Headlined by four AP Top 25 members, the Big 12 is the place to be for high-level women’s basketball this season.
Now through 11 weeks, no team remains undefeated, with only Kansas State going without a conference loss. West Virginia has made history in their last two games by shutting out their opponents in the first quarter consecutively, which may improve their ranking in the next AP poll.
This is the competition the Mountaineers face in the Big 12 conference, ordered by current standings placements.
1. Kansas State: 18-1 overall, 7-0 in-conference (Ranked No. 7 by Associated Press)
The Wildcats picked up two more conference wins this week despite playing just one game, as TCU was forced to forfeit due to a lack of healthy players. Kansas State took care of the Kansas Jayhawks at home to keep its undefeated Big 12 record and will play the ranked Baylor Bears on Monday to keep that status.
Kansas State primarily shines defensively, holding opponents to the lowest field goal percentage (32.2%) and lowest three-point percentage (21.6%) in the conference. The Wildcats also block the most shots per game in the Big 12, a charge led by 6’6″ center Ayoka Lee. Lee, the second-best shot-blocker in the Big 12 at 2.7 blocks per game, underwent surgery this week and will be out for four weeks. Her absence will cause the defense to take a hit, but it will likely be more impactful on the offensive side of the ball, where the Wildcats already fall behind other conference members.
Statistically, Kansas State sits in the middle of the pack offensively, reaching the conference’s top five in only field goal percentage, where it ranks second, at 47.6% shooting. The Wildcats are the sixth-highest scorers in the Big 12 and shoot the fourth worst from long range. This will be a greater struggle without Lee, who averages 19.8 points per game as the fourth-best scorer in the conference.
2. Iowa State: 12-5 overall, 6-1 in-conference (Ranked No. 24 by Associated Press)
Like Kansas State, the Cyclones played just one of their two games this week due to a forced TCU forfeit. Unlike the Wildcats, though, Iowa State’s game ended in a loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 71-63.
The Cyclones find themselves at the top due to a relatively easy schedule. Their only notable win came to the Mountaineers at home, and the team lacks much to write home about statistically. The Cyclones’ high points are at the three-point line and under the rim, as they place second in the conference in three-point percentage and total rebounding. WVU gets another crack at Iowa State this week, on Saturday in Morgantown.
3. Oklahoma: 11-6 overall, 5-1 in-conference
The Sooners’ only loss came to the top-seeded Wildcats so far, but that is expected to change after Wednesday’s game against Texas. Oklahoma averages the most rebounds in the conference at just over 45 per game, but it also allows the second most by opponents. The team is fourth in scoring but also allows the second most points by opponents in the Big 12. Essentially, Oklahoma is fast-paced and has gotten the conference wins it needed so far, but the team’s potential is limited.
4. Texas: 18-2 overall, 5-2 in-conference (Ranked No. 11 by Associated Press)
The Longhorns rank second in the Big 12 on the AP’s top 25 and for good reason. Texas leads the Big 12 in scoring, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage, averages the greatest margin of victory at an absurd 29.9 points per game, grabs the most offensive rebounds per game, and does so without consistent attendance from star guard Rori Harmon.
Texas fell only to Baylor and Kansas State, taking care of other opponents, including the Mountaineers, in convincing fashion. The Longhorns get their shot at Baylor again next week after taking on Oklahoma and Cincinnati in this week’s slate of games.
5. West Virginia: 16-2 overall, 5-2 in-conference
The Mountaineers’ defensive identity is well-known by now. Leading the conference significantly in steals and turnover margin, WVU’s full-court press turned zone in the half-court is tough for any team to deal with. This week, the Mountaineers stepped it up further, holding Houston and Cincinnati to zero points in the first quarter in back-to-back games, making WVU the only team to ever do so.
The Mountaineers have several stars to look out for. Offensively, it’s JJ Quinerly averaging the fifth most points in the Big 12 at 18.5 points per game and Jordan Harrison averaging the conference’s second most assists at 5.7 per game. Defensively, the duo leads the conference in steals per game, with Quinerly averaging 3.3 per contest and Harrison grabbing 2.7 per game. Third in the conference for steals is another Mountaineer, Lauren Fields, who also ranks seventh in made three-pointers per game. WVU’s star-studded, lock-down defensive team looks forward to revenge this week against Iowa State on Saturday. It is the Mountaineers’ only game of the week.
