Latest College Basketball Power Rankings for the Big 12

With six of its 10 teams ranked in this week's Associated Press poll, including three in the Top 10, the Big 12 has a strong argument that it is the best basketball conference in the country this season.

More difficult is the task of ranking the teams within the conference. Through games played Feb. 9, three teams are tied for first, and three others are just one game behind in the loss column with seven or eight conference games remaining for each team.

Our power rankings are based on six factors: overall record, conference record, AP ranking, RPI, the quality of the opposition and projected NCAA tournament seeding as determined by an average of the seeds in the projected tournament fields of Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com and Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com (as of Feb. 8). More weight is given to recent results, as they provide a better indication of how a team is playing at the moment.

The statistics and RPI used are based on games played through Feb. 9. NCAA.com and NCAA.org provide the statistics, and ESPN.com is the source for RPI.

Teams are presented in ascending order of their conference power ranking, with the No. 1 team last.

10. TCU

Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

Overall Record: 11-13

Conference Record: 2-9

AP Ranking: None

RPI: 152

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: None

Best Win: Texas

Worst Loss: Oklahoma State

TCU had the bottom spot in the Big 12 power rankings wrapped up until it beat Oklahoma State on Monday, making the distinction between the Horned Frogs and Cowboys unclear. The two cellar-dwellers have identical overall and conference records. TCU and Oklahoma State split their games with each other, and each won one game against one of the conference's elite teams.

However, three factors kept the Horned Frogs at the bottom: First, Oklahoma State has a marginally better RPI than TCU. Second, the Horned Frogs' one-point victory over Texas before the Longhorns got rolling is less impressive than Oklahoma State's win over Kansas. Finally, TCU has been blown out of a lot of games. Although the Horned Frogs lost to SMU by just five, they lost to Baylor by 28, to Oklahoma by 23, to Kansas by 19, to Texas by 17 and, in the most significant blowout, by 21 in the earlier game against Oklahoma State.

The Horned Frogs' early-season loss to South Dakota State is not as bad as it seems, since the Jackrabbits are 19-5. But any time a Big 12 team loses at home to a Summit League opponent who held a 22-point lead with less than 15 minutes left, it is cause for concern.

Despite the recent victory over Oklahoma State, there is little reason to believe things will get much better for TCU this season. Its Feb. 16 home game against Kansas State appears to be its only reasonable chance for a victory in its final seven games. The Horned Frogs cannot hide the fact that they are among the nation's worst in field-goal percentage (41.1) and turnovers (14.3 per game) and are not much better in rebound margin (minus-1.5 per game).

The Horned Frogs' top three scorers (Malique Trent, Chauncey Collins and Vladimir Brodziansky) are all sophomores, so TCU has the potential to improve in the near future. Whether coach Trent Johnson will be around to see it through remains a question.

9. Oklahoma State

Chris Covatta/Getty Images

Overall Record: 11-13

Conference Record: 2-9

AP Ranking: None

RPI: 146

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: None

Best Win: Kansas

Worst Losses: George Mason, Missouri State

The 19-point win over Kansas on Jan. 19 stands out as a beacon of hope for Oklahoma State. It is also the reason Oklahoma State is ninth instead of 10th in the Big 12 power rankings, because the rest of the season has been a bad dream.

Things started going sideways for the Cowboys in the third game when their best player, guard Phil Forte, suffered an elbow injury. He has not played since and is unlikely to play again this season. With Forte on the sidelines, Oklahoma State lost nonconference games to George Mason and Missouri State, which are a combined 18-29 now.

The Cowboys have played some of the top Big 12 teams tough, losing by two to Oklahoma, by four to Baylor and by five to Iowa State. But the only time they were able to break through was that inexplicably one-sided victory over Kansas. That day the Cowboys made 11 of 21 three-pointers and 23 of 26 free throws, but they have been unable to duplicate that efficiency.

It is hard to believe that is the same Oklahoma State team that lost Monday's road game to TCU. That defeat to the last-place team may be difficult to shake off, because the Cowboys had beaten TCU by 21 points in their conference opener.

