As the non-conference slate of the college basketball season winds down, the stage is set for the real action: conference play. This is where reputations are made, résumés are built, and bubble teams either burst or break through.
For programs in the power conferences, especially the Big XII, the next few months offer a clean slate. A forgettable November and December can be erased with a strong run in January and February.
On the flip side, early-season darlings now have to prove they can sustain that momentum against the grind of conference competition.
After a slightly down year in 2025, the Big XII looks poised to reassert itself as the top dog in college basketball. This league is deep - six legitimate tournament-caliber teams and a few others that could absolutely get hot and crash the March party. Over the course of this four-part series, we’ll break down the Big XII in tiers - not as a prediction of where teams will finish, but as a snapshot of where they stand right now.
Let’s start from the bottom tier and work our way up - and yes, even these teams have intriguing storylines worth watching as conference play tips off.
No. 16 - Utah Utes (8-4)
Alex Jensen’s first season in Salt Lake City hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. The Utes have shown flashes, but inconsistency has been the theme so far. Their best win - a one-point neutral-site nail-biter over Chris Beard’s Mississippi squad - is overshadowed by some head-scratching losses, including a seven-point home defeat to Cal Poly that still stings.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that features one of the most dynamic scoring duos in the country. Terrence Brown is putting up 22 a night with the kind of scoring versatility that makes NBA scouts take notice.
Don McHenry isn’t far behind at 19 points per game, giving Utah a backcourt that can fill it up in a hurry. And let’s not overlook Keanu Dawes - a do-it-all big man averaging 12 points, 9 boards, and 3 assists per game.
He’s one of the more underrated frontcourt players in the league.
But for all that offensive talent, the Utes have struggled to rebound and defend at a high level. And in the Big XII, that’s a dangerous combination. Jensen’s squad has the pieces to make noise, but they’ll need to get tougher on the glass and more consistent on the defensive end to climb out of the basement.
No. 15 - Cincinnati Bearcats (7-5)
Wes Miller’s Bearcats opened the season with promise. A 5-1 start that included a solid win over Dayton and a respectable loss to No.
6 Louisville had things trending in the right direction. But since then, it’s been a rocky ride.
A home loss to Eastern Michigan was the first warning sign. A 19-point blowout at the hands of Georgia confirmed that something wasn’t right.
Then came the drama - Miller dismissed combo guard Jizzle James from the team, only to bring him back two games later. In that span, the Bearcats beat Alabama State but couldn’t get past Clemson.
The defense is still there - that’s a Wes Miller staple - but the offense has been a slog. Cincinnati is shooting just 64 percent from the free-throw line, and they’ve struggled to generate consistent scoring. In a conference loaded with offensive firepower, that’s going to be a problem.
There’s still time to turn things around, but the Bearcats are going to need more offensive punch if they want to be anything more than a spoiler down the stretch.
No. 14 - Colorado Buffaloes (10-3)
Colorado’s record looks solid on paper, and wins over Providence and Washington show that this team has ability. But December hasn’t been kind to the Buffaloes. Losses to Colorado State, Stanford, and most recently, Northern Colorado have raised some red flags heading into conference play.
None of those defeats are catastrophic, but they’re the kind that can chip away at a team’s confidence. Still, there are reasons for optimism in Boulder.
Tad Boyle’s squad shoots the ball well and takes care of it - two traits that will keep them competitive in most games. And if history is any guide, Boyle’s teams tend to improve as the season goes on.
This group might be ranked low now, but don’t be surprised if they outperform this spot by March. The pieces are there - they just need to find their rhythm.
No. 13 - West Virginia Mountaineers (9-4)
On paper, West Virginia’s résumé is a little thin. Their best win?
A blowout over a struggling Pitt team. But take a closer look and you’ll see a squad that’s been right there in several tight losses.
A double-overtime heartbreaker against Ohio State, a three-point loss at Clemson, and a competitive showing against Wake Forest all suggest this team is better than their résumé indicates.
Ross Hodge has this team defending at a high level, and that’s kept them in games. The issue is on the offensive end, where the Mountaineers are still searching for consistent production outside of Honor Huff.
The 5-foot-10 guard has been a bright spot, averaging 18 points per game and shooting a blistering 42 percent from three. He’s fearless and efficient - but he can’t do it alone.
If West Virginia can find a secondary scorer or two to step up, they could become a tough out in Big XII play. But until then, they’re a team that’s going to have to win ugly - and hope Huff keeps firing.
Up Next: We’ll continue climbing the Big XII ladder with the middle tier - teams that aren’t quite at the top, but could get there with the right run. Stay tuned.