Welcome to the weekly feature on the Hotline. We’ll break down Big 12 basketball using key metrics (NET rankings, KenPom ratings, etc.), our observations and a dose of old-fashioned sarcasm (when needed) — all in the name of providing fans with the state-of-play in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.
(Results listed for games in the past week.)
1. Houston (15-3/7-0)
Results: beat West Virginia 70-54 and Utah 70-36, won at UCF 69-68
Best win: vs. West Virginia
Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (13) attempts to drive around Utah forward Ezra Ausar, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Houston.
Worst loss: vs. San Diego State
NET ranking: 3
Comment: As impressive as they have looked in conference play, the Cougars' résumé simply doesn't match the lofty NET ranking. They are 0-3 in Quadrant I games, and every other team in the top 40 has at least one Quad I victory.
2. Iowa State (16-2/6-1)
Results: beat Kansas 74-57, lost at West Virginia 64-57, beat UCF 108-83
Best win: at Texas Tech
Worst loss: at West Virginia
NET ranking: 6
Comment: Three of the next four are on the road, including showdowns in Tucson and Lawrence. At that point, the Cyclones will be finished with all but one (Houston) of their toughest road games.
3. Kansas (14-4/5-2)
Results: lost at Iowa State 74-57, beat Kansas State 84-74, won at TCU 74-61
Best win: vs. Duke
Worst loss: at Creighton
NET ranking: 9
Comment: We see a major trap game next week when the Jayhawks host UCF between showdowns with Houston (home) and Baylor (road). Part of the dynamic: They won in Orlando a few weeks ago by 51. The sense of urgency very well could be lacking this time around.
4. Texas Tech (14-4/5-2)
Results: beat Arizona 70-54, won at Cincinnati 81-71
Best win: vs. Arizona
Worst loss: vs. UCF
NET ranking: 10
Comment: Christian Anderson strikes us as a freshman capable of rescuing his veteran teammates from the paralyzing pressure of an unexpectedly difficult first-round game in the NCAAs.
5. Arizona (12-6/6-1)
Results: lost at Texas Tech 70-54, won at Oklahoma State 92-78
Best win: at West Virginia
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) manages to snare the inbounds pass over Baylor guard Jayden Nunn (2) during the second half of their Big 12 game in Tucson on Jan. 14, 2025.
Worst loss: vs. UCLA
NET ranking: 15
Comment: We tried to identify a soft spot on the schedule and could do no better than a mid-February homestand against BYU and Utah. But it's only two games and isn't all that soft, especially given that Utah just won at TCU. Otherwise, Arizona's stretch run is filled with jagged edges.
6. West Virginia (13-5/4-3)
Results: lost at Houston 70-54, beat Iowa State 64-57, lost to Arizona State 65-57
Best win: at Kansas
Worst loss: vs. Arizona State
NET ranking: 36
Comment: The home loss to ASU cost the Mountaineers six spots in the NET ranking, which is neither painful or something they want to repeat. A few more of those, and the NCAA bubble isn't far behind.
7. TCU (10-8/3-4)
Results: lost to Utah 73-65 and Kansas 74-61, won at Baylor 74-71
Best win: at Baylor
Worst loss: vs. Utah
NET ranking: 73
Comment: Not on our Big 12 bingo card for 2025: The Horned Frogs losing at home to Utah and winning at Baylor, much less doing both within a five-day span.
8. Arizona State (11-7/2-5)
Results: lost at Cincinnati 67-60, won at West Virginia 65-57
Best win: vs. Saint Mary's
Worst loss: vs. UCF
NET ranking: 56
Comment: The Sun Devils were overdue for a victory, but we would have pegged the breakthrough for Cincinnati, not Morgantown. And so it goes in the Big 12, as unpredictable on the court as it was on the field.
9. Baylor (12-6/4-3)
Results: lost to TCU 74-71, beat Kansas State 70-26
Best win: vs. St. John's
Kansas State guard Max Jones attempts a shot over the Baylor defense in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Waco, Texas.
Worst loss: vs. TCU
NET ranking: 29
Comment: If the Bears finish one game short of a top-four seed in the conference tournament and must play in the second round, they won't have to look any further than the loss to TCU as the reason. The haunt factor is high.
10. BYU (12-6/3-4)
Results: beat Oklahoma State 85-69, lost at Utah 73-72 (OT), won at Colorado 83-67
Best win: vs. Arizona State
Worst loss: at Providence
NET ranking: 43
Comment: As their résumé deteriorates in real time, the Cougars would be wise to sweep the upcoming homestand against Cincinnati and Baylor.
11. UCF (12-6/3-4)
Results: lost to Houston 69-68 and at Iowa State 108-83
Best win: at Texas Tech
Worst loss: vs. LSU
NET ranking: 76
Comment: With each passing game, the win in Lubbock makes less sense. We could reach the point that it simply becomes impossible to comprehend with the human mind. Like the tax code.
12. Cincinnati (12-6/2-5)
Results: won at Colorado 68-62, beat Arizona State 67-60, lost to Texas Tech 81-71
Best win: vs. Xavier
Worst loss: at Kansas State
NET ranking: 41
Comment: The NET ranking suggests the Bearcats are firmly in NCAA bubble territory. The résumé — in particular, the 0-5 mark in Quadrant I games — says they aren't.
13. Utah (11-7/3-4)
Results: won at TCU 73-65, beat BYU 73-72 (OT), lost at Houston 70-36
Best win: vs. BYU
Worst loss: vs. Iowa
NET ranking: 71
Comment: Unless the Utes beat Kansas by 50 points, the victory over BYU will stand as their best win of the season. Because hatred.
14. Colorado (9-9/0-7)
Results: lost to Cincinnati 68-62, at Oklahoma State 83-73 and to BYU 83-67
Best win: vs. UConn
Worst loss: vs. Cincinnati
NET ranking: 100
Comment: Maui was two months ago but feels like two years ago.
15. Kansas State (7-11/1-6)
Results: lost at Kansas 84-74 and Baylor 70-62
Best win: vs. Cincinnati
Worst loss: vs. Liberty
NET ranking: 116
Comment: When a 10-point road loss to your rival feels darn close to a victory.
16. Oklahoma State (10-8/2-5)
Results: beat Colorado 83-73, lost to Arizona 92-78
Best win: vs. Colorado
Worst loss: vs. FAU
NET ranking: 116
Comment: It appears the Cowboys will have more company than we expected in the race to the bottom, courtesy of their peers in Boulder and Manhattan (and perhaps Salt Lake City and Cincinnati, as well).
