BYU at Iowa State (Mar. 4 – 9 p.m.)
Baylor at TCU (Mar 4 – 8 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)
Record: 25-4 (17-1)
Last week: W at #10 Texas Tech (69-61), W vs. Cincinnati (73-64)
Next week: vs. Kansas (Mar 4 – 8:00 p.m), at Baylor (Mar 8 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #10 Iowa State, Baylor, at #24 Arizona, at #Kansas, #23 BYU, West Virginia (2x)
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: 1 seed (Making the Madness, ESPN, CBS Sports)
For the second straight year, Houston is your Big 12 champion. This team is dominant and keeps picking up more and more resume-building wins, earning them a one seed in the NCAA Tournament per bracketology. Only two more games in their way for a one loss regular season, but two teams are desperate for a resume win over Houston in Kansas and Baylor.
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+2)
Record: 22-7 (13-5)
Last week: L vs. #4 Houston (61-69), W at Kansas (78-73)
Next week: vs. Colorado (Mar 5 – 8:00 p.m), at Arizona State (Mar 8 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at #3 Houston, #24 Arizona, at #23 BYU, at Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia
Bad losses: Saint Joseph’s, UCF
Seed projection: 3 seed (ESPN, Making the Madness), 4 seed (CBS Sports)
Texas Tech couldn’t get it done short-handed against Houston but followed that up with an extremely impressive win at Allen Fieldhouse, thanks to some big time shot making in the first half. If they’re fully healthy, they’re extremely dangerous, and with games against Colorado and Arizona State this week, they should go into the Big 12 tournament with momentum.
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)
Record: 22-7 (12-6)
Last week: L at Oklahoma State (68-74), W vs. #22 Arizona (84-67)
Next week: vs. #25 BYU (Mar 4 – 9:00 p.m), at Kansas State (Mar 8 – 1:30 p.m)
Quality wins: at #9 Texas Tech, #20 Marquette, #24 Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, at Iowa
Bad losses: Kansas State, at Oklahoma State
Seed projection: 2 seed (ESPN), 3 seed (Making the Madness), 4 seed (CBS Sports)
One of the bigger surprises of the season came on Tuesday, when they dropped a game to Oklahoma State out of nowhere. Luckily for them, they bounced back nicely, beating Arizona convincingly in Hilton thanks to a big game by Momcilovic. This team still needs to get healthy, especially Keshon Gilbert.
Their game against BYU this week is crucial. Both teams share the same conference record, and the winner will get a double bye in the tournament. Iowa State is 15-1 at home, and has no interest of adding that second loss to the tally.
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-2)
Record: 19-10 (13-5)
Last week: W vs. Utah (83-66), L at #9 Iowa State (67-84)
Next week: vs. Arizona State (Mar 4 – 11:00 p.m), at Kansas (Mar 8 – 4:30 p.m)
Quality wins: Baylor (2x), at West Virginia, #10 Iowa State, #9 Texas Tech, #23 BYU
Bad losses: None
Seed projection: 4 seed (Making the Madness, ESPN), 6 seed (CBS Sports)
It was an up and down week for Arizona, winning a game by 17 and losing one by 17. This team continues to live and die by Caleb Love offensively, and a 2-15 shooting performance against Iowa State is all you need to know. They have a big game against Kansas this week at Allen Fieldhouse. If they win, it should guarantee them a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would be beneficial for the long run.
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 21-8 (12-6)
Last week: W at Arizona State (91-81), W vs. West Virginia (77-56)
Next week: at #9 Iowa State (Mar 4 – 9:00 p.m), vs. Utah (Mar 8 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at #23 Arizona, Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia (2x)
Bad losses: at Providence, Utah
Seed projection: 7 seed (Making the Madness), 8 seed (CBS Sports, ESPN)
BYU remains red hot, winning their six straight with two double-digit wins over Arizona State and West Virginia. Foussenyi Traore had his best game in conference play, going for 20 and 10 in the second game.
