Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings - Feb. 15, 2016

1) Kansas (21-4 overall, 9-3 conference)
Last week: 2 (+1)
Kenpom: #5
Last game: at Oklahoma (W 76-72)
Next game: vs. Oklahoma State (2/15)

After a long stretch in the second spot, Kansas usurps Oklahoma this week for the top spot in our power rankings. KU played one of their most complete games of the entire season, and even overcame a brief second half deficit to take the victory over OU. Not enough can be said about Devonte' Graham's masterful performance on both ends of the floor. With five straight wins since a road loss against Iowa State, the Jayhawks are playing as well as anyone right now.

2) Oklahoma (20-4 overall, 8-4 conference)
Last week: 1 (-1)
Kenpom: #6
Last game: vs. Kansas (L 72-76)
Next game: at Texas Tech (2/17)

Oklahoma played a pretty good game overall on Saturday, but it was not enough to take down the visiting Jayhawks. The Sooners still have a very talented team, including Buddy Hield, the best player in the country this year, but they are a beatable team. Lon Kruger's team is still one of the best in America, but being swept in the regular season by Kansas puts them a step beneath the Jayhawks, likely permanently.

3) West Virginia (20-5 overall, 9-3 conference)
Last week: 3 (NC)
Kenpom: #8
Last game: vs. TCU (W 73-42)
Next game: at Texas (2/16)

Tied for first in the Big 12, the Mountaineers remain in the third position in the rankings yet again, but it remains a small difference between the second and third spots. In fact, they'd likely be number one right now had they knocked off the Jayhawks earlier last week. Instead, they remain in the third spot headed into a tough week, one in which they will travel to Austin before hosting Oklahoma on Saturday. At this point, these games are must-wins for West Virginia. It was good for WVU to pick up a bounce back win on Saturday, but take it with a grain of salt, because TCU is a terrible team.

4) Iowa State (18-7 overall, 7-5 conference)
Last week: 6 (+2)
Kenpom: #15
Last game: vs. Texas (W 85-75)
Next game: at Baylor (2/16)

The middle section of the conference has seen teams swap positions non-stop for many of the rankings this season. Iowa State jumps up to fourth in this week's rankings, in a week when none of the three successive teams won both of their games. Iowa State fell against Texas Tech, who has been beating up conference foes like they're Diamond Stone going up against Vitto Brown lately, before bouncing back with a win over Texas. The Cyclones could really use a win over Baylor in their next game.

5) Baylor (18-7 overall, 7-5 conference)
Last week: 5 (NC)
Kenpom: #38
Last game: vs. Texas Tech (L 66-84)
Next game: vs. Iowa State (2/16)

The Bears, just like ISU, went 1-1 this past week, picking up a victory at Bramlage Coliseum over K-State before being steamrolled by Tech. Baylor has lost three of its last four games, putting them two games back in the conference standings and leaving themselves with a lot of uncertainty going forward. Baylor has only won one game versus a ranked opponent this year; that was at Iowa State, who they will host this Tuesday.

6) Texas (16-9 overall, 7-5 conference)
Last week: 4 (-2)
Kenpom: #24
Last game: at Iowa State (L 75-85)
Next game: vs. West Virginia (2/16)

It was a rough week for the Longhorns, as they lost both of their games, dropping themselves in the conference standings and our power rankings. To be fair, Texas had to play Oklahoma and Iowa State on the road, but two straight losses after an impressive four-game winning streak is a buzzkill nonetheless. Two more ranked teams are coming up for UT in the form of West Virginia and Baylor, however these games will both be at home.

7) Texas Tech (15-9 overall, 5-7 conference)
Last week: 8 (+1)
Kenpom: #41
Last game: at Baylor (W 84-66)
Next game: vs. Oklahoma (2/17)

What has gotten into the Red Raiders? Tubby Smith's crew has won three of their last four games, including consecutive wins against Iowa State and Baylor (the latter being a road contest). After doing what could turn into dire damage to the championship campaigns of the Cyclones and Bears, Texas Tech will look to continue their string of upsets when they host the Sooners this Wednesday.

8) Kansas State (14-11 overall, 3-9 conference)
Last week: 7 (-1)
Kenpom: #49
Last game: at Oklahoma State (L 55-58)
Next game: at TCU (2/16)

Last week, I said, "Kansas State has pretty much secured itself as the 'best of the (relatively) bad teams' in the Big 12 this season..." And how do they repay me? With a home loss versus Baylor and a horrifically low-scoring overtime loss against Oklahoma State. Ouch, Wildcats. K-State has now lost three of their last four games, however they're prime candidates for a bounce-back win, as their next game will be against TCU (in Fort Worth, for whatever that's worth).

9) Oklahoma State (12-13 overall, 3-9 conference)
Last week: 9 (NC)
Kenpom: #67
Last game: vs. Kansas State (W 58-55)
Next game: at Kansas (2/15)

Not that long ago, Oklahoma State had one of the nation's better teams and was competing atop the Big 12. Nowadays?

This is what basketball apathy looks like. pic.twitter.com/QEjAmRzOGp

— Kellis Robinett (@KellisRobinett) February 13, 2016

That was posted eight minutes prior to tip this past Saturday. Yikes. It's been a forgettable season for Travis Ford's team, although they did come away with a victory in their last contest. OK State's next game is Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse, and you have to imagine that the Jayhawks will be looking for revenge after losing to the Pokes last month in Stillwater.

10) TCU (11-14 overall, 2-10 conference)
Last week: 10 (NC)
Kenpom: #131
Last game: at West Virginia (L 42-73)
Next game: vs. Kansas State (2/16)

Eventually, you start to run out of things to say about teams that are at the bottom of the power rankings each week (I know, I watched every KU football game this year). TCU came away with a victory this week when they knocked off Oklahoma State. They then followed that up by getting romped in Morgantown by the Mountaineers. Kansas State's been struggling as of late, and while they'll be underdogs maybe TCU can come away with another conference win against the odds this week.

Questions, comments, concerns, opinions? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a tweet, I'm listening.