Houston at Texas Tech (Feb. 24 – 9 p.m.)
Baylor at Cincinnati (Feb. 25 – 7 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)
Record: 23-4 (15-1)
Last week: W at Arizona State (80-65), W vs. #8 Iowa State (68-59)
Next week: at #10 Texas Tech (Feb 24 – 9:00 p.m), vs. Cincinnati (Mar 1 – 4:30 p.m)
Quality wins: #9 Iowa State, Baylor, at #22 Arizona, at #Kansas, #25 BYU, West Virginia (2x)
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: 2 seed (Making the Madness, ESPN, CBS Sports)
There’s no one stopping the Cougars right now, as they continue the win streak and advance to an impressive 15-1 in conference play. LJ Cryer was incredible in the win over Iowa State, hitting three after three and canceling any momentum Iowa State accumulated.
This week, a chance to clinch a share of the Big 12 on the road against Texas Tech, the only team to beat Houston in conference play. After that, a home game against Cincy as they hope to earn that one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+2)
Record: 21-6 (11-5)
Last week: W vs. Colorado (79-65), L at #5 Houston (59-68)
Next week: at Oklahoma State (Feb 25 – 8:00 p.m), vs. #22 Arizona (Mar 1 – 9:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #21 Marquette, Kansas, Baylor, at #10 Texas Tech, Dayton (Neutral), at Iowa
Bad losses: Kansas State
Seed projection: 2 seed (ESPN, Making the Madness), 3 seed (CBS Sports)
Iowa State lost to Houston, but I think the main takeaway here is how impressive they looked on the road without their two leading scorers, Curtis Jones and Kishon Gilbert. Jefferson had a career day, with eight assists and seven steals, while Momcilovic continued to shine since his return.
Iowa State currently sits in 4th place in the Big 12, but can easily jump into the top 3 with wins this weekend. We all know how great the Iowa State fans travel to Kansas City, so being in a situation like last year where they don’t have to play Houston until the final would be ideal.
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 18-9 (12-4)
Last week: W at Baylor (74-67), L vs. BYU (95-96)
Next week: vs. Utah (Feb 26 – 9:00 p.m), at #9 Iowa State (Mar 1 – 9:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Baylor (2x), at West Virginia, #9 Iowa State, #10 Texas Tech, #25 BYU
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: 3 seed (ESPN), 4 seed (Making the Madness), 5 seed (CBS Sports)
You can make an argument that Arizona should have gone 2-0 this week, and every Wildcat fan will, but unfortunately for them, a very iffy foul call in favor of BYU iced the game and handed Arizona their fourth conference defeat. Arizona have quietly dropped three of their last four though, not a spot you want to be in as we head to March.
They’ll have another big opportunity on Saturday when they travel to Iowa State. A win there should all but solidify a top-four spot in the Big 12 tournament. Not bad for the new guy.
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-2)
Record: 21-6 (12-4)
Last week: L at TCU (66-69), W vs. West Virginia (73-51)
Next week: vs. #4 Houston (Feb 24 – 9:00 p.m), at Kansas (Mar 1 – 2:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #10 Arizona, at #25 BYU, at #4 Houston, Baylor, West Virginia
Bad losses: Saint Joseph’s
Seed projection: 3 seed (ESPN), 4 seed (Making the Madness, CBS Sports)
Really tough loss to TCU to start the week that will definitely have an impact on seeding in a few weeks, but they responded nicely against West Virginia, outscoring them by 19 in the second half. This team is a little banged up but should be healthy when it matters.
This week, easily the toughest all season, facing Houston, then traveling to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. A win in either of those games could solidify the Red Raiders as a title threat.
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)
Record: 19-8 (10-6)
Last week: W vs. #23 Kansas (91-57), W at #19 Arizona (96-95)
Next week: at Arizona State (Feb 26 – 9:30 p.m), vs. West Virginia (Mar 1 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at #22 Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, at West Virginia
Bad losses: at Providence
Seed projection: 7 seed (Making the Madness), 10 seed (CBS Sports), 11 seed (ESPN)
We discussed the controversial win against Arizona, but there was nothing controversial about the mollywhopping they put on Kansas earlier in the week. After starting 2-4 in conference play, this team has won eight of its last ten and has gone from outside of the bubble to a near lock.