The offense has been elite, and they’ve gone from out of the bubble to the higher seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A 2-0 week would guarantee them a double bye in the Big 12 tournament, which would be huge for their chances to win it all.
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 19-10 (10-8)
Last week: W at Colorado (71-64), L vs. #10 Texas Tech (73-78)
Next week: at #4 Houston (Mar 3 – 9:00 p.m), vs. #22 Arizona (Mar 8 – 4:30 p.m)
Quality wins: #2 Duke (Neutral), #8 Michigan State (Neutral), #10 Iowa State, at TCU
Bad losses: at BYU, at Kansas State, at Utah
Seed projection: 6 seed (ESPN, CBS Sports), 7 seed (Making the Madness)
The mess continues for the Jayhawks, and them being 6th in the power rankings shows how much the rest of the Big 12 is. Kansas lost it’s third game of the season at Allen Fieldhouse to Texas Tech, something extremely rare for this team. The late game execution hasn’t been there, and this seems almost feels checked out.
They’ve still got two big chances ahead to add a signature win, facing Houston on the road and Arizona at home. If they can win one, that will go a long way for this team’s confidence, but an 0-2 week and we’re looking at a 12 loss Jayhawk team heading into the conference tournament, which would be truly shocking for the preseason #1 team.
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+2)
Record: 17-12 (8-10)
Last week: W vs. TCU (73-55), L at #25 BYU (56-77)
Next week: at Utah (Mar 4 – 9:00 p.m), vs. UCF (Mar 8 – 5:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #10 Iowa State, at Kansas, Gonzaga (Neutral), #23 Arizona (Neutral)
Bad losses: at Kansas State
Seed projection: 10 seed (ESPN, CBS Sports), Last Four in (Making the Madness)
West Virginia continues to win one and lose one, beating TCU before the loss to BYU. This week, they have games against Utah and UCF. They need to win both to remain comfortably in the tournament. Anything besides that, and they’ll have do some work in the Big 12 tournament.
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)
Record: 17-12 (9-9)
Last week: L at Cincinnati (67-69), W vs. Oklahoma State (71-61)
Next week: at TCU (Mar 4 – 8:00 p.m), vs. #4 Houston (Mar 8 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Arkansas (Neutral), #6 St. John’s (Neutral), Kansas, West Virginia
Bad losses: at Gonzaga, at Colorado
Seed projection: 10 seed (ESPN, Making the Madness) Last Four in (CBS Sports)
Baylor continues to fall into dangerous territory after the loss to Cincinnati. At 12 losses, with one being to Colorado, they don’t have a lot of room to work with. TCU is a must-win, and Houston needs to be close. There is a serious chance of no Baylor in this year’s tournament.
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-2)
Record: 16-13 (9-9)
Last week: L at West Virginia (55-73), W vs. UCF (89-78)
Next week: vs. Baylor (Mar 4 – 8:00 p.m), at Colorado (Mar 8 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at Baylor, Xavier, #23 BYU, West Virginia, #9 Texas Tech, #23 BYU
Bad losses: Santa Clara (Neutral), Colorado State (Neutral), at UCF, Utah
Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
TCU being the 7 seed this late in the season is very impressive. With games against Baylor and Colorado, they have a serious chance to finish conference play at .500, or even a winning record. Jamie Dixon has done one heck of a job with this team.
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 17-12 (7-11)
Last week: W vs. Baylor (69-67), L at #4 Houston (64-73)
Next week: vs. Kansas State (Mar 5 – 7:00 p.m), at Oklahoma State (Mar 8 – 3:00 p.m)
Quality wins: Xavier, #23 BYU, Baylor, TCU
Bad losses: at Utah, at Kansas State
Seed projection: Next Four Out (ESPN, Making the Madness), OUT (CBS Sports)
Cincy picked up a big win for the resume, and that BYU win holds a lot of value, but they’ll probably need to make the final of the Big 12 tournament to make it in. That doesn’t mean they should give up though. They have two easy matchups ahead, and if they can boost their analytics and get some help from the bubble, they can sneak in.
