, TCU was flailing and had lost their previous four contests (including one to K-State). Will the 25-point win over the Cowboys give them enough juice and confidence to topple No. 3 Kansas on Monday evening? It’s doable, but I have my doubts.
7. Oklahoma State (7-7, 16-11)Â Â
Oklahoma State had won five straight before dropping the last two to Kansas and TCU. They have a great opportunity to get back on track on Monday evening in Morgantown when they face a struggling West Virginia outfit before hosting Kansas State over the weekend.
8. Texas Tech (4-10, 15-12)Â
Kudos to Mark Adams and Texas Tech for staying focused and locked in enough to rattle off three wins in a row after sitting squarely in last place for most of the season. Coming out on top of K-State, Texas and West Virginia in consecutive fashion has to have them feeling much better about themselves.
Going to Norman and grabbing a fourth straight win won’t be easy, but it wouldn’t shock anyone at this point.
9. Oklahoma (3-11, 13-14)
The home win over Kansas State stunted what would have been a six-game losing streak for Oklahoma. The Sooners are clearly getting better, but it is likely too little, too late for a chance at an NCAA tournament berth.
10. West Virginia (4-10, 15-12)Â Â Â Â Â
Bob Huggins’ group has lost three straight, with the most recent being an inexcusable loss to the Red Raiders at home. They still have an opportunity to win eight league games before the Big 12 tournament, but that is highly unlikely with how they’ve been performing.
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