Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

1. Kansas Jayhawks (11-1)

Previous Ranking: No. 1

After the conclusion of non-conference play, Kansas remains at the top.

However, after a serious of tough wins in close games, Kansas was bound to lose eventually. They did, as the Jayhawks fell to Arizona State on the road last week.

Despite the loss, Kansas is in pretty good shape heading into Big 12 play. Star center Udoka Azubuike is finally back after a knee injury, and guards Lagerald Vick and Dedric Lawson have shot the lights out early on.

Five star freshmen Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes have played very well, as have transfers Charlie Moore and K.J. Lawson. This is a different Kansas team than in years past, as it is a team built off of freshmen and transfers, but this Jayhawk team is no less of a contender than in recent years.

Kansas’ close wins have caused some reason to doubt the Jayhawks ability to maintain their longstanding grasp of the top, but until they start to struggle in conference play, there is absolutely no reason to doubt that the Jayhawks will continue to remain a contender for a national championship.

Kansas faces a tough road in the next few months, but they still have the pieces to win the Big 12, and possibly a national championship as well.

The Big 12 has been somewhat unpredictable, but they still expect to have a couple of real national championship contenders, in addition to several NCAA tournament teams. Heading into conference play, the Big 12 is looking like an entertaining, intriguing conference, as they have in years past.