When the Big 12 added a media poll to its annual preseason coaches poll last October, everyone came to the same conclusion: Just put Arizona at No. 4.
It was hard to blame them. Who knew what to make of the Wildcats?
This was a team picked fifth last season that showed up on opening day in the conference with a 6-5 record … then raced to a tie for third-place and made the Big 12 Tournament final.
This season, the Wildcats appeared to have a higher ceiling with a talented freshman class, but also possibly a lower floor because coach Tommy Lloyd would have to rely on freshmen more than he ever has.
But while the Wildcats have surprised with a 13-0 record and No. 1 ranking entering their conference opener Saturday at Utah, the rest of the Big 12 has been mostly behaving as expected entering the conference’s openers this weekend, starting with Iowa State’s game at West Virginia on Friday.
Here’s an updated look, with teams listed in order of their predicted finish in the coaches’ poll:
Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson reacts against Middle Tennessee during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Houston.
1. Houston (12-1)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 12/16
Best win: 73-72 over Auburn at Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 16.
Worst loss: 76-73 to Tennessee at Las Vegas on Nov. 25.
What’s new: Thanks to Arizona's success and an average-strength conference schedule, the Cougars are somewhat flying under the radar. But they still look much like the team that was picked to win the league. Known for unusual stability under coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston has sandwiched standout play from freshmen point guard Kingston Flemings and freshman center Chris Cenac around a veteran core led by wing Milos Uzan. Recently, forward Joseph Tugler lost 16 pounds after surgery to remove several wisdom teeth.
He said it: “This team has gotten better in certain areas. We’re still trying to establish a day-to-day leader. I’ve always said our best teams are player-led, not coach-led.” — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, during a Dec. 31 media conference.
2. BYU (12-1)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 10/9
Best win: 72-62 over Miami (Fla.) in Kissimmee, Fla., on Nov. 27
Worst loss: 86-84 to Connecticut in Boston on Nov. 15
What’s new: Had starting wing Kennard Davis not been suspended for the Cougars’ game against UConn, BYU just might be undefeated and ranked No. 1, or at least in the top four. Baylor transfer Robert Wright has taken over capably at point guard while Richie Saunders is bombing 3s again at a 40.5% rate — and, most notably, AJ Dybantsa may be worth every penny of the $5-7 million he is reportedly getting. The freshman forward is averaging 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
He said it: “No point in playing this game at all. You’re not even playing a basketball team. Just walking bags of cash.” — Pacific AD Adam Tschour, in a post on X he later referred to as “tongue in cheek” after BYU beat Pacific 93-57 on Dec. 16.
3. Texas Tech (10-3)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 21/19
Best win: 82-81 over Duke in New York on Dec. 20
Worst loss: 93-86 to Arkansas at Dallas on Dec. 13
What’s new: Injuries have held back a team that already lacked quality depth, but returning standouts JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, and point guard Christian Anderson have continued to improve.
He said it: “I was thrilled with how we competed against a great Duke group. We found a way through a lot of adversity to win. To do it the way we did it gives our team a lot of belief..” — Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland after the Red Raiders beat the Blue Devils.
4. Arizona (13-0)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 2/3
Best win: 96-75 over Alabama in Birmingham on Dec. 13
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) gets fouled by South Dakota State guard Luke Haertle (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Dec. 29, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz.
What’s new: Arizona’s freshmen have all been as advertised and, in many ways, even better than that. Strong chemistry in an eight-player rotation that is split between freshmen and veterans also helps.
He said it: “I knew we were going to get challenged early, and we found a way to get through those games on the W side. They didn't come easy. We learned a lot about ourselves, and then we were able to come home after those first four or five games, reset and really start our build.” — UA coach Tommy Lloyd, after UA beat South Dakota State on Dec. 29.
5. Iowa State (13-0)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 3/4
Best win: 81-58 at Purdue on Dec. 6.
What’s new: Led by forward Joshua Jefferson, who ranks second in the analytics-based Kenpom Player of the Year rankings, the Cyclones are taking advantage of an unusual amount of continuity by today’s standards. Their win at Purdue might have been the most stunning of the season.
