The Big 12 Conference is an ever-evolving league with a story that never fails to wrinkle in unexpected ways. Teams who struggled in the non-conference may find themselves a powerhouse among the most talented of their peers. Others who were expected to stand a titan among trees have failed to meet expectations in league play.
We wanted to rank the Big 12 Conference according to momentum, talent, and results, but after only 10 games, our heads are starting to spin making sense of this tumultuous landscape stretching from Salt Lake City, Utah to Orlando, Florida.
So instead of making a typical power ranking, we've decided to try something a little different. Instead of a clear-cut list of names, one above the other, let's divide the Big 12 conference into several tiers. From the best and brightest to the... worst and dullest? We'll figure it out.
Within each tier list, the teams will float in no particular order. If you're in one tier, a win against one of your equals would project to be closely contested, but we wouldn't anticipate a win against a team in a higher tier. Teams in lower tiers, equally, should be a relatively comfortable victory.
Any questions? Let's jump into this tier list and see if we can find order in this tropical storm we call a basketball league.
Big 12 Conference power ranking tier list
Tier 1: The clear-cut favorites
Houston Cougars (9-1)
Iowa State Cyclones (7-3)
Gun to my head, if I had to pick a champion today, I'm going with one of these two schools. Iowa State and Houston have been the conference's two top-10 teams for nearly the whole season to this point, and you don't become a mainstay among the best in the league without reason.
Aggravating defenses and dangerous offenses make a pair of well-rounded squads that strike fear into my heart whenever I see them on the schedule. Iowa State has left us with a few question marks after their last two contests, but until those prove to be more than an outlier, I'm running with the 'Clones.
Being the favorites in the Big 12 also means being a contender for a national championship. After enjoying amazing seasons last year, which of these schools could finally overcome their blocks and break into the final four?
Tier 2: The replacements
Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-2)
Arizona Wildcats (9-1)
These schools still have a bit to prove before they can be slotted in with the very best of the conference, but that's not to say that these programs are less than the names listed above. In fact, if one of the conference's giants were to fall, these teams would be natural replacements as contenders for the Big 12 crown.
Arizona has already taken down Iowa State once (albeit on an absolute prayer from Caleb Love to force OT), and Texas Tech is a top 10 NET-ranked squad. Although these teams are red-hot at the moment, we're still cautious at the idea they may cool off at any moment. Luck often balances out, and both teams have enjoyed their fair share.
Don't blink, or these schools may overtake the summit.
Tier 3: Upset Alert
BYU Cougars (7-3)
Baylor Bears (6-4)
Kansas Jayhawks (6-4)
Don't overlook this bunch, or you could find yourself on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Though each of these teams have very apparent flaws, when the pieces come together, there's very little a team could do to stop these teams from ruining your night.
Each of these teams have been taken down by a few lower-level squads in the early returns of conference play, but each team also owns enough few quad 1 wins to make the opposition shudder. BYU, in particular, is on a hot streak and could be a buzzsaw for schools hoping to avoid another loss.
Tier 4: Hear Me Out
West Virginia Mountaineers (5-5)
UCF Knights (4-6)
Utah Utes (4-6)
Kansas State Wildcats (4-6)
TCU Horned Frogs (4-6)
These schools likely won't be world beaters at the end of the season, and we may be lucky to see any of them find a spot in March Madness (besides maybe West Virginia), but for one reason or another, each of these teams has more depth than we may have estimated in the early season.
Kansas State is suddenly winning huge matchups after a horrid start to the season. A blowout road win against Iowa State is fantastic, don't get me wrong, but this team and the rest of their peers are still on the outside looking in, and may not find much more success save for an upset or two for the rest of the season.
Tier 5: Irrelevance, Incorporated
Arizona State Sun Devils (3-7)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-7)
Cincinnati Bearcats (2-8)
Colorado Buffaloes (0-10)
Let's face it--the season is over for these schools already, and it's been an ugly run for each of them in many ways.
Most notably, Arizona State's head coach, Bobby Hurley proved this weekend that blood is thicker than water during his meltdown against Arizona, refusing to show any semblance of sportsmanship when his team fell to their in-state rival.
This is the ugly part of the conference. Don't bring your kids here.