Big 12 Basketball Power Check-In: Texas Tech Surges, Baylor Slides, and JT Toppin Shines
With the Big 12’s new-look schedule pushing some key matchups into Sunday slots, our usual weekend roundup is shifting with the times. But no matter the day, there’s never a bad time to take stock of where things stand in one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball.
Let’s dive into the week that was, spotlight the teams making noise, the ones taking a step back, and the players putting the league on notice. And yes, we’ve got our updated "Actually Accomplished Rankings" - a no-nonsense look at what teams have earned on the court, not what we thought of them in October.
🔥 Team of the Week: Texas Tech
No team had a better week than the Red Raiders - and it’s not particularly close.
First, they went into Waco and absolutely dismantled Baylor. Then, in the game of the week, they hosted No. 6 Houston and didn’t just hang around - they beat the Cougars in a statement win that sent shockwaves through the Big 12.
Those are two Quad 1 wins in the span of a few days, and they’ve launched Texas Tech into sole possession of second place in the conference standings. This team is for real, and they’re proving it every time they step on the court.
⬆️ Runner-Up: TCU Makes a Push
Don’t sleep on the Horned Frogs.
Coming into the week, TCU was hovering around the bubble - a team with potential but still needing to prove it against solid competition. Well, mission accomplished. They picked up a Quad 1 and a Quad 2 win, including a road victory over Baylor that could carry serious weight come Selection Sunday.
That win in Waco was especially significant. According to bracketology projections, Baylor was just ahead of TCU in the seed line. Not anymore.
⬇️ Toughest Week: Baylor’s Slide Continues
It’s been a rough stretch for the Bears, and this past week didn’t help.
They’re now 1-6 in Big 12 play, and the road ahead isn’t getting any easier. Trips to No.
9 Iowa State and No. 6 Houston are looming, plus home games against No.
1 Arizona, No. 13 BYU, and No.
23 Louisville.
There’s still time to turn things around - and plenty of resume-boosting opportunities - but right now, Baylor’s trending in the wrong direction. Whether you see those upcoming matchups as chances or challenges probably depends on how much coffee you’ve had this morning.
🌟 MVP of the Week: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
There were some eye-popping individual performances across the league - Kingston Flemings dropped 42 and 6, AJ Dybantsa went for 43 - but they each played just once this week.
JT Toppin, on the other hand, showed up twice, and both games mattered.
He opened the week with a clean 22-point performance on 10-of-16 shooting in the blowout win over Baylor. But the real headline came Saturday: 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists in the upset of No.
6 Houston. That’s a big-time performance in a big-time game.
Hard to ask for more.
📅 Game to Watch: Arizona at BYU (Monday)
Circle this one.
Arizona’s loaded with future NBA talent, and Dybantsa might just be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. BYU’s no slouch either - they’ve been climbing the rankings and look like a legitimate threat in the Big 12.
This matchup could end up being one of the best of the season. Talent, stakes, and two teams that aren’t afraid to push the pace. Get your popcorn ready.
📊 Actually Accomplished Rankings
Forget preseason hype, forget brand names - these rankings are based solely on what teams have done this season. No projections, no assumptions. Just results.
- Arizona
- Houston
- Texas Tech
- Iowa State
- BYU
- Kansas
- UCF
- Oklahoma State
- West Virginia
- Colorado
- Baylor
- TCU
- Cincinnati
- Arizona State
- Utah
- Kansas State
Expect these rankings to keep shifting - especially in a league where every night feels like March. But for now, Texas Tech is rising, Baylor is reeling, and the Big 12 continues to deliver drama, depth, and a whole lot of basketball worth watching.