Now’s not the time to take the foot off the gas though, as they take on Arizona State and West Virginia, two big opportunities to bump their seeding even higher.
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+2)
Record: 18-9 (9-7)
Last week: L at BYU (57-91), W vs. Oklahoma State (96-64)
Next week: at Colorado (Feb 24 – 11:00 p.m), vs. #10 Texas Tech (Mar 1 – 2:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #2 Duke (Neutral), UNC, #8 Michigan State (Neutral), #9 Iowa State, at TCU
Bad losses: at BYU
Seed projection: 6 seed (CBS Sports, Making the Madness), 7 seed (ESPN)
The Jayhawks hit rock bottom on Tuesday, losing by 34 to BYU, one of the worst losses in the Bill Self era. However, they came back with an impressive 32-point win, a sign that maybe things have gotten better since that game.
They face Colorado on Monday, then have to finish the season with Texas Tech, Houston, and Arizona. If they can come out of that with a winning record, then it might be time to buy back in. Big if though, if they continue to play like this, it’ll only get worse.
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+2)
Record: 15-12 (8-8)
Last week: W vs. #9 Texas Tech (69-66), L at Cincinnati (63-75)
Next week: at West Virginia (Feb 25 – 9:00 p.m), vs. UCF (Mar 1 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at Baylor, Xavier, #25 BYU, West Virginia, #10 Texas Tech
Bad losses: Santa Clara (Neutral), Colorado State (Neutral)
Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
What Jamie Dixon has done with this team is beyond impressive after losing Frankie Collins. Many expected them to bottom out after the non-conference, but they have responded with an 8-8 record that includes a win over Texas Tech. They really needed to beat Cincinnati to get back into bubble conversations, but the door isn’t closed yet.
Playing at West Virginia is tough, but winnable. Then they play UCF, who are in the Big 12 cellar. A 2-0 week could make things interesting for the Horned Frogs, especially with a home game against Baylor and a road game against Colorado to close out the season.
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-3)
Record: 16-11 (8-8)
Last week: L vs. #19 Arizona (67-74), L at Colorado (74-76)
Next week: at Cincinnati (Feb 25 – 7:00 p.m), vs. Oklahoma State (Mar 1 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Arkansas (Neutral), #7 St. John’s (Neutral), Kansas, West Virginia
Bad losses: at Gonzaga, at Colorado
Seed projection: 9 seed (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Baylor hasn’t been the same since the Ojianwuna injury, and it hit its bottom with a loss to Colorado, who came into the game with just one Big 12 win. They’ve lost three of four, and have gone from a top-ten preseason team to a team that could fall out out of the tournament with a few more losses.
You have to trust Scott Drew, but the lack of bigs is becoming concerning. They face two favorable opponents this week in Cincinnati and Oklahoma State. A loss to either could put them in serious danger, given they wouldn’t be quad 1 losses.
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+1)
Record: 16-11 (7-9)
Last week: W vs. Cincinnati (62-59), L at #9 Texas Tech (51-73)
Next week: vs. TCU (Feb 25 – 9:00 p.m), at #25 BYU (Mar 1 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #9 Iowa State, at Kansas, Gonzaga (Neutral), #22 Arizona (Neutral), Georgetown
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: 10 seed (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Like Baylor, this team has dropped three of its last four and is creeping onto the bubble. Defenses have done a much better job on Javon Small, which has forced the supporting cast to step up and haven’t been able to do. They don’t have an easy week either, facing TCU at home and BYU on the road. It’ll be hard to make the tournament with 14 losses or more, and with four games left, they’ll really need to give it their all if they want to be in.
