Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preview: Lots of new players but same old gauntlet every week
-
- BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates after scoring in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UConn, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Boston.
-
- Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Dakota State, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz.
-
- Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (5) pulls up for a shot as Houston Christian guard Demari Williams (0) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
-
- Houston guard Kingston Flemings (4) controls the ball against Middle Tennessee State guard Sean Smith (55) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Houston.
-
- BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) raises a framed jersey after being named the tournament MVP after his team’s win over Dayton in an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Kissimmee, Fla.
Has two seasons in the Big 12 prepared BYU for another run through conference play?
Well, yes … and no.
Certainly the Cougar coaching staff and players are aware of the high level of play they will be facing in their 18 league games. The top six teams in the conference (Arizona, Iowa State, BYU, Houston, Oklahoma State and UCF) are a combined 73-4 after non-conference play. Overall, the Big 12 posted a 165-40 (80%) record in November and December.
The hard part, in terms of preparation, is that the transfer portal and NIL have forced coaches to pretty much rebuild their rosters every year. You can practically throw out your game plans from previous years because personnel has changed so drastically.
Kansas State — BYU’s Big 12 opener at Manhattan on Saturday — has four new starters, for instance, and other teams have just about turned over entire rosters.
The 10th-ranked Cougars haven’t played since a 109-81 victory against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, which ran their record to 12-1.
“I’ve gotten a lot of notes and feedback from the coaching staff,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “One common theme that I kind of kept coming back to in my own mind was not trying to make some grand adjustment or statement about this, that and the other. We feel like at this point, we have a pretty good identity of how we want to play. There are some things we want to maybe emphasize more, but I feel like we’re on a good path. So we’re really just trying to shore up some things defensively, some nuanced-type things.
“I think the big picture, the message to the team was we’ve got to continue to do this together and be a group that’s really, really connected on both ends of the floor, and really doubling down on that we we gear towards Big 12 play. We understand that the margin for error is now going to be a lot smaller than it has been.”
Here’s a look at all 16 Big 12 teams heading into conference play.
(In order of preseason prediction)
1. No. 8 Houston (12-1)
NET: 17
Top Player: Emanuel Sharp 6-3 Sr. G (17 ppg)
Best Win: A 94-85 victory against Arkansas (NET 30) at the Never Forget Tribute Classic in New Jersey.
The Word: The Cougars are playing their typical rugged defense (No. 1 in the Big 12 at 60 points allowed per game) and their only loss was to then-No. 17 Tennessee 76-73 on Nov. 25 at the Players Era Festival. Houston has two very good freshmen in Kingston Flemings (15.3 points, 4.9 assists per game) and 6-11 center Chris Cenac Jr. to compliment Sharp, one of college basketball top shooters. Senior guard Milos Uzan (11.1 points, 4.6 assists per game) is a steadying influence. With Kelvin Sampson at the helm, the Cougars are among the elite in college basketball.
2. No. 15 Texas Tech (10-3)
NET: 20
Top Player: JT Toppin 6-9 Jr. C (21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds per game, 57% FG)
Best Win: An 82-81 victory against Duke (NET 3) at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20.
The Word: The Red Raiders played a rugged non-conference schedule with losses to at No. 14 Illinois (81-77), No. 1 Purdue (86-56) and No. 17 Arkansas (93-86). In Texas Tech’s upset of Duke at MSG, guard Christian Anderson (19.9 ppg) scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half. Toppin is the best big man in the Big 12 and the Red Raiders are for sure a league title contender.
3 No. 10 BYU (12-1)
NET: 9
Top Player: AJ Dybantsa 6-9 Fr. F (23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game)
Best Win: A 71-66 victory against Villanova (NET 21) in Las Vegas on Nov. 3.
The Word: The trio of Dybantsa, senior guard Richie Saunders (18.6 ppg), and Baylor transfer Robert Wright III (16.2 ppg, 5.5 apg) is as potent as any group in the country. Dybantsa does it all, putting up a triple-double (33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in the non-conference finale. Physical post Keba Keita does the dirty work inside. The Cougars added former G-League big man Abdullah Ahmed in late December for some help inside. Injuries have depleted some depth but the Cougars are definitely a threat to win the conference.
4. No. 1 Arizona (13-0)
NET: 4
Top Player: Jaden Bradley 6-3 Sr. G (13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game
Best Win: A 71-67 victory at UConn (NET 8) on Nov. 19.
