Big 12 basketball continues on the path to March, here's everything you need to know from the last week in the conference.
After several monumental matchups, the Big 12 Conference men's basketball picture is beginning to come into full view in the early stretches of February.
Despite some upsets, the conference still leads the nation with the most ranked teams in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, with a newcomer even attempting to claw its way into the top 25. Welcome back to the Big 12 basketball round-up, where I'll walk you through everything you need to know about the conference's action every week leading up to the big dance.
Best team: No. 1 Arizona (22-0)
Arizona played only one game last week, but its manhandling of rival Arizona State keeps it undefeated and at the top of every poll in the nation. While the star of the season has been true freshman guard Brayden Burries, it was their big man Koa Peat, who stole the show against the Sun Devils, racking up 21 points on 9-16 shooting.
The Wildcats' rotation is as deep as any in the nation, allowing them to attack opponents in so many different ways. Every starter scored double figures against Arizona State, and Tobe Awaka came off the bench to nab 13 rebounds, a team high, which included six offensive. Arizona enters its most challenging stretch of the season yet in two weeks, facing four ranked teams in a row, but first, it'll have to clear Oklahoma State on Feb. 7.
Hottest team: No. 11 Kansas (16-5)
Led by projected No. 1 overall pick, the Kansas Jayhawks got off to a slow start in conference play, dropping a game to West Virginia and struggling against TCU and Colorado. However, that stretch appears to be behind Darryn Peterson and company.
All-time classic wins over No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 14 BYU in a row have the Jayhawks on a six-game winning streak, led by Peterson's heroics and forward Bryson Tiller. Against the Cougars, Kansas found itself in a shootout, with the duo combining for 39 points and knocking down six 3-pointers to roll past BYU 90-82. In a near-complete opposite game, the Jayhawks were locked in a rock fight with Texas Tech and came out on top thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from Peterson.
THIS ANGLE OF DARRYN PETERSON’S DUNK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IlQBEYcnOs
— Overtime (@overtime) January 31, 2026
Most underrated team: UCF (17-4)
The UCF Knights were my most underrated team in the conference last week, and after earning a fine for storming the court twice after beating No. 13 Texas Tech, they earn the distinction again. Another strong performance from guard Themus Fulks pushed the Knights past the Red Raiders, 88-80. UCF was able to get the slow and defensive-focused Texas Tech team off balance and into a shootout, where they play their best.
The Knights' offense drives them, and the Texas Tech win should be an encouraging sign because, even though Fulks shot 9-23 from the field, his teammates stepped up and kept them in it. UCF faces off against No. 8 Houston today at 5 p.m. MT, another tough test for the overlooked Knights.
Player to watch: Isaiah Johnson, Colorado
The Colorado Buffaloes snapped a six-game losing streak in the Big 12 Conference against TCU on Sunday, thanks to another lights-out performance from true freshman guard Isaiah Johnson. Finally earning a starting spot in recent weeks, the undersized guard has been a scoring machine, leading the Buffs, averaging around 19 points per game.
His playmaking is electric, but his struggles have been on the defensive end, where larger guards have picked on him. That wasn't so against TCU, Johnson was +16 for the Buffs when he was on the floor, earning two steals along the way to shutting down the Horned Frogs. Johnson might not be an NBA-caliber player straight out of high school, but he'll be a name to watch as he gains more experience in Tad Boyle's offense.
Matchup of the week: No. 1 Arizona at No. 11 Kansas
There are so many great matchups I'm looking forward to next week, but the chance to see the hottest team in the conference host an undefeated No. 1 team in one of the best venues in college basketball has to be the choice. Both of these teams have hit their stride and are present balanced deep 7-8 man rotations. This showdown is Arizona's toughest test so far in conference play, while Kansas is still in search of a win that will catapult them up in the polls before March.
Highlight of the week: Chris Cenac Jr. alley-oop slam
Served up by Kingston Flemings 😮💨 And Chris Cenac Jr. slams it down for @UHCougarMBK#Big12MBB | 📺 @CBBonFOXpic.twitter.com/8buy979wHW
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) January 31, 2026
While the lob or alley-oop might have become far more common in college basketball, doing so from across the basket puts this one on the next level. How Houston's Kingston Flemings was able to not only find Cenac Jr., but also get the ball to him is beyond me. The dunk ignited the No. 8 Houston Cougars to power through the Cincinnati Bearcats 76-54.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Arizona leads, Kansas surging
Category: General Sports
