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 (9-1)
Results: beat Iowa 89-80 and Omaha 83-51Best win: MarquetteWorst loss: Auburn (which is a great loss, actually)NET ranking: 5Comment: No surprise that the Cyclones are No. 8 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to the Pomeroy ratings. Big surprise that they are No. 4 in adjusted offensive efficiency. If that keeps up through March, they will be playing in April.
2. Kansas (8-2)
Results: beat NC State 75-60Best win: DukeWorst loss: CreightonNET ranking: 17Comment: The victory over North Carolina carries less weight than expected but, in a notable twist, the loss to Missouri carries more than anyone could have imagined. (The surprising Tigers are No. 35 in the NET.)
3. Baylor (7-3)
Results: beat Norfolk State 94-69Best win: St. John’sWorst loss: UConnNET ranking: 18Comment: If the defense tightens by a half-turn of the screw, the Bears should be in great shape because, goodness, they are sharp on the other end of the court.
4. West Virginia (8-2)
Results: beat Bethune-Cookman 84-61Best win: GonzagaWorst loss: LouisvilleNET ranking: 28Comment: The ledger includes a win over Arizona that doesn’t count toward the conference standings. The teams meet once in league play, next month in Morgantown.
5. Houston (7-3)
Results: beat Toledo 78-49Best win: ButlerWorst loss: San Diego StateNET ranking: 7Comment: There’s a pretty substantial goose egg on Houston’s resume where Quad I victories are supposed to be listed. (Butler counts as a Quad II result.)
6. Arizona State (8-2)
Results: lost to Florida 83-66Best win: Saint Mary’sWorst loss: FloridaNET ranking: 50Comment: The non-conference schedule and array of quality wins should support an at-large berth for Bobby Hurley and Co. unless they slog through the Big 12, which is possible but, based on what we have seen, not probable.
7. Texas Tech (8-2)
Results: beat Oral Roberts 86-50Best win: DePaul (yep, better than Syracuse)Worst loss: Saint Joseph’sNET ranking: 29Comment: With UCF at home and then a trip to the Utah schools (Utah and BYU), the early portion of the Big 12 schedule sets up nicely for the Red Raiders.
8. Colorado (8-2)
Results: beat South Dakota State 81-70Best win: UConnWorst loss: Michigan StateNET ranking: 74Comment: CU’s resume is standing on a single result, the neutral-court victory over UConn. Otherwise, the Buffaloes have nothing to dangle in front of the selection committee, yet.
9. Cincinnati (8-1)
Results: beat Xavier 68-65Best win: XavierWorst loss: VillanovaNET ranking: 30Comment: Why the low position in the power ratings relative to the Bearcats’ record and NET ranking? There’s a bit too much mush on the schedule for our liking.
10. Brigham Young (8-2)
Results: beat Fresno State 95-67 and Wyoming 68-49Best win: NC State (as in: best of bad options)Worst loss: ProvidenceNET ranking: 52Comment: Off the court, it has been a stellar stretch for the Cougars with the A.J. Dybantsa news. On the court, there hasn’t been much to celebrate (or lament).
11. UCF (8-2)
Results: beat Tulsa 88-75Best win: Texas A&MWorst loss: LSUNET ranking: 86Comment: Good chance that UCF’s best win of the season will end up coming in the first game of the season, when the Knights rallied in the final minute to edge Texas A&M (No. 23 in the NET).
12. Arizona (5-5)
Results: lost to UCLA 57-54, beat Samford 96-64Best win: DavidsonWorst loss: Wisconsin (we had to pick one)NET ranking: 32Comment: It’s one of the most stunning statistics of the early season: The Wildcats, who usually start fast, are 0-5 against Quad I opponents. The only bright spot on their resume is the absence of Quad II, III or IV losses.
13. TCU (6-4)
Results: beat South Alabama 58-49Best win: XavierWorst loss: Santa ClaraNET ranking: 89Comment: The bottom tier will begin to take shape sooner than later with the Horned Frogs visiting Tucson on Dec. 30 in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
14. Oklahoma State (7-3)
Results: lost to Oklahoma 80-65, beat Tarleton State 66-61Best win: MiamiWorst loss: FAUNET ranking: 102Comment: The ledger could be worse for the Cowboys, who have one game left (Oral Roberts) before plunging into Big 12 play. And at that point, the ledger most definitely will get worse. Much, much worse.
15. Utah (8-2)
Results: beat Radford 81-63 and Florida A&M 89-49Best win: None (have you seen the schedule?)Worst loss: Saint Mary’sNET ranking: 59Comment: The Utes have seven Quad IV victories and a non-conference strength-of-schedule that ranks 364th, per Pomeroy. That’s dead last in Division I and the reason they are slotted so low here.
16. Kansas State (6-4)
Results: lost to Drake 73-70Best win: George Washington (seriously)Worst loss: LibertyNET ranking: 105Comment: The bottom line for the Hotline? The bottom quarter of the Big 12 isn’t nearly as strong as we expected it would be when the season began.
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