To make matters worse, Cowboys coach Travis Ford told the Tulsa World on Saturday that point guard Jawun Evans, who has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, is not expected back anytime soon. The Cowboys have lost five straight conference games, and there is no indication that things will get better.

8. Texas Tech

Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Overall Record: 13-9

Conference Record: 3-7

AP Ranking: Not ranked

RPI: 51

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: None

Best Wins: Texas, South Dakota State, Arkansas-Little Rock

Worst Losses: Kansas State, Arkansas

When Texas Tech beat Texas in its conference opener on Jan. 2, the Red Raiders were 11-1 and riding a 10-game winning streak. A berth in the NCAA tournament appeared to be a certainty, and challenging for a conference title did not seem like a pipe dream. Coach Tubby Smith was being hailed for his achievement with this team, as noted by Reid Forgrave of Fox Sports.

However, since then, the Red Raiders have lost eight of 10 games to drop completely out of the conference race and off the board in the CBSSports.com and ESPN.com NCAA tournament projections. The Red Raiders' only wins over that stretch came against the other two teams at the bottom of the standings, TCU and Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech had to go to overtime at home to beat the Cowboys by two points.

The Red Raiders' nonconference schedule was soft, and they lost to the best team they faced in that part of the schedule, Utah. Their best wins before conference play began were against two teams that currently lead minor conferences, Arkansas-Little Rock and South Dakota State, and both games were played in Lubbock, Texas. The only win that might impress the NCAA tournament selection committee is the home win over Texas.

The Red Raiders were dangerously close to slipping behind Oklahoma State in these Big 12 power rankings. The only factors that kept Texas Tech ahead were its two-point home win over the Cowboys in their only meeting and Oklahoma State's loss to TCU on Monday. The Red Raiders could fall to ninth if they lose to Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Feb. 20.

Devaugntah Williams, the team's leading scorer, is averaging just 7.0 points over the past nine games and totaled just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in the past two games combined. The team's biggest problem is that it does not have a perimeter threat. It is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the nation at 31.6 percent.

With five of its remaining eight games being against ranked teams, three of which are on the road, Texas Tech seems destined to finish no better than eighth in the Big 12 standings and perhaps with a losing overall record.

Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com still lists Texas Tech as one of four teams on the cusp of being in the NCAA tournament field, so an NCAA berth remains within reach. However, Texas Tech probably needs to win four or five of its remaining games and do some damage in the conference tournament to have a shot. Its recent performances suggest that is unlikely.

7. Kansas State

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Overall Record: 14-9

Conference Record: 3-7

AP Ranking: None

RPI: 38

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: None

Best Win: Oklahoma

Worst Loss: Texas

Kansas State's 11-point victory over No. 1 Oklahoma on Saturday pushed the Wildcats to the top of the four-team group of Big 12 bottom feeders, and it also bodes well for Kansas State's stretch run.

The Wildcats' 3-7 conference record disguises how good they are. All nine of Kansas State's losses were to teams currently ranked among the Top 25, and when a team's worst loss is a three-point road defeat against Texas, that team is pretty good.

But the Wildcats had been unable to break through against a ranked team until Saturday's stunning victory. It is usually a mistake to make too much of one game, but the Wildcats' ability to limit the Sooners to 6-of-24 three-point shooting was no fluke. Kansas State has held opponents to 28.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc this season, which is among the best in the country.

It was also Kansas State's third victory in its last five games, and the Wildcats are likely to cause problems for any team the rest of the way.

While the Wildcats would need a good run over their final eight regular-season games to reach the NCAA tournament, the door to the tournament is by no means closed, as they have an enviable RPI of 38 and the potential to pull off another noteworthy upset. Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com has Kansas State as one of the four teams just outside the tournament field at the moment.

According to the Associated Press via ESPN.com, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber implied that point guard Kamau Stokes, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury, may not return this season. That is not encouraging news, but the Wildcats beat Oklahoma without him.

The bigger issue is whether the game that forward Wesley Iwundu had against Oklahoma was an anomaly or the start of a late-season surge. He had 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with seven assists, three steals and just one turnover against the Sooners after committing 17 turnovers over the previous three games.

