The college basketball season is two weeks old, and the Big 12 already looks like the deepest league in the country. Ten teams remain unbeaten, Houston and Arizona continue stacking high end wins, and several programs are showing real staying power as November rolls on. If you did not see Week 1 rankings, here they are.
Here are the latest power rankings, now numbered from top to bottom.
1. Houston Cougars (4-0)
Houston took a major step forward Sunday with a one point win over Auburn. It was the first time the Cougars allowed more than 57 points all season, yet they still closed out a tight game with toughness that has defined the Kelvin Sampson era. They host Rider next before heading to Las Vegas to meet Syracuse on November 24.
2. Arizona Wildcats (4-0)
Tommy Lloyd’s team already owns wins against Florida and UCLA, and Koa Peat along with Jaden Bradley continue to carry the offense. Arizona looks like a true national contender and will face another heavyweight test Wednesday when they face UConn.
3. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0)
Iowa State took the week off after beating Mississippi State, but their offense remains one of the nation’s most explosive at nearly 96 points per game. The Cyclones moved up one spot from #4 to #3. Stonehill comes first, followed by a tough pair against St. John’s and Creighton.
4. Brigham Young Cougars (3-1)
BYU fell short against UConn but proved they belong on the same floor. AJ Dybantsa erupted for 25 points, announcing himself as a rising star. BYU fell from 3 last week to 4 this week. Wisconsin travels to Provo on Thursday in another major test.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-1)
Texas Tech showed resilience after losing at Illinois, bouncing back with a victory over Milwaukee. JT Toppin remains one of the best players in the sport. Wake Forest visits next before a big December date with Arkansas.
6. Kansas Jayhawks (3-1)
Kansas continues to win despite losing Darryn Peterson for a stretch. They led at halftime at North Carolina before fading late. A huge test awaits Tuesday when they battle Duke in Madison Square Garden.
7. Baylor Bears (3-0)
Baylor is scoring nearly 90 points per game and shooting over 51 percent from the field. After beating Tarleton State, the Bears take a break before heading to Las Vegas to meet Creighton.
8. Kansas State Wildcats (3-0)
Kansas State is lighting teams up, scoring nearly 97 points per game and shooting close to 59 percent overall, including 54 percent from three. Tulsa comes Monday, then Mississippi State, followed by a trip to Indiana.
9. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0)
Cincinnati has won four straight by double digits, though none have come against top competition. Louisville comes to town this week in the Bearcats’ first meaningful challenge.
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0)
The Cowboys boast a top 20 rebounding attack and are scoring more than 90 per game. Their best win so far is a 24 point victory over Texas A&M. The Cowboys moved from #12 up to #10. A friendly schedule continues until their rivalry showdown with Oklahoma on December 13.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-0)
West Virginia rolled Pittsburgh by 22 and has held opponents under 50 points in back to back games. The defense has been elite under first year coach Darian DeVries. Clemson on Friday will be their first true test.
12. Colorado Buffaloes (3-0)
Colorado is scoring 94 points per game and coming off a strong nine point win over Providence. The Buffaloes moved from #13 to #12. They remain at home this week for Alabama State and UC Davis.
13. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-1)
ASU stayed competitive with Gonzaga and even won the second half, a positive sign for a team still finding itself. Santiago Trouet posted a double double. Arizona State dropped from #13 to #10 in the Big 12 rankings. Georgia State and Hawaii should help the Sun Devils bounce back.
14. Utah Utes (4-0)
A clean 4-0 start for Utah includes wins over Sam Houston State, Holy Cross, Weber State, and San Jose State. Terrence Brown leads the team with nearly 24 points per game. Utah moved up one spot from #15. Purdue Fort Wayne and Cal Poly await before a tougher road trip to Grand Canyon.
15. Central Florida Knights (3-1)
The Knights responded well after giving up 105 to Vanderbilt. UCF moved out of the #16 spot. Wins over Florida A&M and Texas A&M followed, and now UCF prepares for Oakland and a neutral site meeting with Pittsburgh.
16. TCU Horned Frogs (2-2)
TCU is the only Big 12 team with two losses after falling to New Orleans and Michigan. The Horned Frogs check in at #16 in the rankings. They face UMKC on Wednesday before a tough Thanksgiving showdown with Florida.
Notable Big 12 Matchups This Week
- Tuesday: Kansas vs Duke (Madison Square Garden)
- Wednesday: Arizona at UConn
- Thursday: Wake Forest at Texas Tech
- Friday: Wisconsin at BYU
- Friday: Louisville at Cincinnati
- Friday: West Virginia at Clemson