Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Early Returns On Conference Play
Jan 5, 2025, 8:55 PM
West Virginia led by guard Javon Small scored a Big 12 Basketball road win at Kansas to open league play. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – We’ve got one week of Big 12 basketball action in conference play under our belts. As always, it was entertaining in one of the toughest leagues in the nation.
Iowa State continues to shine this season as they dominated Baylor at Hilton Coliseum.
Houston reminded everyone that three nonconference losses shouldn’t have you putting an end to the defending Big 12 regular season champions.
Then, West Virginia continues to be one of the best stories in the league. The Mountaineers took down Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse without Tucker DeVries and Amani Hansberry.
It’s a 20-game schedule this season, so there are no bye weeks. Buckle up for a wild ride between now and Kansas City in March.
Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 10 Edition
Take a look at the week 10 Big 12 basketball power rankings.
Previous Power Rankings
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 & 9 |
1. Iowa State (12-1, 2-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 1
Last Week
- Iowa State 79, Colorado 69 (Road Win)
- Iowa State 74, Baylor 55
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: vs. Utah
- Saturday, January 11: at Texas Tech
Keep It Rolling.#Cyclones | #C5C pic.twitter.com/cfcXcbpPFq
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) January 5, 2025
Iowa State honored the 2000 and 2001 Big 12 regular season championship teams in style over the weekend. The Cyclones held Baylor to only 55 points and look ready to contend for a Final Four run in a few months.
2. Houston (10-3, 2-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 3 (Up 1)
Last Week
- Houston 60, Oklahoma State 47 (Road Win)
- Houston 86, BYU 55
This Week
- Monday, January 6: vs. TCU
- Saturday, January 11: at Kansas State
Protect the 🏡
10-3
2-0 in @Big12Conference play
On to the next onePresented by @continentaltire
The Smart Choice in Tires#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/gX6TWAxNDD— Houston Men's Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) January 5, 2025
Houston played perhaps its best game of the season, crushing BYU by 31 points last Saturday. Since joining the Big 12, the Coogs have not lost a game in the Fertitta Center, winning a nation’s best 30 consecutive home games.
3. West Virginia (11-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Up 3)
Last Week
- West Virginia 62, Kansas 61 (Road Win)
- West Virginia 69, Oklahoma State 50
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: vs. Arizona
- Sunday, January 12: at Colorado
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 off and running 💨 pic.twitter.com/vkYaq0USzQ
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) January 5, 2025
West Virginia’s first-ever win at Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas came last week without Tucker DeVries, who has been out since December 6. Former Oklahoma State transfer guard Javon Small continues to shine for the Mountaineers.
4. Kansas (10-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 2 (Down 2)
Last Week
- West Virginia 62, Kansas 61 (Home Loss)
- Kansas 99, UCF 48 (Road Win)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 8: vs. Arizona State
- Saturday, January 11: at Cincinnati
A few favs from tonight 📸 pic.twitter.com/MlvZYarZ6I
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) January 6, 2025
The home loss to West Virginia was a shocker. However, the bounceback win at UCF by 51 points was impressive and showed that when this team is locked in, it can win this league. Also, true freshman Flory Bidunga made a case for earning more minutes in the future in league play.
5. Arizona (8-5, 2-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Up 5)
Last Week
- Arizona 90, TCU 81
- Arizona 72, Cincinnati 67 (Road Win)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: at West Virginia
- Saturday, January 11: vs. UCF
📸 @ Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/y8q5MWNxkI
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) January 5, 2025
It was an impressive week for Arizona, which notched its first two victories over power conference foes this year. First, Arizona won against TCU wire-to-wire at home, then built a 19-point lead on the road at Cincinnati before holding on late.
6. Baylor (9-4, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Down 2)
Last Week
- Baylor 81, Utah 56
- Iowa State 74, Baylor 55
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: vs. Cincinnati
- Saturday, January 11: at Arizona State
Kid's got bounce#SicEm | #CultureofJOY pic.twitter.com/reoyjQN5mm
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) January 4, 2025
Baylor’s four losses this season have come against Top 25 teams. However, they’ve lost by 15 points or more in three of those games.
7. Texas Tech (10-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 7
Last Week
- UCF 87, Texas Tech 83 (Home Loss)
- Texas Tech 93, Utah 65 (Road Win)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: at BYU
- Saturday, January 11: vs. Iowa State
Moments from the dub 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sQOHOvSeUN
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 5, 2025
When you shoot 18% from three, anyone can lose at home. That’s what Texas Tech experienced against UCF. The Red Raiders bounced back quickly in a blowout over Utah in their first road game of the season.