6. Baylor

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Overall Record: 17-6

Conference Record: 6-4

AP Ranking: 21

RPI: 26

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 5.5

Best Win: Iowa State on the road

Worst Losses: Texas, Kansas (by 28 points)

Scott Drew's Baylor teams have made a habit of being agonizingly inconsistent in recent years, pulling off a big upset one day and losing to a weak opponent the next. That has not happened this season, as the Bears have not a lost a single game to a team that is currently unranked. The Bears have won only one game against a team that is ranked at the moment, but that one win was a dandy: Baylor knocked off Iowa State in Ames, where the Cyclones have lost only twice this season.

The losses last week to Texas and West Virginia hurt the Bears' ranking and pride, but neither should be considered a crippling loss. Certainly, the Bears are disappointed they could not take care of Texas on their home court, but both Texas and West Virginia are ranked this week.

The consistent scoring of Taurean Prince and the prodigious rebounding of Rico Gathers have prevented the lulls that Baylor typically experiences. The only poor games Prince has had in conference play came against Texas Tech, when he was limited to 25 minutes because of foul trouble, and against West Virginia, when he went 5-of-17 from the field. It is no coincidence that Baylor lost to the Mountaineers by 11 and needed a three-point shot by Lester Medford at the buzzer to beat Texas Tech.

Gathers' scoring has been hit-or-miss, but you can count on him owning the boards, as he averages 10.3 rebounds for a team that ranks among the nation's leaders in rebounding margin, getting 9.5 more rebounds than the opposition per contest.

Wednesday's road game at Kansas State will be a good indicator of how Baylor will do the rest of the season. The Wildcats are tough at home and feeling good about themselves after knocking off Oklahoma. A Baylor loss would be its fourth defeat in the last six games and might send the Bears on a downward slide.

5. Iowa State

Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

Overall Record: 17-6

Conference Record: 6-4

AP Ranking: 14

RPI: 14

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 4

Best Wins: Iowa, at Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Kansas

Worst Loss: Northern Iowa

Iowa State and Baylor have identical overall and conference records, and Baylor beat Iowa State in Ames in their only meeting. However, Iowa State earned a higher power ranking than Baylor based on the Cyclones' AP ranking, RPI and projected NCAA tournament seed, as well as Iowa State's impressive wins over Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas.

It seems like every game Iowa State plays comes down to the wire, as the Cyclones have put themselves in position to win every game. The only loss by more than five points was a 10-point road defeat against Texas A&M, and Iowa State led that game with less than five minutes left. It indicates Iowa State is capable of beating anyone, especially on its home court.

The Cyclones' only bad loss was to Northern Iowa on a neutral court, and the fact that Northern Iowa also beat North Carolina softens that blow a bit.

Iowa State's home wins against Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma, all of whom are currently ranked among the Top Six, demonstrate how tough Iowa State can be on its home court. The presence of preseason All-American forward Georges Niang and clutch point guard Monte Morris probably will keep the Cyclones near the top of the conference standings until the end. Niang may be the most versatile frontcourt player in the country, as he is averaging 19.0 points on 52 percent overall shooting and 37.8 percent from three-point range while collecting 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

But the Cyclones need forward Jameel McKay back on the floor to challenge for a Big 12 crown. The 6'9" McKay will miss a second straight game on Wednesday against Texas Tech because of a suspension levied by coach Steve Prohm, according to the Ames Tribune. There is no stated timetable for his return, but McKay may be back for Saturday's game against Texas, when Iowa State will need his emotion and the important little things he provides.

The Cyclones will have plenty of motivation once the NCAA tournament begins, as Morris, Niang and McKay were all starters on last season's No. 3-seeded team that lost its postseason opener to 14th-seeded UAB.

4. Texas

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

Overall Record: 16-8

Conference Record: 7-4

AP Ranking: 24

RPI: 20

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 5

Best Wins: North Carolina, West Virginia on the road, Iowa State, Baylor

Worst Losses: TCU, Texas Tech

Texas' chance to win the Big 12 title took a major hit with Monday's 63-60 loss at Oklahoma. However, that game again demonstrated how well the Longhorns are playing at the moment.