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+2)
Record: 14-15 (6-12)
Last week: W vs. #9 Iowa State (74-68), L at Baylor (61-71)
Next week: at UCF (Mar 5 – 7:00 p.m), vs. Cincinnati (Mar 8 – 3:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #10 Iowa State
Bad losses: FAU (Neutral), at Kansas State, at Utah
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Oklahoma State picked up the most confusing win of the entire season, beating Iowa State at home. Abou Ousmane was incredible, scoring 25 to lead the team. They couldn’t make it two in a row, but they’re showing a little fight to end the season. Everyone is playing for seeding right now, and a 2-0 week could propel them into a better first round matchup.
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)
Record: 16-13 (8-10)
Last week: L at #22 Arizona (66-83), W vs. Arizona State (99-73)
Next week: vs. West Virginia (Mar 4 – 9:00 p.m), at #25 BYU (Mar 8 – 10:00 p.m)
Quality wins: #23 BYU, Kansas, at TCU
Bad losses: at UCF, at Oklahoma State
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Utah grabbed win number eight and sits just one game behind Baylor, which would have been insane to say before the season. They’ve got a brutal week, so getting the bye is unlikely, but definitely a season to build off of, especially if they can secure a high level coach this offseason.
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+2)
Record: 15-14 (6-12)
Last week: W vs. Kansas State (80-76), L at TCU (78-89)
Next week: vs. Oklahoma State (Mar 5 – 7:00 p.m), at West Virginia (Mar 8 – 5:00 p.m)
Quality wins: vs. #22 Texas A&M, at #9 Texas Tech, vs. TCU
Bad losses: at Colorado, at Oklahoma State
Seed projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
UCF picked up another win, and would love to build some kind of momentum before conference tournament play. Could this be the last time UCF fans see Johnny Dawkins on their home court?
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-2)
Record: 14-15 (8-10)
Last week: L at UCF (76-80), W vs. Colorado (65-56)
Next week: at Cincinnati (Mar 5 – 7:00 p.m), #9 Iowa State (Mar 8 – 1:30 p.m)
Quality wins: West Virginia, at #10 Iowa State, Kansas, #23 Arizona
Bad losses: Liberty, Wichita State, at UCF, Arizona State, at Utah, at Oklahoma State,
Seed projection: Next Four Out (ESPN, Making the Madness), OUT (CBS Sports)
Kansas State got back in the win column, beating Colorado at home. Coleman Hawkins has missed some time, and this team looks lost without him on the court. Of the bottom level teams, this is the one teams want to play the least, but they haven’t shown much fight since the streak.
Last week’s ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 13-16 (4-14)
Last week: L vs. #25 BYU (81-91), L at Utah (73-99)
Next week: at #22 Arizona (Mar 4 – 11:00 p.m), #10 Texas Tech (Mar 8 – 8:00 p.m)
Quality wins: at West Virginia, #21 Saint Mary’s (Neutral), Grand Canyon (Neutral), New Mexico (Neutral)
Bad losses: at Utah, at Oklahoma State, Kansas State, UCF
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
This team is pretty much playing the B team, running a six-man lineup, but their sixth man barely got minutes all season. Questions will continue as to whether Hurley will come back, but it’s so disappointing to see how this team ended after such a strong non-conference.
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 11-18 (2-16)
Last week: L vs. Kansas (64-71), L at Kansas State (56-65)
Next week: at #10 Texas Tech (Mar 5 – 8:00 p.m), vs. TCU (Mar 8 – 4:00 p.m)
Quality wins: UConn (Neutral), Baylor
Bad losses: at Kansas State, at Utah, Arizona State (2x), at Oklahoma State, at UCF,
Seed Projection: OUT (ESPN, CBS Sports, Making the Madness)
Colorado couldn’t pick up a win after doing so the two weeks prior. Just a few more weeks until the NFL Draft, Colorado fans.
