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Big 12 Men's Basketball Power Rankings for Week 2 – Heartland College Sports

Published

10 months ago

November 23, 2023

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The Big 12 men’ basketball season is now two weeks old and we already have some separation between the top and the bottom of the standings.
With 14 teams in the league now, we present our second Big 12 men’s basketball power rankings for the 2023-24 season.
We’re still quite a ways away from the start of the Big 12 slate, but the pecking order is starting to take shape.
1. Kansas (3-0) – Last Week — 1
2. Baylor (4-0) – Last Week — 2
3. Houston (6-0) – Last Week — 3
4. Texas (4-0) – Last Week — 5
I’m adding Texas to the top tier this week after sneaking by Louisville on Sunday. Max Abmas dropping a buzzer beater to help the Longhorns overtake an improved Louisville team. But they may not stay long. The Longhorns get UConn on Monday.
Kansas played just one game this past week, but its win over No. 17 Kentucky gave me no reason to drop them. But the Jayhawks are going to get more tests as the Maui Classic this week, as there is potential for them to play two more ranked teams.
Baylor was in cruise control while Houston has now won more games than any other Big 12 team this point. The Cougars have a win over a future Big 12 rival (Utah) and one of the best programs that is not in the Power 6 (Dayton).
5. BYU (4-0) – Last Week — 8
6. TCU (4-0) – Last Week — 4
7. Iowa State (4-0) – Last Week — 6
8. Cincinnati (4-0) – Last Week — 7
9. Texas Tech (3-0) – Last Week — 9
10. Oklahoma (4-0) – Last Week — 10
This is an interesting tier. Everyone here is undefeated. But BYU — which I moved up this week — is the only team with a ranked win (over San Diego State). In fact, the Cougars are the only team on this tier that has tested it against either a ranked team or a Power 6 team in the first two weeks. So, for that early victory and remaining undefeated afterward, the Cougars get a bump for now.
Now starting this week, those teams that haven’t played a ranked team or a Power 6 team start getting tested, mostly in neutral site tournaments. This should be a fun week because we’re going to start seeing just how good the teams on this tier really are.
11. Kansas State (3-2) – Last Week — 11
I think Kansas State is starting to get back to being right, despite the injuries they’re dealing with. I don’t think you can be too upset this early in the season losing to a Final Four team from a season ago (Miami) by 12, as K-State did on Sunday. Former Wildcat Nijel Pack wasn’t going to let a chance to give his old team the business slip away. He had 28 points. But Cam Carter’s game has grown. Once this team is finally healthy it’s going to be kind of a nightmare to deal with.
I’m not sure if K-State is better than the teams above it right now, but I’m certain they’re better than the three teams below it.
12. UCF (3-1) – Last Week — 12
13. West Virginia (2-1) – Last Week — 14
14. Oklahoma State (1-3) – Last Week — 13
UCF also tested itself against Miami but lost by four more points than Kansas State did. I don’t have a good feel for WVU yet (and I’m not sure WVU has a good feel for itself yet, either). The Mountaineers have three interesting games coming up against SMU, St. John’s and Pitt.
As for Oklahoma State, there’s really nothing I could do here. The Cowboys have to bring up the rear here as the only team with a losing record in the league.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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