He said it: “I think so much of it is that we have five guys that return that are very impactful and really care about this program, care about each other and care about the work every day. And the new guys that have come in have been tremendous at taking that leadership and ownership in the group and that sense of pride ...” — Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger, in a Dec. 31 news conference.
6. Kansas (10-3)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 17/17
Best win: 81-76 over Tennessee at Las Vegas on Nov. 26
Worst loss: 87-74 at North Carolina on Nov. 7.
What’s new: The accomplishments of transfer guard Melvin Council and the Jayhawks look even more impressive when you consider that star freshman guard Darryn Peterson has played in just four games because of hamstring and quad injuries.
He said it: “During the years that we won the league, I always thought, ‘If you’re good enough to win the Big 12, you’re one of the best teams in the country.’ Now I think, ‘If you’re good enough to finish in the top four or five in the Big 12, you’re one of the best teams in the country.’ There’s a good chance a team that could finish fourth in our league could win a national championship and certainly make a Final Four.” — Kansas coach Bill Self, during a Dec. 29 news conference.
Baylor guard Cameron Carr (43) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. John's, Nov. 25, 2025, in Las Vegas.
7. Baylor (10-2)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 30/40
Best win: 81-74 over Creighton at Las Vegas on Nov. 24
Worst loss: 78-71 at Memphis on Dec. 6
What’s new: Maybe the Bears become more competitive than expected in the Big 12 race now that they have become the first college player to add a former NBA Draft pick, 7-footer James Nnaji. If nothing else, they have made themselves the single biggest talking point in college basketball entering the conference season because of that decision.
He said it: “We don’t make the rules and as we find out about things, we’re always going to adapt to put our program in the best position to be successful, because that’s what we get paid to do.” — Drew, to ESPN about the Nnaji acquisition.
8. Cincinnati (8-5)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 63/91
Best win: 74-62 over Dayton at Cincinnati on Nov. 11
Worst loss: 64-56 to Eastern Washington at Cincinnati on Nov. 26
What’s new: After Kerr Kriisa was moved from the starting lineup before the Bearcats’ last game, the former Wildcat guard played what coach Wes Miller called the best game of the season in an 89-62 win over Lipscomb. But Kriisa has struggled along with Cincinnati during its close losses to Xavier and Clemson. Meanwhile, guard Jizzle James was reinstated earlier this month after he was dismissed in August.
He said it: “It's clear we're going to have a great team and a great year. It's clear to the guys in the locker room, it's clear to the coaching staff.” — Miller, after Cincinnati lost to crosstown rival Xavier on Dec. 5.
9. Kansas State (9-4)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 76/63
Best win: 83-76 at Creighton on Dec. 13
Worst loss: 82-66 at Bowling Green at K-State on Dec. 1
What’s new: Guard PJ Haggerty is leading the Big 12 in scoring with an average of 22.9 points a game, and the Wildcats of Kansas are hitting 3s at a 39.9% rate. But they may need more from their frontcourt to survive in the Big 12.
He said it: “I've got a great belief in these guys and that doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game, but we’re going to do just fine in the Big 12.” — K-State coach Jerome Tang, after his Wildcats beat South Dakota on Dec. 20.
10. TCU (7-4)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 54/63
Best win: 76-72 over Xavier on Dec. 5
Worst loss: 78-74 to New Orleans at TCU on Nov. 3
What’s new: The Horned Frogs’ best win may actually be a loss. While Michigan has blown away virtually everyone to stay right behind Arizona atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Horned Frogs stayed with the Wolverines in a 67-63 game at TCU on Nov. 14. The Horned Frogs have the 28th most efficient defense, but otherwise haven’t stood out.
He said it: “I don’t know that we have put it all together yet so we’ve got to keep working on it to get better.” — TCU coach Jamie Dixon, after the Horned Frogs beat Florida A&M on Dec. 21.
11. West Virginia (9-4)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 67/90
Best win: 71-49 over Pittsburgh at West Virginia on Nov. 13
Worst loss: 78-68 to Xavier at Charleston, S.C., on Nov. 23
What’s new: Under their fourth coach in four seasons, the Mountaineers have had a predictably bumpy ride so far, but they're tough defensively. They limit opponents’ two-point shots to just 42.5%, the fourth-lowest mark in Division I and prompt opponents to turn the ball over on 20.35 of their possessions.