They came into that game having won eight of their last nine games, including victories over Iowa State, Baylor and West Virginia, the latter on the road. The only loss in that stretch was a nine-point defeat at Kansas in a game Texas led by seven early in the second half. And Texas had Oklahoma on the ropes on Monday on the Sooners' home court, leading by nine at halftime. A three-point shot by Oklahoma star Buddy Hield with 1.4 seconds left doomed Texas in that game but should not slow its momentum.

No Big 12 team has played better than Texas over the past month, which is one of two reasons why the Longhorns are placed ahead of Iowa State in these power rankings, even though Iowa State has a better AP ranking, RPI and projected NCAA tournament seeding. The other factor is that Texas beat Iowa State in their only meeting so far. If it were not for those ugly losses to TCU and Texas Tech early in the conference season, the Longhorns might have an even better power ranking.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Longhorns' surge is that they have done it without center Cameron Ridley, the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder who has missed the past 13 games after breaking his foot. It is uncertain when or even if he will return this season, but that no longer seems to be an issue.

Point guard Isaiah Taylor is playing a mature brand of basketball these days under first-year coach Shaka Smart. He did not have a single turnover in the road victory over West Virginia while facing the Mountaineers' ferocious defensive pressure. Against Oklahoma, he had 19 points and just one turnover until he was hit with a questionable offensive foul with the game tied in the final minute.

The Longhorns may get bloodied a bit in their final seven games, five of which are against ranked foes, but based on their recent play, they should win most of those contests and will be a factor in the conference tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.

3. West Virginia

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Overall Record: 19-5

Conference Record: 8-3

AP Ranking: 10

RPI: 9

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 3

Best Wins: Kansas, Iowa State on the road, Baylor

Worst Loss: Florida

The Mountaineers have lost two of their past four games, which is why they are only third in the conference power rankings, but they also beaten two ranked teams in that span, including taking a road win against Iowa State.

West Virginia's play has not slipped, and it probably would be atop the conference power rankings were it not for that ugly Jan. 30 road loss to Florida, which is still fresh in our memory. The Mountaineers trailed by 20 points midway through the second half and were never in the game, which ended in an 88-71 loss to the Gators. That is West Virginia's only loss to an unranked team, though.

The Mountaineers are a marvel in that they are tied for first place in the Big 12 despite being unable to shoot from distance. While the other two teams that are tied for first in the Big 12 both rank among the top five in the nation in three-point shooting percentage, the Mountaineers are 297th, hitting just 31.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Mountaineers made only five of 20 three-pointers Tuesday against Kansas while shooting just 37.3 percent overall. However, that was not the main reason they lost to the Jayhawks by 10 points. West Virginia shot worse than that in its earlier game against Kansas, making just 33.3 percent of its shots, including going 3-of-12 shooting from long distance. But the Mountaineers forced Kansas into 25 turnovers in that game, which allowed West Virginia to win rather comfortably, 74-63.

West Virginia relies on its nonstop pressure defense to force numerous turnovers and wear opponents down physically and mentally. The Mountaineers lead the nation in steals per game (10.3) and turnovers forced per game (18.79).

The Mountaineers need the turnovers to keep coming, because after a game against TCU, they face Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa State in succession, a stretch that will determine the Mountaineers' Big 12 fate. Texas was the only one of those three to handle West Virginia's pressure effectively in the first meeting, committing just eight turnovers to become the only team this season to beat West Virginia in Morgantown.

2. Oklahoma

Bill Feig/Associated Press

Overall Record: 20-3

Conference Record: 8-3

AP Ranking: 3

RPI: 1

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 1

Best Wins: Villanova, Iowa State, West Virginia, Baylor on the road, Texas

Worst Loss: Kansas State

Such is the level of play in the Big 12 that the team with the No. 1 RPI is not No. 1 in the conference power rankings.

A small chink in Oklahoma's armor became visible over the past week. Oklahoma still leads the nation in three-point-shooting percentage at 45.1 percent, with its top three scorers (Buddy Hield, Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins) all hitting better than 46 percent of their treys. However, there was always the suspicion that the Sooners might struggle if their long-range shots were not falling in a given game.