6. Baylor: 15-2 overall, 4-2 in-conference (Ranked No. 12 by Associated Press)
Baylor falls to sixth due to a small sample of games played, but the Bears are one of the scariest teams in the Big 12. Ranked third in the conference by the AP poll, Baylor boasts a win over Texas despite losses to Iowa State and Kansas. The Bears lead the Big 12 in only assists, but they are not far down in the rankings for any statistical category.
Sarah Andrews, Dre’Una Edwards, Aijha Blackwell, and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs headline the guard-heavy roster. Baylor takes on Kansas State Monday followed by an Oklahoma State matchup on Sunday.
7. Oklahoma State: 11-7 overall, 4-3 in-conference
The Cowgirls do not stand out statistically, but they have held their own against the conference’s toughest teams. Against Texas, OSU fell 76-66, with Anna Gret Asi leading all scorers with 22 points. The Cowgirls fell 76-68 to Iowa State and 70-64 against the Jayhawks, who are both adequate threats in the Big 12. They challenge Cincinnati and Baylor in this week’s games.
8. Texas Tech: 14-6 overall, 3-4 in-conference
The Red Raiders hold the only win over Iowa State in the Big 12, but that is where their claim to fame ends. They do lead the conference in free throw percentage, but their inconsistency from one game to the next on all other fronts makes it difficult to see Texas Tech as a real threat in the conference. The Red Raiders take on the lower-ranked Houston and TCU this week.
9. Houston: 11-7 overall, 2-5 in-conference
Houston’s biggest strength this season has been their schedule. After back-to-back triple-digit performances early in the year, the Cougars appeared as somewhat of a threat, but their 9-2 out-of-conference record was almost immediately shattered once Big 12 play began. Both Kansas State and WVU held Houston to under 40 points this season, and the Cougars failed to get the job done against Texas Tech, Baylor, and Oklahoma. The Cougars take on Texas Tech and UCF in this week’s road trip.
10. BYU: 12-8 overall, 2-5 in-conference
BYU has found itself losing to the bottom half of the conference multiple times this season, which does not bode well for the Cougars’ upcoming matchup against Kansas State on Saturday. BYU ranks third in blocked shots and fourth in three-point percentage in the Big 12.
11. Kansas: 9-9 overall, 2-5 in-conference
The Jayhawks’ conference schedule so far has consisted of almost exclusively ranked opponents. With losses to WVU, Texas Tech, Texas, and Kansas State, they also boast wins over Baylor and Oklahoma State. As the season progresses, the Jayhawks should move up the standings, but as of now, they lack any notable success aside from Taiyanna Jackson.
12. Cincinnati: 9-8 overall, 1-5 in-conference
The Bearcats are dead last in scoring in the Big 12, primarily due to their combined three meetings with the conference’s top defensive teams, West Virginia and Kansas State. Cincinnati has yet to crack 65 points in a conference matchup this season. The Bearcats take on Oklahoma State and Texas this week.
13. TCU: 14-4 overall, 1-6 in-conference (two games were forfeited due to lack of active players)
The Horned Frogs have been plagued by injuries this season, leading to an unexpected loss to Houston followed by two forced forfeits. TCU held open tryouts to find a walk-on player to be eligible this week and will take the floor Tuesday against UCF.
Injuries aside, though, TCU has had a decent showing this year. The Horned Frogs average the fifth-best scoring margin in the conference due to a strong defense. They also shoot the third-best from long range and take advantage of that, giving TCU the most made three-pointers per game in the Big 12. The injuries will hold TCU back all year, as two players will be out for the season with another sidelined indefinitely, but the Horned Frogs do have the skills to be a threat if they can stay on the floor.
14. UCF: 9-7 overall, 0-6 in-conference
UCF takes on TCU and Houston this week, making for their second and third games against teams in the bottom half of the standings. The Knights’ only notable loss came to Cincinnati in a 64-63 thriller, but that is not entirely unexpected from the second-lowest scorers in the conference. UCF is somewhat efficient, shooting well from three and the free throw line, but the Knights’ inability to hold onto the ball keeps them last in the conference.
Photo by Wesley Shoemaker, Blue Gold Sports
