Welcome to a new weekly feature on the Hotline. We’ll break down Big 12 basketball using key metrics (NET rankings, KenPom ratings, etc.), our observations and a dose of old-fashioned sarcasm (when needed) — all in the name of providing fans with the state-of-play in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.
(Results listed for games in the past week.)
1. Iowa State (10-1)
Results: beat Morgan State 99-72Best win: MarquetteWorst loss: AuburnNET ranking: 8Comment: The Cyclones open conference play Dec. 30 with a trip to Boulder, a difficult assignment because of the altitude. They are undoubtedly aware, having lost decisively in Provo last season.
2. Kansas (9-2)
Results: beat Brown 87-53Best win: DukeWorst loss: CreightonNET ranking: 12Comment: Michigan State is doing its part to prop up KU’s resume with five consecutive wins. North Carolina? Not so much.
3. West Virginia (9-2)
Results: beat Mercyhurst 67-46Best win: GonzagaWorst loss: LouisvilleNET ranking: 33Comment: The Mountaineers need to hold their own through the first half of conference play, then stack wins when the schedule eases in February.
4. Baylor (7-3)
Results: Did not playBest win: St. John’sWorst loss: UConnNET ranking: 21Comment: There’s no telling how the Bears will perform after their 16-day break — yep, 16! — but at least they have Arlington Baptist as a bridge to the start of Big 12 play.
5. Houston (8-3)
Results: beat Texas A&M-CC 87-51Best win: ButlerWorst loss: San Diego StateNET ranking: 6Comment: Lukewarm take: If the Cougars aren’t 7-0 in conference when they head to Lawrence on Jan. 25, something has gone wrong.
6. Arizona State (9-2)
Results: beat UMass 78-62Best win: Saint Mary’sWorst loss: FloridaNET ranking: 50Comment: Super-freshman Jayden Quaintance’s uptick in production in recent weeks has been impossible to miss. If he maintains the current level, ASU should stay on track for an NCAA bid.
7. Cincinnati (10-1)
Results: beat Dayton 66-59 and Grambling State 84-49Best win: DaytonWorst loss: VillanovaNET ranking: 18Comment: The victory over Dayton does wonders for UC’s resume given that the Flyers have beaten both UConn and Marquette and lost close games to North Carolina and Iowa State.
8. Texas Tech (9-2)
Results: beat Lamar 101-57Best win: DePaulWorst loss: St. Joseph’sNET ranking: 17Comment: No team — not just in the Big 12 but in any conference — has a more inexplicable NET ranking. All nine of TTU’s victories are against Quad III and IV opponents.
9. Colorado (9-2)
Results: beat Bellarmine 79-55Best win: UConnWorst loss: Michigan StateNET ranking: 77Comment: Several teams have reasonably manageable schedules in the initial weeks of conference play. Colorado is not one of them. If the Buffs are .500 (or better) when February arrives, we’ll be mildly surprised
10. Brigham Young (9-2)
Results: beat Florida A&M 103-57Best win: NC StateWorst loss: ProvidenceNET ranking: 44Comment: Everything about the Cougars’ performance to date suggests a season on the NCAA bubble, with their ultimate fate dependent on the fluid dynamics of the final weeks.
11. Arizona (6-5)
Results: beat Central Michigan 94-51Best win: DavidsonWorst loss: WisconsinNET ranking: 25Comment: We’re used to seeing the Wildcats with a top-10 position in the Pomeroy offensive efficiency ratings, which makes their current spot (33rd) so jarring.
12. UCF (9-2)
Results: beat Jacksonville 86-66Best win: Texas A&MWorst loss: LSUNET ranking: 80Comment: In the span of three weeks and a few days in January, UCF plays Kansas twice, Iowa State, Houston and both Arizona schools (on the road). Good luck with that.
13. TCU (7-4)
Results: beat Montana State 82-48Best win: XavierWorst loss: Santa ClaraNET ranking: 73Comment: If not for the Xavier victory, which was made possible by a rally in the final six minutes, the Horned Frogs would have nothing whatsoever of note on their resume.
14. Oklahoma State (8-3)
Results: beat Oral Roberts 86-74Best win: MiamiWorst loss: FAUNET ranking: 109Comment: At least the Big 12 basketball season can’t be any worse in Stillwater than the Big 12 football season.
15. Utah (8-3)
Results: lost to Iowa 95-88Best win: NoneWorst loss: Saint Mary’sNET ranking: 63Comment: The Utes no longer have the worst non-conference schedule strength in Division I. They’re up to No. 362 in the Pomeroy ratings, ahead of Columbia and George Washington.
16. Kansas State (6-5)
Results: lost to Wichita State 84-65Best win: George WashingtonWorst loss: LibertyNET ranking: 122Comment: We checked because we were curious: KSU coach Jerome Tang is under contract for the rest of the decade.
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