Big 12 basketball Power Rankings: Kansas State moving up, Jayhawks fall

Two weeks into conference play and the Big 12 is out of control. The most competitive conference is proving why it is elite. Here are this week's Big 12 Power Rankings.

Jan 20, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard John-Michael Wright (51) tries to swat the ball away from Wildcat guard Tylor Perry (2).
Jan 20, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard John-Michael Wright (51) tries to swat the ball away from Wildcat guard Tylor Perry (2). | Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
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Iowa State has had a very interesting Big 12 season so far. They opened conference play losing to Oklahoma, but then took down No. 2 at the time Houston at home. They beat Oklahoma State, holding them to only 42 points, but then go and lose to BYU. Finally, they beat a struggling TCU team by only one point.

I can't decide if I am impressed by the Cyclones or not. They played a very impressive game against Houston and Oklahoma State. However, when they went to BYU and lost by 14, I couldn't tell if they were for real or not.

The Cyclones can prove me wrong this next week as they take on Kansas State midweek and then No. 3 Kansas on the weekend. The Wildcats have a stifling defense and a great play-caller in Jerome Tang on offense. Kansas is struggling and this is the time to pounce if you want to make a statement in the Big 12.

The win over TCU and the fact that they are now 3-2 in the conference if what helped TCU, but they need bigger wins to move up in the rankings.