8. Cincinnati (10-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 5 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Kansas State 70, Cincinnati 67
- Arizona 72, Cincinnati 67 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: at Baylor
- Saturday, January 11: vs. Kansas
KEEP FIGHTING 💥 @Dillonmit_23 pic.twitter.com/Q0ZJNaVqW1
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) January 4, 2025
Last season, Cincinnati had 10 losses in Big 12 play by single-digits. Add two more single-digit losses through the first week of league play this season. If they can handle business this week, they will quickly climb the power rankings again.
9. BYU (10-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 8 (Down 1)
Last Week
- BYU 76, Arizona State 56
- Houston 86, BYU 55
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: vs. Texas Tech
- Saturday, January 11: at TCU
📍 Fertitta Center pic.twitter.com/qaXmtMgBti
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 4, 2025
BYU’s dominant home win over Arizona State was paired with a blowout to Houston. BYU falls between those two outcomes and is fittingly in the middle of the league power rankings right now.
10. Arizona State (10-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Down 1)
Last Week
- BYU 76, Arizona State 56
- Arizona State 81, Colorado 61
This Week
- Wednesday, January 8: at Kansas
- Saturday, January 11: vs. Baylor
Big 12 Win #️⃣1️⃣ 😈@SunDevilHoops defeats Colorado for the first win in their new conference 🔱 pic.twitter.com/jkLsiySakn
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 5, 2025
The performance at BYU was disappointing from the Sun Devils, but the blowout win over Colorado was solid without leading scorer Joson Sanon.
11. TCU (8-5, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 14 (Up 3)
Last Week
- Arizona 90, TCU 81
- TCU 63, K-State 62
This Week
- Monday, January 6: at Houston
- Saturday, January 11: vs. BYU
big time guy indeed pic.twitter.com/AkZlvyLANe
— TCU Men's Basketball (@TCUBasketball) January 5, 2025
TCU closed out the Kansas State game on a 7-0 run to avoid a 0-2 start in league play. That was a critical victory with a road game approaching at Houston this week.
12. Kansas State (7-6, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 16 (Up 4)
Last Week
- K-State 70, Cincinnati 67
- TCU 63, K-State 62
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: at Oklahoma State
- Saturday, January 11: vs. Houston
Keep ‘em guessing @colehawk23 pic.twitter.com/6uC7UwQBBc
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) January 4, 2025
Coleman Hawkins looked like the star K-State expected him to be in the home win over Cincinnati. They need that every night to get back into the bubble conversation.
13. UCF (10-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Down 1)
Last Week
- UCF 87, Texas Tech 83 (Road Win)
- Kansas 99, UCF 48 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 8: vs. Colorado
- Saturday, January 11: at Arizona
Final | UCF – 48 #7 Kansas – 99
Back at home on Wednesday against Colorado
— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) January 5, 2025
All of the positive momentum from the road win at Tech goes out the door when you lose by 51 on your home floor.
14. Colorado (9-4, 0-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Iowa State 79, Colorado 69 (Home Loss)
- Arizona State 81, Colorado 61
This Week
- Wednesday, January 8: at UCF
- Sunday, January 12: vs. West Virginia
one on the road + one at home this week 🦬
🎟️ vs. WVU » https://t.co/9YMdfBeJYY pic.twitter.com/dbyXfNZmMM
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) January 6, 2025
This always felt like a transition year for Tad Boyle’s squad. After exceeding expectations in nonconference play, the Buffs look more like the team we thought they would be entering the year. However, Trevor Baskin’s play off the bench at ASU was promising.
15. Utah (8-5, 0-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Down 2)
Last Week
- Baylor 81, Utah 56
- Texas Tech 93, Utah 65 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: at Iowa State
- Saturday, January 11: vs. Oklahoma State
Make this a new season-high for @ZachKeller19 off this pass from @mongolshark ‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ljHnPjU41r
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 5, 2025
Utah is struggling on the defensive end of the floor. Baylor shot 51% from two-point range on the Utes, then Tech shot 68% inside the arc.
16. Oklahoma State (8-5, 0-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 15 (Down 1)
Last Week
- Houston 60, Oklahoma State 47 (Home Loss)
- West Virginia 69, Oklahoma State 50
This Week
- Tuesday, January 7: vs. Kansas State
- Saturday, January 11: at Utah
Up next: Glory Days in GIA 🤠
🎟️: https://t.co/TmzVRgMxtq pic.twitter.com/kopFc1jtyF
— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) January 5, 2025
Through the first two Big 12 games of the season, Oklahoma State is shooting 7-of-40 from three-point range. One positive out of the first week of league play was Xavier transfer center Abou Ousmane, who had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