The Word: Last year’s leading scorer Caleb Love (17.2 ppg) is in the NBA and two other starters – Henri Veesaar and KJ Lewis – transferred to North Carolina and Georgetown, respectively. Yet Tommy Lloyd worked some magic and the replacement parts are even better. Bradley has stepped into the starring role and is shooting 52% from the 3-point line. Hot-shot rookies Koa Peat (14.3 ppg) and Brandon Burries (13.1) are terrific as well. The Wildcats have beaten four ranked teams (UCLA, UConn, Auburn and Alabama) in the non-conference and won’t give up that No. 1 ranking easily.
5. No. 3 Iowa State (13-0)
NET: 5
Top Player: Jordan Jefferson 6-9 Sr. F (18.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists per game)
Best Win: An 81-58 victory at then-No. 1 Purdue (NET 6) on Dec. 6.
The Word: The Cyclones routed then-No. 1 Purdue on the road, perhaps the best win of any Big 12 team in the non-conference. Jefferson does it all for Iowa State and junior Milan Momcilovic (17.5 ppg) has transformed into a consistent scorer. The guy that holds it all together is senior guard Tamin Lipsey, who is averaging 15.5 points and 5.6 assists per game. The Cyclones are overpowering opponents and lead the Big 12 in win margin at 27.5 points per game. They have as good of a shot as any team in winning the league.
6. No. 17 Kansas (10-3)
NET: 18
Top Player: Flory Bidunga 6-10 So. F (14.7 points, 9.2 rebounds per game, 62% FG)
Best Win: An 81-76 victory against Tennessee (NET 26) in the Players Era Festival 3rd place game on Nov. 26.
The Word: Freshman superstar Darryn Peterson is averaging 19.3 points per game but has played in just four contests due to injury. Head coach Bill Self said Peterson won’t return until he’s 100% healthy. Kansas has plenty of talent to keep them at the top of the league, led by Bidunga and Illinois transfer Tre White (14.5 ppg, 43% 3s). St. Bonaventure transfer Melvin Council Jr. is an explosive guard who made nine 3-pointers in an overtime victory against North Carolina State. Losses for the Jayhawks were to North Carolina, Duke and UConn.
7. Baylor (10-2)
NET: 41
Top Player: Cameron Carr 6-5 So. G (21.4 points per game)
Best Win: A 78-69 victory against Washington (NET 52) on Nov. 9.
The Word: When you play the Bears, you’re in for a wild one. They lead the Big 12 in scoring after non-conference play with 95.6 points per game, paced by Tennessee transfer Carr. Baylor sent top freshman VJ Edgecombe into the NBA after last season (the third overall pick by the 76ers) but have another great rookie in the lineup with 6-5 Tounde Yessoufou (19.3 points, 5.9 rebounds per game).
Six players average double figures for the Bears, who lost to St. John’s and Memphis during non-conference play. Baylor recently added former NBA draftee James Nnaji, a 7-foot post player who didn’t sign a contract and played overseas.
8. Kansas State (9-4)
NET: 60
Top Player: PJ Haggerty 6-4 Jr. G (22.8 points, 4.6 assists per game, 52% FG)
Best Win: A 99-96 victory against Cal (NET 47) on Nov. 13.
The Word: Jerome Tang has put together one of the conference’s top guard lines, starting with Haggerty, a Memphis transfer who also played at Tulsa and TCU. He scored 37 in a win against Mississippi at the Hall of Fame Classic and 27 in a one-point loss to Nebraska one night later. In addition to Haggerty, 6-1 David Castillo (13.7 ppg), 6-3 Akron transfer Nate Johnson (12.3) and 6-7 Monmouth transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. (13.0) are all gifted scorers.
The Wildcats will be tested early in the Big 12 schedule, opening by hosting No. 10 BYU before traveling to No. 1-ranked Arizona.
9. Cincinnati (8-5)
NET: 95
Top Player: Baba Miller 6-11 Sr. C (13.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg)
Best Win: A 74-62 victory against Dayton (NET 87) on Nov. 11.
The Word: Miller, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, is establishing himself as one of the top big men in the conference. Paired with 7-2 UCF transfer Moustapha Thiam (10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds per game), the Bearcats have an imposing front line. One of Cincinnati’s top returning players, senior guard Jizzle James, left the team during the non-conference schedule but has recently been reinstated. Paired with graduate guard Day Day Thomas (12.8 ppg), James might give the offense the lift it needs after the Bearcats averaged just 75.8 points this season, last in the Big 12.
10. TCU (10-3)
NET: 51
Top Player: David Punch 6-7 So. F (14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds per game)
Best Win: An 84-80 victory against Florida (NET 23) at the Rady Children’s Invitational.
The Word: The win against Florida showed TCU’s potential but the inconsistency has been apparent. The Horned Frogs lost to New Orleans 78-74 to open the season and also dropped close contests to No. 6 Michigan (78-74) and Notre Dame (87-85 in OT). Former BYU and Utah Valley guard Tanner Toolson is averaging 6.6 points per game but has struggled from the 3-point line (31%).
