NCAA Basketball: Tennessee, Baylor, Illinois rise in latest top 25 power rankings

11. Baylor (19-6)

This season has shown that it is impossible to survive the gauntlet of Big 12 play unscathed. Baylor has had their share of challenges, including a series of heartbreaking losses back in January, but sit here in pretty good shape for the middle of February. The Bears have been resilient in conference play after a relatively uneventful nonconference slate, building a resume that got slightly better this week.

Coming off last weekend’s tough loss at Kansas, the Bears got back on track with a 79-62 home win over Oklahoma. Jayden Nunn had one of his finest games with 27 points while Jalen Bridges added 14 in a game where Baylor shot 52% from the 3. Back on the road over the weekend, Baylor was victorious again, this time prevailing 94-81 over West Virginia. JaKobe Walter scored 23 points while Nunn added 20 points and 4 assists to cap a successful week.

While this certainly was one of Baylor’s least difficult weeks during conference play, they just keep winning games are now 8-4 in a strong Big 12. Scott Drew’s squad has been playing much better basketball since the calendar turned to February. Their offense has been efficient and excellent even while the defense has its shares of struggles. They’ll hope to get both going strong for a murderous stretch to end the regular season, beginning Tuesday at BYU.