POWER RANKINGS
Big 12 basketball players didn’t gather around the dining room table at home this Thanksgiving. Over the holiday break, the Big 12 was represented in non-conference competitions that were played in places like Florida, Las Vegas, San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Here are the newest power rankings:
1. Texas
Last week: 1
What to know: After missing much of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury, junior forward Aaliyah Moore returned to the court in the Virgin Islands. She made up for lost time by scoring six points in her first 77 seconds of action since Dec. 11, 2022.
2. Baylor
Last week: 2
What to know: Baylor knocked down a school-record 17 3-pointers in a 124-44 rout of McNeese on Nov. 24.
3. Kansas State
Last week: 3
What to know: The Wildcats have beaten two top-20 teams (Iowa and North Carolina) this season. Its only loss was against that same Iowa team. Kansas State went 2-5 against ranked teams last year.
4. Kansas
Last week: 6
What to know: Kansas slipped to 2-3 on the season, but the Jayhawks recently held their own in games against No. 6 UConn and No. 9 Virginia Tech that were played in the Cayman Islands. Kansas lost to those teams by a combined nine points.
5. Oklahoma
Last week: 4
What to know: After getting off to a 5-0 start this season, the Sooners stumbled with losses to Princeton and a ranked Tennessee team at the Fort Myers Tip-Off event.
6. West Virginia
Last week: 7
What to know: West Virginia is celebrating its 50th season of existence. In only four of those seasons has the team gotten off to a better start than it has this winter. 7. TCU
Last week: 8
What to know: TCU is 7-0 after beating Nebraska to claim the championship at the St. Pete Showcase. If TCU beats Tulsa on Friday, the Horned Frogs and new coach Mark Campbell will be off to the best start in school history.
8. Oklahoma State
Last week: 5
What to know: The Cowgirls recently snapped a three-game losing streak that included losses against ranked Colorado and Ohio State teams.
9. Texas Tech
Last week: 9
What to know: In a performance that would have made the defensive coordinator of the school’s football team proud, Texas Tech shutout Texas A&M-Commerce in the first quarter of a 91-45 win on Nov. 17.
10. BYU
Last week: 10
What to know: Off to a 6-0 start, BYU will soon turn its attention to trying to claim in-state bragging rights. After playing Wyoming this Tuesday, BYU has two games scheduled against Utah and Utah State in a four-day span.
11. Houston
Last week: 12
What to know: To start this season, the Cougars are winning with offense. Entering this week, the 98.0 points that Houston is scoring is the third-best average in Division I.
12. Central Florida
Last week: 14
What to know: Central Florida won three times at a tournament in Puerto Rico over the holiday break, and the Knights are now 6-0. Those three games in Puerto Rico are the only games that UCF will play away from its home arena this season until conference play begins.
13. Iowa State
Last week: 11
What to know: If it’s true that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, the Cyclones must be hoping that their uncharacteristic losing ways are behind them. Iowa State dropped two games against Syracuse and Vanderbilt at a showcase in Las Vegas last week.
14. Cincinnati
Last week: 13
What to know: It’s hard to get a good read on the Bearcats. Their three losses have been against ranked teams and they’ve beaten their other three opponents by an average of 18 points. Cincinnati just went 1-2 at the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands. Danny Davis covers Texas athletics for the Austin American-Statesman. Reach him at ddavis@statesman.com.