TCU has won five games in a row and will open Big 12 play this week with a home game against Baylor then goes on the road at No. 17 Kansas.
11. West Virginia (10-4)
NET: 92
Top Player: Honor Huff 5-10 Sr. G (17.5 points per game, 42% on 3’s)
Best Win: A 71-49 victory against Pitt (NET 120) on Nov. 13.
The Word: The Mountaineers are on their third coach in three seasons with former North Texas head man Ross Hodge, who takes over after Darian DeVries bolted for Indiana after only one year in Morgantown. Huff is tough to guard and West Virginia is counting on 6-9 North Texas transfer Brenen Lorient (10.7 ppg) and 6-6 North Dakota transfer Treysen Eaglestaff, who scored 23 points against Mississippi Valley State this week, to continue their improvement. Losses in the non-conference came to Clemson, Xavier, Wake Forest and Ohio State (in double overtime).
12. Oklahoma State (12-1)
NET: 73
Top Player: Anthony Roy 6-5 Gr. G (17.3 points per game, 42% on 3’s)
Best Win: An 87-63 victory against Texas A&M (NET 64) on Nov. 9.
The Word: The second season for Steve Lutz in Stillwater has started well with 12 wins in the non-conference. The Cowboys won nine games in a row to start the season and score it well, averaging 91.2 points per game led by Roy (a Green Bay transfer) and LSU transfer Vyctorious Miller (15.9 ppg). However, OSU is last in the Big 12 in defensive numbers (80.5 points allowed per game) heading into conference play. The Cowboys only loss was to in-state rival Oklahoma (85-76) in Oklahoma City on Dec. 13.
13. Utah (8-5)
NET: 131
Top Player: Terrance Brown 6-3 Jr. G (21.5 points, 3.9 assists per game)
Best Win: A 75-74 victory against Ole Miss (NET 91) at the Acrisure Classic on Nov. 26.
The Word: Alex Jensen’s first season in Salt Lake has been, predictably, filled with growing pains.
Brown, a Farleigh Dickinson transfer, and former Western Kentucky standout Don McHenry (18.3 ppg) are legit scorers. Brown had a 36-point effort in an overtime victory against Weber State and McHenry had 27 against Ole Miss and Eastern Washington. Holdover Keanu Dawes (12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds per game) is solid in the post. The Utes finished with a 3-5 record in the final eight games of the non-conference schedule. Utah opens Big 12 play with No. 1 Arizona at the Huntsman Center on Saturday.
14. UCF (11-1)
NET: 36
Top Player: Jordan Burks 6-9 Jr. F (13.7 ppg, 41% 3s)
Best Win: An 86-74 victory against Texas A&M (NET 64) on Nov. 14.
The Word: Another new roster for Johnny Dawkins and it’s built for speed, as always. The Golden Knights are off to their best start ever, led by Burks (Georgetown transfer), Kugel (Mississippi State, 13.3 ppg), Themus Fulks (Milwaukee, 12.4) and Jamichael Stillwell (Milwaukee, 12.4). UCF’s only loss was in Game 2, a 105-93 defeat at the hands of Vanderbilt, now ranked No. 11. The Golden Knights will be a handful for defenses during league play.
15. Colorado (10-3)
NET: 77
Top Player: Isaiah Johnson 6-1 Fr. G (14.8 points per game, 45% 3s)
Best Win: An 81-68 victory against Washington (NET 52) to win the Acrisure Classic on Nov. 28.
The Word: The Buffaloes started fast at 10-1, with the only loss a five-point defeat at the hands of in-state rival Colorado State. But CU ended the non-conference with back-to-back losses to Stanford (77-68) and Northern Colorado (86-81). Johnson, Sebastian Rancik (13.2) and UC Riverside transfer Barrington Hargress (13.0) can bring it offensively for the Buffaloes and 7-footer Dangot Dak (11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds per game) can be a pest inside.
16. Arizona State (9-4)
NET: 78
Top Player: Maurice Odom 6-2 Sr. G (16.2 points, 6.2 assists per game)
Best Win: An 86-70 victory against Oklahoma (NET 50) on Dec. 6.
The Word: Among the almost entirely new roster is former BYU commit Marcus Adams Jr., who was All-Big West at Cal-Northridge last season. Bobby Hurley’s new guys shocked Texas and Washington State in the Maui Classic before losing in the finals to USC. Odom, who played at Pacific and Pepperdine previously, leads the Sun Devils in scoring and assists. Anthony Johnson (NE Mississippi Community College) and Massamba Diop, a 7-foot-1 freshman, are also good scoring options at 13.6 and 13.2 points per game, respectively.
