Big 12 Hoops | Power Rankings (Week #9)

The power rankings for the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball teams each and every week. Oklahoma State is no longer the #1 team after a loss to K-State.

By DanSwany Jan 6, 2014, 10:15am CST

TEAM	COMMENT
#1 Iowa State (13-0)	The Cyclones deserve to be the top ranked team right now with their undefeated record. Wednesday they whipped Northern Illinois 99-63. On Saturday against Texas Tech the game got tight in the middle of the 2nd half, but they pulled away in the end to cruise to a win. DeAndre Kane had 15 points on 9-13 from the free throw line with 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Tuesday night is going to be a showdown with Baylor in Ames. The winner will sit atop of the Big 12. Saturday they travel to play Oklahoma.
#2 Baylor (12-1)	The Bears keep winning. They had no problem over the last week toppling Oral Roberts 81-55 and Savannah State 80-50. Cory Jefferson continues to be a dominating presence inside for Baylor. I know many Baylor fans believe they are the top team in this league right now, they can prove it on Tuesday against ISU on the road. Saturday they should have an easy win against TCU in Waco.
#3 Oklahoma State (12-2)	The Cowboys might still have the greatest chance to make it the farthest in the NCAA tourney come March, but with a devastating upset loss to open up Big 12 conference play they drop a few this week in the power rankings. K-State won on Saturday74-71. All they need to do is handle their business against Texas on Wednesday and West Virginia on Saturday to start climbing back to the top of the Big 12.
#4 Kansas (9-4)	The Jayhawks are still one of the best teams in the Big 12, but their non-conference schedule has been brutal. They beat an undefeated Toledo team by 10 points on Monday, and they fell short in a close game to #21 San Diego State 61-57. Freshman Joel Embiid had double-doubles in both games; he is turning into an excellent center for KU. To show they are still a Big 12 power they must easily defeat Oklahoma on Wednesday and Kansas State on Saturday.
#5 Kansas State (11-3)	I would have liked to be in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday night for the party after the huge upset of top 10 ranked Oklahoma State. K-State has won 9 in a row including a pair against top 25 ranked teams. They are back on track and in the top half of the Big 12 for the first time this season. Now to stay on the right path they must dominate against TCU on Tuesday. The next huge test is against Kansas on Saturday.
#6 Oklahoma (12-2)	The Sooners had trouble this last week with a frustrating overtime loss to Louisiana Tech 102-98. Then they went into Austin and won a hard fought battle with Texas 88-85. It’s not any easier this week as they host Kansas on Wednesday and Iowa State on Saturday. It’s going to be really tough for OU, but we will see if they can hang with the top teams in the Big 12.
#7 Texas (11-3)	The Longhorns beat Rice 66-44, but dropped a tight game against Oklahoma. Wednesday UT is going to take on the tremendous task of playing an aggravated Oklahoma State team on the road. It will be another battle when they play Texas Tech on Saturday.
#8 West Virginia (9-5)	The Mountaineers showed that they were better than TCU by winning in Fort Worth 74-69. Eron Harris also showed he is going to keep on scoring in bunches from downtown even against Big 12 teams with 22 points. WVU and Harris can show they do not belong at the far bottom of the conference if they can beat Texas Tech tonight. OSU on Saturday will be a struggle.
#9 Texas Tech (8-6)	The Red Raiders showed some real fight in the Iowa State game on Saturday, but didn’t have the stamina to keep up in the end. This week is incredibility important for Tech to show where they stand in the Big 12. West Virginia in Lubbock is a game that is a must win to gain any respect from other teams when coming into the United Spirit Arena. The game on Saturday in Austin against UT is another crucial contest to show we are not going to be an easy blowout win for opponents away from Lubbock. I’m really excited to watch these games and start off with a bang in Big 12 conference play. Wreck ‘em Tech!
#10 TCU (9-4)	The Horned Frogs didn’t roll over and die against West Virginia, they gave them a good game. TCU is going to have a rough time as K-State goes to Fort Worth, but maybe they might get lucky and catch KSU with a hangover from the OSU upset last Saturday. Then they take on Baylor in Waco on Saturday.