Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Mountaineers & Bears Move Up, Sooners & Wildcats Move Down

Four teams have already been knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten in the Big 12 conference. Kansas got blitzed by an NBA squad playing a college schedule, Texas Tech blew a double digit lead to an SEC team, and Oklahoma and Kansas State suffered bad losses to mediocre teams. Texas defeated two power five teams and West Virginia is the first team in the conference to get a win over a ranked opponent.

Here's how everyone stacks up in this week's power rankings:

1. Kansas Jayhawks, 1-1 (previous rank: 1)

Not going to drop the Jayhawks because they got blasted by a Kentucky Wildcats team last Tuesday that has 8+ NBA players on it. Top to bottom, they're still the most talented team in the conference. Kentucky is just going to be a different animal this season. The lack of playing time for star recruit Kelly Oubre is something to monitor. He was considered a top 10 pick coming into the season.
Last week: Lost to Kentucky 72-40 (11/18)
This week: Vs. Rider (11/24), Vs. Rhode Island (11/27)

2. Texas Longhorns, 4-0 (previous rank: 2)

Texas had a Good News/Bad News kinda week. Good news: They defeated two power 5 conference teams in Iowa and California by double digits. Bad news: Starting guard Isaiah Taylor broke his wrist in the game against the Hawkeyes and will miss four to six weeks.
Last week: Defeated Iowa 71-57 (11/20), Defeated Cal 71-55 (11/21)
This week: Vs. St. Francis PA (11/25), Vs. UCONN (11/30)

3. Iowa State Cyclones, 2-0 (previous rank: 3)

The Cyclones have yet to play anyone interesting this season. In their only game last week against Georgia State, all five starters scored double figures. They'll take on their first Power 5 team this week when they face Alabama.
Last week: Defeated Georgia State 81-58 (11/17)
This week: Vs. Alabama (11/24)

4. West Virginia Mountaineers, 5-0 (previous rank: 5)

The Mountaineers own the most impressive win in the conference to date. WVU dominated national champion Connecticut from start to finish to claim the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship. Jonathan Holton is everything he was advertised to be. Everyone on this team defends. It's going to be a great year in Morgantown.
Last week: Defeated GMU 91-65 (11/20), Defeated BC 70-66 (11/21), Defeated UCONN 78-68 (11/23)
This week: Vs. VMI (11/26), Vs. College of Charleston (11/29)

5. Oklahoma Sooners, 2-1 (previous rank: 4)

Losing to a Creighton team that no longer has Doug McDermott and was picked 9th in the Big East is not a good look. Buddy Hield has been impressive to start the season, though, averaging a hair over 20 points a game.
Last week: Lost to Creighton 65-63 (11/19), Defeated Northwestern State 90-68 (11/23)
This week: Vs. UCLA (11/26)

6. Baylor Bears, 3-0 (previous rank: 7)

Baylor had to battle to defeat a below average South Carolina team, but a win is a win early in the season with everyone trying to find their footing.
Last week: Defeated South Carolina 69-65 (11/18), Defeated Prairie View A&M 60-45 (11/21)
This week: Vs. Stephen F. Austin (11/24), Vs. Memphis (11/27)

7. Kansas State Wildcats, 2-1 (previous rank: 6)

Oops. Kansas State had a tough week. After having to come back from a halftime deficit to defeat the UMKC Kangaroos, the Wildcats lost on the road to a Long Beach State team that just three nights before had lost by 23 to Xavier. Marcus Foster really struggled against the 49ers, going 1-13 and only scoring 5 points.
Last week: Defeated UMKC 83-73 (11/17), Lost to Long Beach State 69-60 (11/21)
This week: Vs. Purdue (11/24)

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 4-0 (previous rank: 8)

The Pokes haven't played anyone good enough to gauge where they really are as a team. Phil Forte and Le'Bryan Nash are averaging 35.5 points combined through their first four games.
Last week: Defeated Northwest Oklahoma State 91-45 (11/18), Defeated Milwaukee 82-68 (11/21)
This week: Vs. Oregon State (11/24)

9. TCU Horned Frogs, 3-0 (previous rank: 10)

Washington State is not a good basketball team, but for TCU to just obliterate them by 27 points is still an impressive win. These guys are gonna win a game or two in the Big 12.
Last week: Defeated Washington State 81-54 (11/17), Defeated New Orleans 86-71 (11/20)
This week: Vs. Mississippi Valley State (11/24), Vs. Radford (11/26), Vs. Bradley (11/28)

10. Texas Tech Red Raiders, 2-1 (previous rank: 9)

Texas Tech took an LSU team that West Virginia will see on December 4th to overtime, falling short after holding a 12 point halftime lead.
Last week: Lost to LSU 69-64 OT (11/18), Defeated Missouri State 80-68 (11/22)
This week: Vs. Northwestern State (11/24), Vs. Air Force (11/30)