With three dynamic shooters, it seemed unlikely that all of them would be cold in the same game, but the past two games have shown the Sooners can be neutralized if you limit their shooting from beyond the arc.

Unranked Kansas State, one of the nation's best teams at defending the three-point shot (allowing opponents to hit just 28.9 percent of their bombs), limited the Sooners to 6-of-24 three-point shooting (25 percent) on Feb. 6. Consequently, the Wildcats handed the Sooners a surprising 11-point loss.

Two days later, on Oklahoma's home court, Hield, who ranks third in the nation in three-point shooting percentage, hit only two of his first nine three-point attempts before hitting the game-winning three with 1.4 seconds left in a 63-60 victory over Texas.

It suggests that if a team limits the Sooners' three-point accuracy, it has a chance. Of course, that is easier said than done, and Oklahoma's achievements this season more than make up for the poor shooting night against Kansas State.

Victories over Iowa State, West Virginia, Texas and Baylor are certainly impressive, but it is that 23-point December win in Honolulu against a Villanova team currently ranked No. 1 that indicates the scary potential of this Oklahoma squad. The Sooners made 14 of 26 three-point shots that day, and when they shoot like that, they can blow out virtually any team in the country.

Nearly as impressive as that win was the triple-overtime loss at Kansas. The Jayhawks have won 37 consecutive games at Allen Fieldhouse, but the Sooners had a good chance to get a win there, primarily because they made 16 of 33 three-pointers (48.5 percent).

With road games against West Virginia and Texas still ahead, the Sooners will probably lose again before the season is over, but Saturday's home game against Kansas may determine whether they end the Jayhawks' stranglehold on the conference. Winning that game would also put Oklahoma atop the conference power rankings.

1. Kansas

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Overall Record: 20-4

Conference Record: 8-3

AP Ranking: 6

RPI: 4

Average Projected NCAA Tournament Seeding: 1.5

Best Wins: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Baylor, Kentucky

Worst Loss: Oklahoma State

Differentiating among the three teams tied for first place in the Big 12 was difficult, to say the least, but Kansas earned the spot by a razor-thin margin based on its recent play. The Jayhawks have won four in a row, including victories over two ranked teams.

They have split their games this season against West Virginia and beat Oklahoma in their only meeting. Kansas' stay atop the conference power rankings could be brief, however, because it plays a road game against Oklahoma Saturday. The Sooners nearly beat Kansas in Lawrence and are 11-0 at home.

The one result that nearly kept Kansas from being No. 1 in our Big 12 power rankings was that 19-point loss to Oklahoma State on Jan. 19. It sticks out like a sore thumb and was an indication that Kansas' domination of the Big 12 might come to an end this season.

The Jayhawks have won or shared the conference regular-season title 11 times in a row, making it one of the sport's most impressive active streaks considering the strength of the conference. Tuesday's 75-65 victory over West Virginia at Allen Fieldhouse pushed the Jayhawks back into position to make it 12 titles in a row.

That victory also pushed Kansas to the top of the conference power rankings, as the Jayhawks shot 56.1 percent for the game and never trailed, building a double-digit margin in the closing minutes. The difference from the previous meeting with West Virginia was turnovers. On Tuesday, Kansas committed 15 turnovers, which is not a number that will have coach Bill Self bursting with pride, but it is a lot better than the 25 the Jayhawks committed in the loss at Morgantown.

Forward Perry Ellis sometimes goes unnoticed because his game is unspectacular. However, he is a consistent performer who has been particularly productive over the past six games, averaging 20.3 points on 64.8 percent shooting, including 6-of-12 from three-point range, in that span. 

The one knock on Kansas is that it has not been dominant away from Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks own a 2-3 road record in conference play, beating only Texas Tech and TCU and losing the other three games by double-digit margins. The Jayhawks are still looking for their first road win against a ranked team, and with games at Oklahoma, at Baylor and at Texas still ahead, Kansas will be hard-pressed to get that 12th straight conference title.