Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Lots Of Movement In Latest Poll

SALT LAKE CITY – The last Big 12 basketball power rankings experienced a lot of movement after many noteworthy outcomes in league play.

Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 12 Edition

Take a look at the week 12 Big 12 basketball power rankings.

Previous Power Rankings

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 & 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |

1. Iowa State (15-2, 5-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 1 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Iowa State 74, Kansas 57
• West Virginia 64, Iowa State 57

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: vs. UCF
• Saturday, January 25: at Arizona State

We won’t knock the Cyclones for losing a road game at West Virginia, especially after their dominance in their home win over Kansas.

2. Houston (14-3, 6-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 2

Last Week

• Houston 70, West Virginia 54
• Houston 69, UCF 68 (Road Win)

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: vs. Utah
• Saturday, January 25: at Kansas

It was a big week for the Cougars to get their first Quad 1 victories this past week. After they gear up to host Utah in a postponed game on Wednesday, they prepare for Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.

3. West Virginia (13-4, 4-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 5 (Up 2)

Last Week

• Houston 70, West Virginia 54
• West Virginia 64, Iowa State 57

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: vs. Arizona State
• Saturday, January 25: at Kansas State

Javon Small should be the favorite to win Big 12 Player of the Year. He has been brilliant for the Mountaineers. Also, how great were those Jerry West-era throwback uniforms?

4. Texas Tech (13-4, 4-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 7 (Up 3)

Last Week

• Texas Tech 61, Kansas State 57 (Road Win)
• Texas Tech 70, Arizona 54

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: at Cincinnati
• Sunday, January 26: vs. Oklahoma State

It’s time to put some respect on Texas Tech. The Red Raiders dominated Arizona in a game where they only shot 26.1% from three. Tech’s defense was excellent in a game that keeps them in the Big 12 Championship race.

5. Arizona (11-6, 5-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Arizona 81, Baylor 70
• Texas Tech 70, Arizona 54

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: at Oklahoma State
• Saturday, January 25: vs. Colorado

Losses happen in the Big 12. The Wildcats will continue to be in championship contention, but getting blown out at Tech was a little surprising.

6. Kansas (13-4, 4-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3 (Down 3)

Last Week

• Iowa State 74, Kansas 57
• Kansas 84, Kansas State 74

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: at TCU
• Saturday, January 25: vs. Houston

Strong bounce-back performance from Kansas in the win over rival K-State. We will see the impact of the injury to KJ Adams on the Jayhawks this week at TCU. Heralded freshman Flory Bidunga got the start in replace of Adams last week.

Then there’s a massive game against Houston on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

7. UCF (12-5, 3-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Up 4)

Last Week

• UCF 95, Arizona State 89 (Road Win)
• Houston 69, UCF 68 (Home Loss)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: at Iowa State
• Saturday, January 25: vs. TCU

After the top six teams in the Big 12, there is a logjam of teams with flawed resumes. We will boost UCF, which had Houston on the ropes in the Space Game. They also have two road victories, one of which was at the USA at Texas Tech.

Freshman Moustapha Thiam had a breakout performance on the offensive end against Houston with a career-high 18 points.

8. TCU (10-7, 3-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 8

Last Week

• Utah 73, TCU 65 (Home Loss)
• TCU 74, Baylor 71 (Road Win)

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: vs. Kansas
• Saturday, January 25: at UCF

TCU always wins close calls at Baylor. The Horned Frogs put together some last-second heroics for the third consecutive year to take the rival Bears. After an underwhelming showing against Utah at home, TCU needed that bounce-back win.

9. Baylor (11-6, 3-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Down 3)

Last Week

• Arizona 81, Baylor 70
• TCU 74, Baylor 71 (Home Loss)

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: vs. Kansas State
• Saturday, January 25: at Utah

In the loss to TCU, Baylor was down to a seven-man rotation. Then Jeremy Roach took a scary hit late in the game, which caused him to exit the game early in the final minute. The Bears are banged up and continue to be without Langston Love, who remains day-to-day with ankle soreness.

10. Cincinnati (12-5, 2-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Up 2)

Last Week

• Cincinnati 68, Colorado 62 (Road Win)
• Cincinnati 67, Arizona State 60

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: vs. Texas Tech
• Saturday, January 25: at BYU

It was a huge pair of victories for Cincinnati to get back in the win column after opening Big 12 play on a four-game losing streak. Simas Lukosius finding his shot from three didn’t hurt the cause to get back on track.

11. Utah (11-6, 3-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Up 2)

Last Week

• Utah 73, TCU 65 (Road Win)
• Utah 73, BYU 72 (OT)

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: at Houston
• Saturday, January 25: vs. Baylor

It was a breakthrough week for Utah in the Big 12.

The Utes opened Big 12 play by shooting a high volume of three-pointers. They’ve changed course by turning to the paint, where East Carolina transfer Ezra Ausar had a season-high 26 points in the overtime win against BYU.

12. BYU (11-6, 2-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 2)

Last Week

• BYU 85, Oklahoma State 69
• Utah 73, BYU 72 (OT)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: at Colorado
• Saturday, January 25: vs. Cincinnati

BYU had their chances to get that coveted road win at rival Utah, but they came up short. The Cougars were 4-of-10 from the free-throw line in the loss to the Utes.

13. Oklahoma State (10-7, 2-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 14 (Up 1)

Last Week

• BYU 85, Oklahoma State 69
• Oklahoma State 83, Colorado 73

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: vs. Arizona
• Sunday, January 26: at Texas Tech

Oklahoma State battled at BYU, then returned home and won by double digits over an old Big 8 foe in Colorado.

14. Arizona State (10-7, 1-5 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Down 5)

Last Week

• UCF 95, Arizona State 89 (Home Loss)
• Cincinnati 67, Arizona State 60

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: at West Virginia
• Saturday, January 25: vs. Iowa State

The grind of Big 12 play has hit the Sun Devils like a stack of bricks. They’ve had three consecutive single-digit losses, but scoring droughts and turnovers remains an issue for this group.

15. Colorado (9-8, 0-6 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16 (Up 1)

Last Week

• Cincinnati 68, Colorado 62 (Home Loss)
• Oklahoma State 83, Colorado 73

This Week

• Tuesday, January 21: vs. BYU
• Saturday, January 25: at Arizona

Despite being winless in the league, Colorado big man Bangot Dak put together a strong week that included an eight-block performance in the loss against Cincinnati. Dak gives Colorado hope they could squeeze some upsets on their home floor moving forward.

16. Kansas State (7-10, 1-5 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 15 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Texas Tech 61, K-State 57
• Kansas 84, K-State 74

This Week

• Wednesday, January 22: at Baylor
• Saturday, January 25: vs. West Virginia

The Octagon of Doom was empty last week in the loss to Texas Tech, and then days later, they lost to rival Kansas. Tough times in the Little Apple right now.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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