Big 12 basketball power rankings: Big wins and losses lead to a big shakeup

Another weeks in the books and we already see completely revamped rankings.

This conference is starting to look like it’s completely up for grabs and the difference between 1 & 10 seems minuscule. With this, some coaches are loving how their teams are persevering, while other coaches are starting to worry.

1. West Virginia (+1)

Back-to-back wins over elite basketball programs is how you can take the top spot in the Big 12 Conference. The Mountaineers followed their victory against ranked Virginia by traveling to Pitt and winning on their home floor. WVU is now on a nine-game winning streak since losing its season opener and currently looks like the most dangerous team in the conference. They still have a ways to go to challenge for a national title, but the Mountaineers look to be on the right path.

2. TCU (+1)

The Big 12’s lone undefeated team faced its toughest test to date against a ranked Nevada team at home. TCU managed to hold off a surging Wolfpack team and win a close one. Holding the lead completely throughout, TCU extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 15 behind Jaylen FIsher’s 20 points. Now it’s time for TCU to take this show into conference play.

3. Kansas (-2)

The Jayhawks suffered two embarrassing home losses this past week to Washington and Arizona State. Neither one was very close and left Bill Self calling this year’s team “the softest team Kansas has had since I've been here.” With as tough the conference is this year, KU will have a tough time repeating for the 14th time.

4. Baylor (-)

Dominating wins against inferior opponents keeps the Bears up high. Nice tune-up game against Texas Southern will be the last tough test for Baylor before conference play.

5. Texas Tech (-)

The dunking Smith boys led Tech to a nice win against Kennesaw State. Now the Red Raiders gear up for throwback night against Rice. This year’s Tech team is starting to look like one of the best the program has had in more than 20 years. Can they keep it up?

6. Oklahoma (+2)

Newsflash: Trae Young is amazing. 29 points and nine assists to lead the Sooners over ranked USC on national television is how to put your name on the map. Oklahoma played their toughest team to date and had a double-digit lead. This team seems to be getting better as the season goes on and with a meeting against No. 6 Wichita State coming up, we’ll see just how good they really are.

7. Iowa State (+2)

Someone tell ISU this was supposed to be a down year. With a big win over rival Iowa, the Cyclones continued their win streak. Iowa State followed that up with a nice 20-point win over Alcorn State and look ready to take on the Big 12.

8. Texas (-2)

UT had the Frank Erwin Center rocking and still couldn’t get the victory over Michigan. This Texas team seems to be very inconsistent by following up good performances vs Butler, Duke, and VCU, by sub-par performances vs Gonzaga and Michigan. Shaka Smart’s patience and job security is wearing thin, and more losses like this one will have the fan base coming after him.

9. Oklahoma State (+1)

Oklahoma State found itself incapable of defending the three against Wichita State after the Shockers let off 12 from long range. The Cowboys have only played two ranked teams this year and have lost to them both. However, this game was close throughout, which is something coach Mike Boynton can build on.

10. Kansas State (-2)

The only way for OSU to lose a game and still move up a spot is if a team had an even worse week than they did, and that team was K-State. The Wildcats suffered the worst loss for a Big 12 team this year by losing a close one at home to Tulsa. After tying the game up with less than four minutes to go, the Golden Hurricanes went on an 8-1 run to win the game. This loss is a big blow for the Wildcats who have tournament goals and could come back to haunt them come March.