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+1)
Record: 16-11 (6-10)
Last week: L at West Virginia (59-62), W vs. TCU (75-63)
Next week: vs. Baylor (Feb 25 – 7:00 p.m), at #4 Houston (Mar 1 – 4:30 p.m)
Quality wins: Xavier, Dayton (Neutral), #25 BYU, TCU
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Cincinnati needed to beat West Virginia if they wanted a little bit of at-large hopes, but it appears now, that it’s conference tournament or bust. The good news is, this team is starting to play well. Letting Jizzle James become the focal point of the offense has been the key, as he’s led them in scoring in the last five games.
The bubble is weak, so Cincinnati can’t throw in the towel just yet, and if they can beat both Baylor and Houston, people will start talking.
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)
Record: 15-12 (7-9)
Last week: W vs. Kansas State (74-69), L at UCF (72-76)
Next week: at #22 Arizona (Feb 26 – 9:00 p.m), vs. Arizona State (Mar 1 – 7:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #25 BYU, Kansas
Bad losses: None
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
For a team that was picked to finish last in conference play, a 7-9 record is pretty impressive. However, they just fired their coach out of the blue, so expect the season to take a sharp turn quickly. They’ll take on the two Arizona teams in hopes of fighting for a top-eight seed so they get an extra day of rest in the Big 12 tournament.
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-5)
Record: 13-14 (7-9)
Last week: L at Utah (69-74), L vs. Arizona State (54-66)
Next week: at UCF (Feb 26 – 7:00 p.m), vs. Colorado (Mar 2 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: West Virginia, at #8 Iowa State, Kansas, #22 Arizona
Bad losses: Liberty, Wichita State
Seed projection: Next Four Out (ESPN, Making the Madness), OUT (CBS Sports)
It’s all over for the Wildcats, as they’ve now lost three straight after that miraculous run. They’ve proven they can beat anyone, so keep an eye out for them in the Big 12 tournament, but realistically a spot for them in the NIT seems likely.
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+1)
Record: 13-14 (5-11)
Last week: W vs. UCF (104-95), L at #23 Kansas (64-96)
Next week: vs. #9 Iowa State (Feb 25 – 8:00 p.m), at Baylor (Mar 1 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: FAU (Neutral)
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Oklahoma State reached 100 points for the first time all season in their win against UCF. Bryce Thompson led the way with 25 for the Cowboys. They followed that up by getting beat down by Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Oklahoma State sits just outside the bottom three and will be fighting with UCF and Arizona State for the rest of the season for pride.
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+1)
Record: 14-13 (5-11)
Last week: L at Oklahoma State (95-104), W vs. Utah (76-72)
Next week: at Oklahoma State (Feb 19 – 9:00 p.m), vs. Utah (Feb 23 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: vs. #12 Texas A&M, at #10 Texas Tech, at Arizona State
Bad losses: Kansas, at Colorado
Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
UCF picked up its first win in nearly a month this weekend, beating Utah at home. UCF doesn’t face another ranked team the rest of the season, so perhaps they can build some momentum the rest of the season, but with the way the past month has gone, don’t expect it. Johnny Dawkins is most likely coaching his last few games for this team.
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-2)
Record: 13-14 (4-12)
Last week: L vs. #5 Houston (65-80), W at Kansas State (66-54)
Next week: vs. #25 BYU (Feb 26 – 9:30 p.m), at Utah (Mar 1 – 7:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at West Virginia, #23 Saint Mary’s (Neutral), Grand Canyon (Neutral), New Mexico (Neutral)
Bad losses: None
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
The good news, Arizona State won its first game since January 28th. The bad news, leading scorer BJ Freeman was dismissed from the team. This is the second straight season an ASU player has been dismissed, and the culture problems under Bobby Hurley are building up. They haven’t won a home game since January 4th, and all tournament hopes are dead after a promising non-conference.
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 11-16 (2-14)
Last week: L at #8 Iowa State (65-79), W vs. Baylor (76-74)
Next week: vs. Kansas (Feb 24 – 11:00 p.m), at Kansas State (Mar 2 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: UConn (Neutral), Baylor
Bad losses: None
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Give credit to Colorado, they’ve won two of their last three, something nearly every Big 12 team can’t say. They’re playing hard to the end, and have played well at home. Don’t be surprised if they pick up one more win before conference play.
