Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Ranking the new-look league after 4-team expansion

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: The Houston Cougars huddle in the second half against the Baylor Bears during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: The Houston Cougars huddle in the second half against the Baylor Bears during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Bearcats Tari Eason Big 12 Basketball Tulane Green Wave At Cincinnati Bearcats Feb 26
Cincinnati Bearcats Tari Eason Big 12 Basketball Tulane Green Wave At Cincinnati Bearcats Feb 26 /

8. BYU Cougars

There is a decent gap between the bottom-4 and the rest of the group so going forward are teams I’m confident can make the NCAA Tournament on at least a consistent basis. BYU is an interesting case because they may have the most resources of any team and has plenty to offer for prospects that would be “genuinely” interested in them. The reason why I have that in quotes is that Brigham Young University is part of the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints (LSD) and has a strict honor code that many young athletes who aren’t affiliated will opt to not play for, regardless of what conference they play for.

BYU will need to have a roster built for Big 12 success, including having good athletes. That means the recruiting must take up a big notch and they’ll have to continue succeeding on the transfer portal, as they did with All-WCC guard Alex Barcello. But head coach Mark Pope is a rising national star and could very well get a roster good enough to compete for a top-half finish, but the level of competition raises greatly on a nightly basis.

7. Cincinnati Bearcats

Many thought that former UNC Greensboro head coach Wes Miller would get a power conference gig in the offseason coaching carousel. Funny how that works, as he’ll be in the Big 12 soon enough. His reputation of development during the SoCon days sets the program up well to have a competitive roster when they enter the new league.

Cincy and BYU compare very well with each other in that they’re consistently good programs in the 30-50 range but have limited ceilings respectively. Whichever team can start recruiting Big 12 level talent first will have the advantage. And thanks to the coaching change, the Bearcats have been able to get a headstart on rebuilding its entire roster.

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