Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Texas Tech Shocks Duke, Climbs Into Top 5
Texas Tech wasn’t supposed to beat Duke. Not short-handed.
Not with foul trouble piling up. And certainly not after trailing by 17 in the second half.
But here we are.
In one of the most stunning results of the early college basketball season, the Red Raiders pulled off a wild comeback to knock off then-No. 3 Duke on Dec.
- It was a game that had all the makings of a blowout loss-until it wasn’t.
JT Toppin, the only true size Texas Tech had to counter Duke’s star freshman Cameron Boozer, was limited by fouls. Two other Red Raiders fouled out.
And yet, they found a way. Somehow, someway, they turned a near-certain loss into a program-defining win.
Texas Tech had been looking for a signature victory all season after coming up short against Illinois, Purdue, and Arkansas. This was it.
The kind of win that doesn’t just boost a résumé-it changes the conversation. With that performance, the Red Raiders earned their way into the top five of this week’s Big 12 power rankings.
Let’s take a closer look at how the rest of the conference stacks up heading into the holiday break:
1. Arizona
Last week: 1
This week: vs.
South Dakota State (Monday)
What to know: Tobe Awaka is quietly becoming a rebounding machine. He’s already logged five games with double-digit boards-all off the bench-and is now leading the Big 12 with 10.6 rebounds per game.
That’s nearly three more than his previous best. Arizona’s frontcourt depth is a real problem for opponents.
2. Iowa State
Last week: 2
This week: vs.
Houston Christian (Monday)
What to know: Defense has always been Iowa State’s calling card, but now they’ve added elite shooting to the mix. Milan Momcilovic is lighting it up from deep, leading the nation at 55.2% from three. When you pair that kind of perimeter efficiency with the Cyclones’ defensive pressure, you’ve got a team built to make noise in March.
3. Houston
This week: vs. Middle Tennessee (Monday)
What to know: The Cougars are starting to click offensively, and that’s bad news for the rest of the Big 12. Freshman Kingston Flemings has been a spark plug, scoring 15 or more in three of the last four games. As conference play approaches, Houston’s balance on both ends is starting to look scary.
4. BYU
Last week: 4
This week: No games scheduled
What to know: BYU has been playing catch-up in most of their games, but they’ve still found ways to win. First-half struggles have been a recurring theme, but they’ve shown the toughness and shot-making to overcome slow starts. If they can clean up their early-game execution, the Cougars could climb even higher.
5. Texas Tech
Last week: 6
This week: vs.
Winthrop (Sunday)
What to know: Nolan Groves didn’t light up the box score against Duke-he went 0-for-2 in 13 minutes, including an airball-but his presence mattered. The 6-foot-5 freshman gave Texas Tech critical minutes against Boozer when the team was shorthanded.
Sometimes it’s not about stats-it’s about stepping up when your number’s called. That kind of effort can galvanize a team.
6. Kansas
Last week: 5
This week: No games scheduled
What to know: The Jayhawks’ ceiling this season could depend on Darryn Peterson’s health. He’s already missed nine non-conference games, and it’s unclear when-or if-he’ll be back. Kansas has the talent, but they’ll need all hands on deck once Big 12 play begins.
7. UCF
Last week: 9
This week: No games scheduled
What to know: Don’t look now, but UCF is red-hot. The Knights rolled into their Dec. 23 game against FAU riding a nine-game win streak, outscoring opponents by over 18 points per game during that stretch.
They also just set a program record with 19 made threes in a win over Florida Gulf Coast. Nobody in the conference is hotter right now.
8. Baylor
Last week: 8
This week: vs.
Arlington Baptist (Monday)
What to know: Baylor is pouring it on offensively, scoring 111+ points in back-to-back games-something only one other Big 12 team has ever done. Sure, the competition wasn’t elite, but putting up that kind of firepower is impressive regardless. The Bears are finding their rhythm at the right time.
9. Oklahoma State
Last week: 7
This week: vs.
Bethune Cookman (Monday)
What to know: Injuries are piling up in Stillwater. Parsa Fallah’s back issue was a major factor in the Cowboys’ loss to rival Oklahoma.
Add in defensive lapses, and Oklahoma State has some real concerns heading into league play. Health is priority No.
10. TCU
Last week: 10
This week: vs.
Jackson State (Monday)
What to know: RJ Jones picked a good time to have his best game of the season. The Kansas State transfer dropped a career-high 14 points and hit three triples in a sloppy win over Florida A&M. TCU will take it-especially with their offense still trying to find consistency.
11. Colorado
Last week: 11
This week: vs.
Northern Colorado (Sunday)
What to know: Colorado can score with anyone, but zone defenses have been their kryptonite. Stanford used it to hand the Buffs their second loss in four games. After a strong start to the season, questions are starting to creep in.
12. Arizona State
Last week: 12
This week: No games scheduled
What to know: The Sun Devils had a chance to finish non-conference play strong but stumbled with back-to-back losses to UCLA and Oregon State. The latter hadn’t beaten a power-conference team all season. That’s a tough way to head into Big 12 play.
13. West Virginia
Last week: 13
This week: No games scheduled
What to know: The Mountaineers haven’t picked up a Quad 1 or Quad 2 win yet, but they do have a sharpshooter in Honor Huff. He leads the nation with 53 made threes and could be a major X-factor once conference play begins.
14. Kansas State
Last week: 15
This week: vs.
Louisiana-Monroe (Sunday)
What to know: PJ Haggerty and David Castillo might be the best point guard duo in the Big 12. When both are clicking, Kansas State is a tough out.
The problem? They haven’t gotten enough help elsewhere.
Until that changes, the Wildcats will remain near the bottom of the rankings.
15. Cincinnati
Last week: 14
This week: vs.
Lipscomb (Monday)
What to know: The Bearcats have more losses than anyone in the conference and still no Quad 1 wins. But there’s hope: Jizzle James is back after stepping away for personal reasons. He’s a game-changer when locked in, and Cincinnati needs him now more than ever.
16. Utah
Last week: 16
This week: at Washington (Monday)
What to know: Closing games has been a major issue for the Utes. They finally sealed one against Eastern Washington, which could be a turning point. But they’ll need to string together more complete performances to climb out of the basement.
Bottom Line:
Texas Tech’s upset of Duke was more than just a feel-good win-it was a statement.
The Red Raiders proved they can hang with anyone, even when the odds are stacked against them. As Big 12 play looms, the league is shaping up to be as deep and unpredictable as ever.
Buckle up.