Big 12 Men's Basketball Power Rankings - Week 3
After a week off, the Blue Wings Power Rankings are back to try and make sense of the chaos that is the Big 12 Conference. To help me sort through the mess, I enlisted the help of our staff here to vote on which teams are the best. We have three voters this week, but the hierarchy is pretty clear.
A quick reminder on how our power rankings work. It is NOT just going to be restating the standings. It is entirely possible that a team that has a worse record lands higher on the list, especially if they are playing really well as of late. Similarly, it is also not going to be a "who's hottest" list. Instead, it will be a subjective mix of which team is playing better and which team we think IS better, with a tiebreaker going to teams that have significantly outperformed our expectations.
So with that, here is the Week 3 edition of the Blue Wings Rising Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings:
Editor's Note: These rankings were determined prior to tipoff of the action on Tuesday night.
1. Kansas Jayhawks (16-1, 5-0 Big 12) - 30 Points, LW: 1
Last Week: 79-75 W vs Oklahoma, 62-60 W vs Iowa State
This Week: Tues at Kansas State, Sat vs TCU
Still might be some bias here, but the Jayhawks are the only undefeated team in the conference and have had fairly impressive comebacks. But with the strength of the conference, an isolated loss won't be enough to drop them, so win one this week without getting blown out and they probably keep this spot next week.
2. Iowa State Cyclones (13-3, 4-1 Big 12) - 26 Points, LW: 3
Last Week: 84-50 W vs Texas Tech, 62-60 L at Kansas
This Week: Tues vs Texas, Sat at Oklahoma State
Despite losing to the Jayhawks, they gave them literally everything that Kansas could handle and almost pulled it out on the road. This team is just getting better as the season goes on.
3. Kansas State Wildcats (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) - 23 Points, LW: 4
Last Week: 65-57 W vs Oklahoma State, 82-68 L at TCU
This Week: Tues vs Kansas, Sat vs Texas Tech
The blowout loss leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but with how strong this offense is, they are likely to have a night where things just don't go their way. If they can be competitive against Kansas and get a win against Texas Tech, then there is nothing to worry about.
4. Texas Longhorns (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) - 21 Points, LW: 2
Last Week: 79-75 W vs TCU, 72-70 W vs Texas Tech
This Week: Tues at Iowa State, Sat at West Virginia
The loss to Kansas State was a bit baffling, but now that the Chris Beard saga is behind them, the team seems to be settling in. They have a bit of work to do, but they have more than enough talent to stick at the top of the conference this season.
5. TCU Horned Frogs (14-3, 3-2 Big 12) - 19 Points, LW: 5
Last Week: 79-75 L at Texas, 82-68 W vs Kansas State
This Week: Wed at West Virginia, Sat at Kansas
What a win for them over the Wildcats. And they get a chance to tune up against a struggling West Virginia squad before heading to Lawrence to take on a Kansas squad that will either be undefeated or looking to avenge a loss.
6. Baylor Bears (12-5, 2-3 Big 12) - 15 Points, LW: 7
Last Week: 83-78 W at West Virginia, 74-58 W vs Kansas State
This Week: Tues at Texas Tech, Sat at Oklahoma
It was a rough start, but they seem to be getting their form back. They have a huge uphill battle if they want to compete for the conference title, but they are on the upswing.
T-7. Oklahoma Sooners (11-6, 2-3 Big 12) - 7 Points, LW: 8
Last Week: 79-75 L at Kansas, 77-76 W vs West Virginia
This Week: Wed at Oklahoma State, Sat vs Baylor
A close loss to Kansas shows the potential for this team, but the close win over West Virginia is potentially worrying. This is a team that has a good offense but questionable defense, and that will both allow them to win shootouts but also potentially lose games that they have no business losing.
T-7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-8, 1-4 Big 12) - 7 Points, LW: 9
Last Week: 65-57 L at Kansas State, 74-58 L at Baylor
This Week: Wed vs Oklahoma, Sat vs Iowa State
Oklahoma State has show the ability to hang tough with plenty of teams this season, including with the Jayhawks early in the conference schedule. They have an opportunity this week to move up a bit and score a huge upset.
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-7, 0-5 Big 12) - 5 Points, LW: 10
Last Week: 84-50 L at Iowa State, 72-70 L at Texas
This Week: Tues vs Baylor, Sat at Kansas State
They haven't won in conference, but they have had multiple close calls against some really good teams. It's only a matter of time before they get a few wins against the top of the conference.
10. West Virginia Mountaineers (10-7, 0-5 Big 12) - 4 Points, LW: 6
Last Week: 83-78 L vs Baylor, 77-76 L at Oklahoma
This Week: Wed vs TCU, Sat vs Texas
It's debatable whether West Virginia or Texas Tech is worse, but both of these teams have shown flashes and huge collapses, but I expect there to be plenty of upsets.
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