He said it: “With our defense, I think we’re one of the best teams in the country when our 3s are falling. We are going to make you shoot tough shots and get rebounds, so when our shots are falling from multiple people we’re dangerous.” — West Virginia wing Treysen Eaglestaff, according to a Dec. 27 Times West Virginian story.
Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz, right, talks to guard Anthony Roy during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic tournament, Nov. 27, 2025, in Chicago.
12. Oklahoma State (12-1)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 60/76
Best win: 87-63 over Texas A&M at Oklahoma State on Nov. 9
Worst loss: 85-76 to Oklahoma at Oklahoma City on Dec. 13
What’s new: After a promising start under new coach Steve Lutz last season, the Cowboys loaded up in the transfer portal and it has been paying off. The Cowboys haven’t played a tough non-conference schedule, but play an uptempo style, shoot well inside (57.4% from two) and know how to get to the line.
He said it: “You should never take for granted being 12-1. I still think that we have a lot of room for growth on the defensive end, but the fact of the matter is that other than the Bedlam game (against Oklahoma), which was obviously a big one, we’ve handled our business and figured out ways to win.” — Lutz, after OSU beat Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 29
13. Utah (8-5)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 124/134
Best win: 75-74 over Mississippi at Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 26
Worst loss: 87-69 to Holy Cross at Utah on Nov. 10
What’s new: After a miserable Big 12 debut that resulted in the late-season firing of Craig Smith, the Utes are rebuilding under former Utah standout player Alex Jensen. While they have shown improvement lately, the Utes have lost five of their past eight.
He said it: “Washington's gonna be a good game going into the conference. But if you just look at what the Big 12 is doing, it is hard to make an argument against it not the best conference in the in the country.” — Jensen, after Utah lost 74-65 on Monday at Washington.
14. UCF (11-1)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 45/36
Best win: 86-74 at Texas A&M on Nov. 14.
Worst loss: 105-93 to Vanderbilt at UCF on Nov. 8
What’s new: The Knights have made the NCAA Tournament only once under 10th-year coach Johnny Dawkins, the former Stanford coach, but have been making a case so far this season despite having an entirely new roster.
He said it: “I thought we had a team that had good talent. I thought we had a team that had good depth. Those are the things that I've seen in studying these young men when they were in the portal.” — Dawkins, in a Dec. 11 press conference
15. Colorado (10-3)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 86/81
Best win: 81-68 over Washington at Palm Springs on Nov. 28
Worst loss: 86-81 to Northern Colorado at CU on Dec. 28
What’s new: After finishing a rough reintroduction to the Big 12 last season, then starting this season at 8-0, the Buffaloes flopped at the end of nonconference play. They blew a 35-33 halftime lead in a Dec. 20 loss to Stanford and then returned from Christmas break to lose a home game against their in-state neighbors from the Big Sky.
He said it: “If I'm a good offensive player, I want to play against the Buffs. You can just go at them. 'Nobody can stop me.' …It's disappointing.” — Boyle, after the Northern Colorado game.
16. ASU (9-4)
Kenpom/NET ratings: 78/78
Best win: 87-86 over Texas in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Nov. 24
Worst loss: 78-75 to Oregon State at ASU on Dec. 21
What’s new: In the final year of his contract, coach Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils have responded with some fire. After trailing Oklahoma 4-0 after 90 seconds on Dec. 6 in Phoenix, Hurley yanked his entire starting lineup out – and ASU went on to an 86-70 win. And earlier this week, Hurley told Arizona Sports that he’s considering a midseason addition similar to Baylor’s acquisition of James Nnaji.
He said it: “You have to do what’s in your program’s best interest to try to get better and give yourself the best chance to win as long as it’s within the rules that are presently being followed. I’m not even sure what the rules even are at times, but there’s got to be uniformity to what’s happening in the NCAA right now.” — Hurley, to Arizona Sports, on Dec. 30.
