Big 12 Rankings: Kansas State struggles to gain ground

It was another tough week for Kansas State in the Big 12. Not just because they went 0-2, but the losses were all in a similar fashion. Decent fight, get behind, mad dash late, not enough to finish the job. With just five games remaining in the regular season K-State is fighting for Big 12 respect and any hope of postseason play.

1. HOUSTON COUGARS

Mason: 1 DY: 1 Drew: 1 Fan: 1

It is now officially Houston’s conference to lose. The Cougars secured a solo one-game lead after defeating Iowa State on Monday and also got help with Baylor losing at BYU. When locked in, Houston’s defense is suffocating and they have enough horses on offense to win games. Their final big road test of the season is this weekend against Baylor. A win makes them all but likely to earn at least a share of the league crown.

2. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Mason: 2 DY: 2 Drew: 2 Fan: 2

The Cyclones got as close as three points in the second half against Houston, but every time they made a push Houston got it back to arm’s length. The difference maker in the game between two teams that love to force turnovers was that Houston did it, Iowa State couldn’t. The Cyclones coughed it up 16 times, while only forcing Houston to do it nine times. Iowa State’s toughest remaining game is at home against BYU or on the road at Kansas State. Sitting just one game back, don’t count the Cyclones out of the Big 12 title race if Houston slips up down the stretch.

T-3. BAYLOR BEARS

Mason: 3 DY: 4 Drew: 3 Fan: 4

The stars were aligning for Scott Drew and the Bears to come back from the dead in the Big 12 race. After three early losses, they had caught fire. Instead, they met the Marriott Center crowd for the first time with a loss. BYU led at halftime and was able to stretch the lead in the second half. The ultimate killer for Baylor was their volatile three-point shooting. One of the best in the country at knocking down shots from the outside, multiple games in conference play have seen the Bears struggle to connect. They were just 25% against BYU. Jalen Bridges accounted for three of the five makes from deep.

T-3. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Mason: 4 DY: 3 Drew: 4 Fan: 3

Are the Jayhawks playing at home? If so, then they are the same old Kansas team as every other year. Are they on the road? They are vulnerable like every other team in the league. Kansas should feel good about themselves right now though. They got a major road win at Oklahoma over the weekend and then got to sit on their bye week. They have a road trip to Houston on the final day of the regular season and will need help elsewhere, but it isn’t out of the question for this team to still sneak a Big 12 title out of the season.

T-5. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Mason: 6 DY: 6 Drew: 5 Fan: 5

One of five teams within two games or better of first place, Texas Tech survived at home against TCU to start the week. The next three games are all winnable for the Red Raiders and they end the season at home against Baylor. Similar to Kansas, they are in a state of needing some help, but a picture can be painted for them to grab a share of the league.

T-5. BYU COUGARS

Mason: 5 DY: 5 Drew: 6 Fan: 6

Mark Pope has a good basketball team, but they lose some really stupid games. They started the league season with a home loss to Cincinnati and last weekend lost at Oklahoma State. They righted their wrong by netting a win over Baylor this week. At the end of year one in the Big 12, BYU will have some what-ifs. They also might not be a good bet once they are in the NCAA Tournament with their ability to lose to anyone. Their matchup against Kansas State this weekend is important to not drop another head-scratcher.

T-7. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Mason: 7 DY: 8 Drew: 8 Fan: 7

The Longhorns got whipped by Houston on Saturday and turned around by winning an ugly one at home against K-State. This team has gotten better as the season has gone on and Dylan Disu has taken over for the Horns. With Max Abmas, Texas will have a dangerous one-two once they get into the NCAA Tournament.

T-7. TCU HORNED FROGS

Mason: 8 DY: 7 Drew: 7 Fan: 8

On Saturday Jameer Nelson Jr. hit a three just before the buzzer to beat Kansas State. Nelson is a 25% three-point shooter on the season. The next game he had a chance to hit a three at the buzzer to go to overtime with Texas Tech, and he missed it. TCU did what teams in the middle of the pack need to do, tread water on the road.

9. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Mason: 9 DY: 9 Drew: 9 Fan: 9

Two straight losses for Oklahoma have set them back in the standings. Now they face a road trip to their rival Oklahoma State for the final time as conference mates and then Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday.

10. CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Mason: 12 DY: 10 Drew: 10 Fan: 10

The Bearcats had good enough metrics to be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, but eventually, you have to win games. They haven’t. Cincinnati has lost three of their last four, all losses at home. After the start of this week, they now hold losses to Oklahoma State and West Virginia. They have slid to join UCF as the two Big 12 teams pacing for automatic spots in the NIT.

11. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Mason: 11 DY: 11 Drew: 11 Fan: 11

Things are looking ugly for K-State. While there have been some blowouts, most of their losses have come in competitive games where the Wildcats give themselves a chance. But at the end of the day, bad teams lose games. Cam Carter hitting a stinky stretch of play certainly hasn’t helped matters, including their loss to TCU last weekend. The final grasp at any hope in this season starts on Saturday. A win over a Top 25 BYU squad then sets up for a home game against bottom-feeder West Virginia on Monday. 72 hours could either breathe new life into the season or tell everybody it is okay to forget about it.

12. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Mason: 10 DY: 13 Drew: 13 Fan: 12

The Cowboys are now playing competitive ball games. That is why I moved them ahead of West Virginia last week and that is before they even won back-to-back contests. Aside from their loss to Kansas, every game played in Gallagher-Iba this season has been decided by five points or less. The next two games for Mike Boynton are at home. He has also started three freshmen in his starting five, is he going to get the angry mob off his back before the season ends?

13. UCF KNIGHTS

Mason: 14 DY: 12 Drew: 12 Fan: 13

Kind of forgot about these guys, they haven’t done anything since beating Texas in Austin. Also, they just lost to a West Virginia team that didn’t appear to have any fight left in them.

14. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Mason: 13 DY: 14 Drew: 14 Fan: 14

Loading up on a team full of “gotta get mine” guys with bad teammate skills has resulted in a last-place team. Who would have thought? They did grab a win over UCF this week, so props to them for being a tie for last. They face Kansas State on Monday after a likely loss at Iowa State.