Big 12 basketball power rankings: Houston proves its belongs among top programs in country

To those who doubted Houston’s ability to win the Big 12, here’s a question.

Why?

Just … why?

The Cougars locked up at worst a share of the conference crown on Wednesday, which gives them conference titles in six straight seasons.

This is, of course, their first in the Big 12.

“We knew the Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball," Cougars forward J'Wan Roberts said after the game. "Houston has been a winning program for a long time. It didn't really matter which conference we ended up going in, once we traveled with our DNA and our toughness, I feel like we can compete with anybody in the nation.”

Houston is ranked No. 1 in the country. It might not be the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, though.

But what if the Cougars won next week’s Big 12 Tournament? Don’t doubt them.

They somehow proved life in the Big 12 is manageable, even for a newcomer.

Let’s get to the Big 12 power rankings of the season:

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1. Houston

Last week: 1

This week: vs. Kansas

What to know: Remember when the Cougars lost back-to-back road games in early January? Since then, Houston has won 13 of 14 games. The one loss? Kansas, the last remaining regular season opponent and obstacle to an outright conference crown.

2. Iowa State

Last week: 2

This week: at Kansas State

What to know: I’m ready to declare T.J. Otzelberger as the Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Cyclones were perfect in Ames. They have a suffocating defense that’s capable of taking them deep into March.

3. Baylor

Last week: 5

This week: at Texas Tech

What to know: The Bears have three winning streaks of at least three games in Big 12 play. They also have three losses in overtime. If there is a contender to win the Big 12 Tournament and make the Final Four not named Houston or Iowa State, it’s Baylor.

4. BYU

Last week: 3

This week: vs. Oklahoma State

What to know: Is there a more entertaining offensive team in the conference? It’s just so fluid and fun to watch the high-flying Cougars. But is that enough to make a deep run into March?

More: OU basketball projected to be No. 10 seed in ESPN's NCAA Tournament bracketology

5. Kansas

Last week: 4

This week: at Houston

What to know: The Jayhawks are no longer ranked in the top 10 nationally. Kevin McCullar Jr. is back in the lineup. They still have Hunter Dickinson. Could Kansas actually be a darkhorse in March Madness?

6. Texas Tech

Last week: 6

This week: vs. Baylor

What to know: The Red Raiders could finish in the top four of the conference standings, an impressive turnaround after last season’s mess. They hit the jackpot on Grant McCasland, much like football did on Joey McGuire.

7. Texas

Last week: 7

This week: vs. Oklahoma

What to know: The Longhorns have likely done enough to get in the NCAA Tournament, but it hasn’t been pretty. Blown leads. Poor offense. Just inconsistent all around. But a win over rival Oklahoma on Saturday would lock up that spot heading into Kansas City.

8. TCU

Last week: 8

This week: vs. UCF

What to know: The Horned Frogs have been nearly a model of consistency under Jamie Dixon. They won their 20th game for the sixth time in eight seasons. And they could be dangerous in the NCAA Tournament with their length and athleticism.

More: OU basketball rallies past Cincinnati for overtime win to boost NCAA Tournament résumé

9. Oklahoma

Last week: 9

This week: at Texas

What to know: The Sooners appear bound for the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Porter Moser. They were so close to knocking off No. 1 Houston. Then they beat Cincinnati in a game they probably should have lost without Javian McCollum.

10. Cincinnati

Last week: 13

This week: vs. West Virginia

What to know: The Bearcats have sputtered down the stretch and have yet to stack together consecutive wins in Big 12 play. But ending the regular season with a win over rival West Virginia would be a good thing heading into Kansas City.

11. Kansas State

Last week: 10

This week: vs. Iowa State

What to know: The Wildcats just don’t have the magic they did last year. Too much drama did not help either. Now there’s a petty handshake controversy with second-year coach Jerome Tang.

12. UCF

Last week: 11

This week: at TCU

What to know: The Knights never found a rhythm in the new conference, only winning back-to-back games once, and that included a win over a deflated Oklahoma State.

More: Oklahoma State basketball suffers blowout loss to Texas Tech on Cowboys' Senior Night

13. Oklahoma State

Last week: 12

This week: at BYU

What to know: The Bedlam heartbreak nearly two weeks ago was more than just a setback to momentum. It was the dagger that sent the Cowboys spiraling out of control. They’ve run out of gas.

14. West Virginia

Last week: 14

This week: at Cincinnati

What to know: The Mountaineers have a program-record 21 losses, a total only matched by the 2018-19 team that ended its season in the CBI. A reset can’t come fast enough in Morgantown.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Big 12 power rankings: Houston proves its belongs among elite programs