Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Lots Of Movement Entering Week Five
Dec 2, 2024, 4:40 PM
Big 12 Basketball power rankings experienced a lot of movement after "Feast Week" that featured Iowa State in the Maui Invitational. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
(Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Big 12 basketball power rankings experienced a lot of movement after an eventful “Feast Week.”
Kansas continues to shine after taking down Duke last week in Las Vegas. The Jayhawks remain the No. 1 team in the country and the league entering week five.
Defending regular season Big 12 champion Houston struggled last week in the Players Era event in Las Vegas. The Coogs suffered two overtime losses to Alabama and San Diego State. Houston is already up to three losses this season, tying their number of setbacks for last year’s regular season.
Iowa State missed an opportunity to take home the Maui Invitational crown. The Cyclones were up 16 at the half on Auburn, but the Tigers stormed back to knock off ISU 83-81. Iowa State bounced back with strong performances against Dayton and Colorado.
Speaking of Colorado, the Big 12 newcomers made a statement in Maui, knocking off two-time defending National Champion UConn in the consolation bracket.
West Virginia was impressive during the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Mountaineers pulled a stunner in the opening round, knocking off Gonzaga. They finished the loaded field with a third-place finish and had overtime games in all three matchups.
Arizona State was a big winner from “Feast Week,” knocking off New Mexico and Saint Mary’s.
BYU had a chance to climb the power rankings, but they suffered an overtime loss to Ole Miss in the Rady Children’s Invitational opening round. However, BYU had a strong bounceback performance, taking down NC State one day later.
Big 12 Basketball gears up for the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle
Big 12 basketball now turns its attention to the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle.
The 11-game event is entering its final year and will be played from Tuesday, December 4, to Sunday, December 8.
Last year, the Big 12 won the event 7-4.
Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week Five Edition
Take a look at the week five Big 12 basketball power rankings.
Previous Power Rankings
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
1. Kansas (7-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Last Week
- Kansas 75, Duke 72 (Las Vegas)
- Kansas 86, Furman 51
This Week
- Wednesday, December 4: at Creighton (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
- Sunday, December 8: at Missouri
2. Iowa State (5-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3 (Up 1)
Last Week
- Auburn 83, Iowa State 81 (Maui Invitational)
- Iowa State 89, Dayton 84 (Maui Invitational)
- Iowa State 99, Colorado 71 (Maui Invitational)
This Week
- Wednesday, December 4: vs. Marquette (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
- Sunday, December 8: vs. Jackson State
3. Cincinnati (6-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4 (Up 1)
Last Week
- Cincinnati 77, Alabama State 59
This Week
- Tuesday, December 3: at Villanova (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
- Sunday, December 8: vs. Howard
4. Baylor (5-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5 (Up 1)
Last Week
- Baylor 91, New Orleans 60
This Week
- Wednesday, December 4: at UConn (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
5. Houston (4-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 2 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Alabama 85, Houston 80 (OT) (Las Vegas)
- Houston 65, Notre Dame 54 (Las Vegas)
- San Diego State 73, Houston 70 (OT) (Las Vegas)
This Week
- Saturday, December 7: vs. Butler (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
6. West Virginia (5-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 16 (Up 10)
Last Week
- West Virginia 86, Gonzaga 78 (OT) (Battle 4 Atlantis)
- Louisville 79, West Virginia 70 (OT) (Battle 4 Atlantis)
- West Virginia 83, Arizona 76 (OT) (Battle 4 Atlantis)
This Week
- Friday, December 6: vs. Georgetown (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
7. Arizona State (7-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 9 (Up 2)
Last Week
- Arizona State 85, New Mexico 82 (Palm Springs, CA)
- Arizona State 68, Saint Mary’s 64 (Palm Springs, CA)
This Week
- Tuesday, December 3: vs. San Diego
- Saturday, December 14: vs. Florida (Atlanta, Georgia)
8. Texas Tech (6-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 6 (Down 2)
Last Week
- Texas Tech 89, Northern Colorado 64
This Week
- Wednesday, December 4: vs. DePaul (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
- Sunday, December 8: vs. Texas A&M (Fort Worth, Texas)
9. BYU (6-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 8 (Down 1)
Last Week
- Ole Miss 96, BYU 85 (OT) (San Diego)
- BYU 72, NC State 61 (San Diego)
This Week
- Tuesday, December 3: at Providence (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
10. Arizona (3-4, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Arizona 104, Davidson 71 (Battle 4 Atlantis)
- Oklahoma 82, Arizona 77 (Battle 4 Atlantis)
- West Virginia 83, Arizona 76 (OT) (Battle 4 Atlantis)
This Week
- Saturday, December 7: vs. Southern Utah
11. Colorado (5-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 13 (Up 2)
Last Week
- Michigan State 72, Colorado 56 (Maui Invitational)
- Colorado 73, UConn 72 (Maui Invitational)
- Iowa State 99, Colorado 71 (Maui Invitational)
This Week
- Monday, December 2: vs. Pacific
- Saturday, December 7: vs. Colorado State
12. Utah (6-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 11 (Down 1)
Last Week
- Utah 94, Mississippi Valley State 48
- Utah 88, Eastern Washington 80
This Week
- Saturday, December 7: vs. Saint Mary’s
13. UCF (6-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Down 1)
Last Week
- UCF 84, Milwaukee 76
- UCF 74, Cal Baptist 59
This Week
- Sunday, December 8: vs. Tarleton State
14. Kansas State (6-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 14
Last Week
- Kansas State 80, Longwood 64
- Kansas State 120, Arkansas Pine Bluff 73
This Week
- Saturday, December 7: at St. John’s (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
15. Oklahoma State (4-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 15
Last Week
- No Games
This Week
- Wednesday, December 4: at Tulsa
- Sunday, December 8: at Seton Hall (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
16. TCU (4-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 6)
Last Week
- Santa Clara 69, TCU 52 (Palm Springs, CA)
- Colorado State 76, TCU 72 (OT) (Palm Springs, CA)
This Week
- Thursday, December 5: vs. Xavier (Big 12-BIG EAST Battle)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
