UConn and Purdue maintain their AP Top 25 positions amidst upheaval, with Duke, Wisconsin, and Iowa State making substantial leaps

With just about six weeks remaining until conference tournaments commence, the competition in the Big 12 remains wide open.

In Week 12 of the season, the Big 12 showcased its competitiveness, boasting eight teams within the top 25 rankings. The conference is home to multiple legitimate national title contenders, making it a powerhouse in college basketball. However, the unpredictable nature of the league makes it challenging to determine a clear front-runner.

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Houston, positioned at No. 4, has seemingly regained stability after overcoming back-to-back losses early in conference play. Yet, apart from Houston, the rest of the Big 12 experienced significant upheaval during the past week. Notably, Iowa State secured a victory against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum. However, this achievement was overshadowed by cheating allegations against Iowa State following their win over Kansas State. Consequently, Iowa State rose 11 spots to No. 12 in the rankings, while Kansas dropped to No. 8. The overall chaos in the Big 12 adds an element of unpredictability to the race for the top spot.

Oklahoma faced setbacks in the past week, suffering defeats first to unranked Texas and then in a closely contested one-point game against Texas Tech. As a result, the Sooners dropped 12 spots to No. 23 in the latest rankings, while Texas Tech surged to No. 15. Despite Texas displaying a strong performance against the Sooners, they were surpassed by BYU, who secured a double-digit victory on Saturday. BYU is now ranked No. 22, and the game involved yet another incident involving the controversial “Horns Down” gesture.

TCU, with notable victories already, triumphed over Baylor in a thrilling three-overtime matchup. Jameer Nelson’s crucial putback go-ahead shot in the third overtime secured a three-point win for TCU in Waco. Baylor, on the other hand, has now faced three consecutive losses, dropping to No. 18, while TCU re-entered the poll at No. 25.

The upcoming week in the Big 12 promises more intense matchups. Houston and Texas are set to face off in Austin on Monday night, followed by Houston’s visit to Lawrence on Saturday to take on Kansas. Baylor aims to break its losing streak against UCF before hosting Iowa State on Saturday.

With about a month remaining, anticipation is building for the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City in March, promising exciting basketball action.

Zach Edey and Purdue continued their impressive run in the past week, securing two consecutive victories with ease. They first dominated with a 32-point win over Michigan, followed by a successful road game against Rutgers on Sunday. In the latter, Edey contributed 26 points, reaching a significant milestone of 2,000 points in his career. This achievement solidifies his position as only the sixth player in Big Ten history to achieve both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Purdue maintains its position at No. 2 in the polls this week, with UConn holding the top spot. The Huskies extended their winning streak to eight games with a commanding 43-point victory over Xavier on Sunday. Purdue’s upcoming game against Northwestern on Wednesday provides an opportunity to avenge their December loss to the Wildcats. Following that, the Boilermakers will face a challenging road game against No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday, promising an exciting matchup.

In the ACC and SEC, significant matchups are on the horizon for Saturday. The day kicks off with a clash between No. 7 Duke and No. 3 North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center, marking their first meeting of the season. The evening concludes with a marquee matchup between No. 5 Tennessee and No. 10 Kentucky in Lexington.

Games to Highlight This Week:

Monday, January 29:

• No. 4 Houston at Texas | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN

Tuesday, January 30:

• No. 15 Texas Tech at No. 25 TCU | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN 2

Wednesday, January 31:

• Northwestern at No. 2 Purdue | 6:30 p.m. ET | BTN

Saturday, February 3:

• Texas at No. 25 TCU | 2 p.m. ET | X
• No. 4 Houston at No. 8 Kansas | 4 p.m. ET | ESPN
• No. 7 Duke at No. 3 North Carolina | 6:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
• No. 12 Iowa State at No. 18 Baylor | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN 2
• No. 5 Tennessee at No. 10 Kentucky | 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

Sunday, February 4:

• No. 2 Purdue at No. 6 Wisconsin | 1 p.m. ET | CBS

Latest AP Top 25 Rankings (as of January 29, 2024):

• UConn (18-2)
• Purdue (19-2)
• North Carolina (17-3)
• Houston (18-2)
• Tennessee (15-4)
• Wisconsin (16-4)
• Duke (15-4)
• Kansas (16-4)
• Marquette (15-5)
• Kentucky (15-4)
• Arizona (15-5)
• Iowa State (16-4)
• Creighton (16-5)
• Illinois (15-5)
• Texas Tech (16-3)
• Auburn (16-4)
• Utah State (18-2)
• Baylor (14-5)
• New Mexico (18-3)
• FAU (17-4)
• Dayton (16-3)
• BYU (15-5)
• Oklahoma (15-5)
• Alabama (14-6)
• TCU (15-5)

Other Notable Teams Receiving Votes: South Carolina 108, San Diego St. 95, Memphis 48, Northwestern 32, Mississippi 30, Texas 10, Colorado St. 10, Saint Mary’s 9, Indiana St 5, Boise St. 5, Richmond 4, Gonzaga 4, Virginia 3, McNeese St. 2, Appalachian St 1.