Big 12 Women’s Power Rankings

Big 12 women’s basketball reporter Andrew Wiebe’s presents his Big 12 power rankings. Every Tuesday, The Kansan will rank Big 12 women’s teams based on last week’s performance and the next week’s schedule. Last week’s rankings are in parentheses.

#1 (1)

No. 8 Baylor 21-2 [9-1]

Last week: at Oklahoma State (L), Texas Tech (W)

This week: at Texas, Oklahoma

Despite losing to a hot Oklahoma State squad last week, Baylor retains the top spot because they remain in the driver’s seat of the Big 12 championship race. The Bears were bound to stumble at some point. Losing against sophomore guard Andrea Riley and the Cowgirls in Stillwater speaks to the difficulty of winning on the road in the Big 12. This week’s schedule is brutal, and the game against Oklahoma could be decisive in the race for the Big 12 South.

#2 (2)

No. 17 Kansas State 16-6 [8-1]

Last week: Kansas (W)

This week: at Iowa State, at Missouri

The Wildcats are showing just how crucial junior forward Marlies Gipson is to their success. Deb Patterson’s team took care of business on Saturday against in-state rivals Kansas to claim their 13th win in the last 14 games between the two teams. Although Kansas State has two matchups with squads in the bottom half of the conference, it must go on the road for both. So far the Wildcats have been perfect away from Manhattan in conference play, but it will take two solid performances to enter next week with 10 wins.

#3 (4)

No. 15 Oklahoma State 19-3 [7-2]

Last week: Baylor (W), at Nebraska (W)

This week: at Texas Tech, Iowa State

Oklahoma State knew it needed two victories last week to keep pace with Oklahoma and stay within striking distance of Baylor. In winning both games, the Cowgirls became the first team to beat the Bears in conference play and gave the Bears just their second loss overall. Sophomore guard Andrea Riley may garner most of the attention, but five players scored in double figures against the Bears, proving this isn’t a one woman show. With two winnable games on the horizon, Oklahoma State has an opportunity to pull even closer to Baylor this week.

#4 (3)

No. 10 Oklahoma 17-4 [7-2]

Last week: at Missouri (W), Colorado (W)

This week: Texas A&M, at Baylor

This is a make-or-break week for the Sooners. Two victories against teams from the Big 12 North basement aren’t the ideal precursors to meetings with what could be the two most talented teams in the conference. The Aggies are just starting to find their groove, and the Bears are nearly unbeatable at home. It won’t be easy, but if junior center Courtney Paris can control the paint, Oklahoma has the opportunity to make a strong statement to the rest of the Big 12 with two victories.

#5 (6)

No. 20 Texas A&M 17-6 [5-4]

Last week: Texas (W)

This week: at Oklahoma, Texas Tech

Just when people began writing the Aggies off, junior guard/forward Danielle Gant began dragging them back into the race for a top-four finish. In the victory against Texas, Gant dropped 25 points on only 12 shots. A trip to Norman is never easy, but Texas A&M won there last season on its way to a Big 12 championship, so the atmosphere shouldn’t intimidate Gary Blair’s team. The Aggies have the veteran presence and the past experience to go in and take one from the Sooners. If they can, they will have reeled off five straight victories.

#6 (5)

Nebraska 17-7 [6-4]

Last week: at Colorado (W), Oklahoma State (L)

This week: at Kansas

Losing to Oklahoma State at home was disappointing, but not devastating. The Cornhuskers have already blown the Jayhawks out once, but Bonnie Henrickson’s team has been extremely difficult to beat at Allen Fieldhouse this season. Nebraska will use this week to regroup and refocus as only one of its remaining six games comes against a Big 12 South opponent, lowly Texas Tech.

#7 (7)

Texas 15-8 [3-6]

Last week: at Texas A&M (L)

This week: Baylor, at Colorado

Texas has talent, but in the rough-and-tumble Big 12 South talent only goes so far. The Longhorns are one of only a few teams that have tested the Bears so far this season. Despite losing 61-60 in Waco earlier this year, Texas should feel confident that it can hang with the Big 12’s best team. The Longhorns have one of the best coaches in the nation in former Duke coach Gail Goestenkors, and if anyone can engineer an upset she can.

#8 (9)

Iowa State 15-7 [4-5]

Last week: Texas Tech (W), Missouri (W)

This week: Kansas State, at Oklahoma State

Victories over two conference bottom-feeders did wonders for the Cyclones confidence. Unfortunately this week’s schedule is not nearly as undemanding. Iowa State is perilously thin in the post and Kansas State’s Marlies Gipson and Oklahoma State’s junior center Maria Cordero and junior forward Shaunte Smith could have their way in the paint. The Cyclones hold a trump card in the form of their potent three-point shooting, but odds are it won’t be enough to continue their win streak through the week.

#9 (8)

Kansas 13-9 [2-7]

Last week: at Kansas State (L)

This week: Colorado, Nebraska

Despite a heartbreaking loss in the Sunflower Showdown and seven conference losses, Kansas continues to receive votes in the AP Poll. Voters must be basing those votes on potential because the Jayhawks certainly aren’t getting the results that come with that sort of national recognition. This week could be the week they show the rest of the conference what their young talent can do. Two games at home against opponents they’ve already seen once this season should give Kansas hope of walking away with two victories. Whether or not that’s possible, remains a mystery.

#10 (10)

Texas Tech 14-9 [2-7]

Last week: at Iowa State (L), at Baylor (L)

This week: Oklahoma State, at Texas A&M

Two losses last week look like they will be followed by two more this week against the two hottest teams in the Big 12. Last week the Lady Raiders were looking for some sort of consistency. This week they are just desperate for a win. The schedule doesn’t get any easier down the stretch, and Texas Tech’s three-game losing streak could turn into five before the week is out.

#11 (11)

Colorado 13-10 [2-8]

Last week: Nebraska (L), at Oklahoma (L)

This week: at Kansas, Texas

Colorado travels to Lawrence on Wednesday to face a vastly different Kansas team than the one it blew out of the gym 59-41 on Jan. 22. Freshman center Krysten Boogaard is coming off back-to-back 20 point games and the Jayhawks have matured considerably since hanging their heads throughout the second half of the two team’s first meeting. The Buffaloes are in need of a victory, and Boogaard’s presence could be offset by their improving frontcourt. Freshman forward Brittany Spears was the Big 12’s rookie of the week last week.

#12 (12)

Missouri 8-15 [1-9]

Last week: Oklahoma (L), at Iowa State (L)

This week: Kansas State

There isn’t much to say about the Tigers that hasn’t already been said. Missouri is the worst team in the Big 12 and victories don’t appear to be likely anytime soon. Coach Cindy Stein could use the long week of practice to whip her squad into shape, but with Kansas State up next, Missouri is looking at yet another week without a victory. The Tigers have talent, just not enough to compete in the Big 12.

—Edited by Mandy Earles