This week's performance has shown who in the Big 12 is here to compete. Some teams are stacking wins while others are piling up on the losses, affecting confidence and rankings.
16. Utah Utes (9-10, 1-5 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 16
Utah recently got their first Big 12 win, scoring 82-79 against TCU. Despite this, the team relies heavily on offense and leaves major gaps in defensive play. The Utes will attempt to carry this momentum into the next matchups against rival BYU this Saturday and Oklahoma State the following Saturday.
15. Kansas State Wildcats (10-9, 1-5 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 14
With 5 straight losses preceding a single win in conference play, Kansas State is struggling. The team has recurring issues with shooting, rebounding and overall defensive consistency. In hopes of redemption, the Wildcats will host rival Kansas on Saturday and face West Virginia on Tuesday.
14. Baylor Bears (11-7, 1-5 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 13
With only one Big 12 win, Baylor has found themselves in a conference slump. The team has a notable offense with several players consistencty scoring in double digits but needs to improve defensively. The Bears will take on TCU on Saturday and host Cincinnati on Wednesday.
13. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-8, 1-4 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 11
Coming off two hard losses, Arizona State has not had it easy in conference play. The team is competitive but faces challenges with inconsistency and injuries. The Sun Devils will attempt to regroup against West Virginia on Wednesday and Cincinnati on Saturday.
12. TCU Horned Frogs (12-7, 2-4 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 10
After winning it's first conference game against Baylor, TCU lost four games in a row before securing a win against Oklahoma State. The team has proved they can compete but struggle to close out with all their Big 12 losses being close games. In hopes of breaking the losing streak, the Horned Frogs will play Baylor on Saturday before hosting Houston on Wednesday.
11. Colorado Buffaloes ( 12-7, 2-4 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 7
Losing four games in a row, Colorado's Big 12 success has come to a halt. The team proved competitive, starting conference play with two wins, but has proved incosistent in key catagories like rebounding. The Buffaloes will attempt to come back against UCF on Saturday and Iowa State Thursday.
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-5, 2-4 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 12
With mixed conference performance, Oklahoma State is proving themselves as a true competitor. The team's offensive firepower has allowed them to secure wins but also acts as a crutch, making up for a less strong defense. The Cowboys will try for consistency when they host Iowa State this Saturday and face Utah the following Saturday.
9. Cincinnati Bearcats (10-8, 2-3 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 15
Despite starting conference play with three losses, Cincinnati has proven its resilence with back-to-back wins. The team struggles with inconsistency but has strong guard play with significant scoring and the ability to make the tough shots. The Bearcats will try for more wins against Arizona on Wednesday and Arizona State Saturday.
8. UCF Knights (14-4, 3-3 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 5
Coming off of two tough losses, UCF will need to make some changes to keep up in the Big 12. The team is strong overall but proved in their loss to Arizona that shooting efficency is a major issue. The Knights will look for a win against Colorado on Saturday and then host Arizona State on Tuesday.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers (12-6, 3-2 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 9
With the ability to bounce back after tough losses, West Virginia seems to have found its footing. The team has learned from their mistakes and made a clear effort to improve rebounding and overall resilence. The Mountaineers will look for more Big 12 wins as they play Arizona State on Wednesday and Arizona on Saturday.
6. Kansas Jayhawks (14-5, 4-2 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 8
Coming off of three wins, Kansas is proving itself both a conference and national competitor. The team has several standout players and has proven resilent despite Coach Bill Self's hospitalization. The Jayhawks will continue to push through against rival Kansas State this Saturday before hosting BYU the following Saturday.
5. Iowa State Cyclones (17-2, 4-2 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 4
After a much needed win, Iowa State seems to be coming back after a Big 12 slump. The team has a number of standout players and a notable offense but has struggled with turnovers and opponent shooting. The Cyclones will try to avoid another loss against Oklahoma State on Saturday before hosting Colorado on Thursday.
4. BYU Cougars (16-2, 4-1 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 3
Coming off a 84-71 loss to Texas Tech, BYU is no longer undefeated in the Big 12. The team is one of the toughest in the conference and is scoring high with a strong offense. The Cougars will try to shake off their last loss and will host rival Utah on Saturday before hosting Arizona on Monday.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-4, 5-1 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 6
After a series of conference wins, Texas Tech is shaking up the Big 12. The team's agressiveness and high scoring seems to be enough to take them to the top. The Red Raiders will try to continue their streak and host Houston this Saturday before playing UCF the following Saturday.
2. Houston Cougars (17-1, 5-0 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 2
Undefeated in conference play and only one loss overall, Houston is top contender on the Big 12. The team is improving both individually and overall, making them a force to be reckoned with. The Cougars will continue their strong performance with a rematch against Texas Tech on Saturday before playing TCU on Wednesday.
1. Arizona Wildcats (18-0, 5-0 Big 12)
Last week's rank: 1
As both a conference and national powerhouse, Arizona is proving themselves unstoppable. The team's dominant offensive and defensive strength has secured them every game and is seemingly unbeatable. The Wildcats will continue their run against as they host Cincinnati on Wednesday and West Virginia on Saturday.
With teams who are currently dominating and teams who are clearly struggling, there's still time for things to shift in Big 12.