Kansas: (17-0, 2-0 Big 12 Conference)

Outlook – What’s not to like? Bill Self’s bunch is 17-0, has won 25 consecutive regular season games, and won 31 of its last 32 overall. Darnell Jackson is arguably the most improved player in the nation – he’s averaging 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Plus, the Jayhawks main nemesis – injuries – is beginning to be a non-issue. Brandon Rush is averaging 17.5 points per game in two Big 12 games, and Sherron Collins is steadily regaining his speed and athleticism. Keep an eye on these numbers – 22-0 – as in the Jayhawks best start ever in 1996-97, and 16-0 – as in the Jayhawks Big 12 record in 2001-2002 – its best finish ever in conference play. Can Kansas equal these?

Statement Victories – at Boston College, at USC, Arizona

Ugly Losses – None

The Magic Eight Ball Says – Final Four or bust

Texas A&M: (15-2, 1-1)

Outlook - First-year coach Mark Turgeon has taken over for Billy Gillespie and has the Aggies off to their best start ever at 15-1. Junior guard Josh Carter and senior forward Joseph Jones have proved to be a potent inside – outside combination – combining for 24.9 points per game. Freshman DeAndre Jordan has been a workhorse inside, and he’s shooting 75 percent from the field. But mostly, the Aggies have done it as they always have – with defense. Texas A&M is holding opposing teams to 57.6 points per game – good enough for second in the Big 12 conference. But Texas A&M lacks a defining victory, and one can also point at its befuddling loss at Arizona, when it coughed up a double-digit lead and suffered its only loss of the season. The Aggies still have to prove themselves during the Big 12 grind. The Aggies’ double-digit loss to Texas Tech on Wednesday was a headscratcher.

Statement Victories– None

Ugly Losses – None

The Magic Eight Ball Says – Sweet 16

Texas: (13-3, 0-1)

Outlook - The question is, which Longhorn team is going to show up? The team that won at UCLA, or the team that lost consecutive games to plodding Big 10 conference teams Michigan State and Wisconsin? Texas can run and gun with anybody, but the question is, can they win when the score is in the 50s or 60s? Still, with sophomore guard D.J. Augustin averaging 20.4 points per game, and junior guard A.J. Abrams adding 18.5 points per game, Texas will be tough for anybody in the Big 12 conference.

Statement victories– at UCLA, Tennessee

Ugly losses – None

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NCAA 2nd Round

Baylor: (14-2, 2-0)

Outlook - Baylor is the college basketball equivalent of Lazarus. Give the credit to coach Scott Drew. He’s pulled the program from the depths of probation and scandal. Baylor’s 14-2 start is the best since the 1945-46 season. Baylor is a guard-laden squad. They make a Big 12-leading 9.1 three pointers per game. Sophomore guard Curtis Jerrells –13.4 points per game - is making a case for All-Big 12 honors, and keep an eye on freshman guard LaceDarius Dunn. He might be Baylor’s most talented player.

Statement Victories– Notre Dame

Bad Losses – None

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NCAA 2nd Round

Kansas State: (11-4, 1-0)

Outlook – Freshman forward Michael Beasley has been incomparable in his rookie campaign. The National Player-of-the-Year candidate is averaging 24.8 points per game and 13.1 rebounds – the most in the country. Beasley’s wingman, freshman forward Bill Walker, has started to take off as well – scoring 15.8 points per game. The question is, can Beasley and Walker lift first-year coach Frank Martin to the NCAA tournament with little help from the rest of the roster?

Statement Victories – California, at Oklahoma

Ugly losses – George Mason

The Magic Eight Ball says – NCAA 1st round

Oklahoma: (12-5, 0-2)

Outlook - A week ago the sun seemed to be shining on Oklahoma. The Sooners were 12-3 and held resume building victories against Gonzaga and West Virginia. Now fans might want to send coach Jeff Capel a get well card. Oklahoma is 0-2 in the Big 12 after a home loss to K-State and road loss to Kansas. Even worse, Capel told reporters on Tuesday that freshman stud Blake Griffin could miss up to four weeks after spraining his left MCL against Kansas on Monday.

Statement victories – Gonzaga, West Virginia

Ugly losses – Stephen F. Austin

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NIT bound

Missouri: (11-6, 1-1)

Outlook- This team looked to be classic Missouri - talented and tantalizing, but in the end, a crew of underachievers. Then the Tigers took care of Texas, 97-84, and all bets were off. Junior forward DeMarre Carroll and senior guard Stefhon Hannah give Missouri scoring and leadership to second-year coach Mike Anderson, but the Tigers will have to prove it over the long haul.

Statement victories – Purdue, Texas

Ugly losses – Illinois, at Mississippi St.

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NIT bound

Nebraska: (11-4, 0-2)

Outlook – Nebraska can probably relate to Oklahoma. The Cornhuskers were 11-2 and looking like a dangerous team with a victory against Oregon on its resume. But Kansas blew out Nebraska in its conference opener and then they dropped to 0-2 with a loss to conference bottom-feeder Colorado. Senior center Aleks Maric is leading Nebraska in scoring and shooting 61 percent from the floor.

Statement victories – Oregon

Ugly losses -- Western Kentucky, at Colorado

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NIT bound

Iowa State: (11-6, 1-1)

Outlook- Freshman forward Craig Brackins is the best player you’ve never heard of. The Big 12 rookie sizzled in a 74-67 loss to Baylor. Coach Greg McDermott has this program on the rise, but first the second year coach must work on making the Cyclones the best team in Iowa. Iowa State beat Iowa ,56-47, but lost to Northern Iowa, 61-48, and got thumped by Drake, 79-44.

Statement victories – Purdue

Ugly losses – at Bradley, Northern Iowa

The Magic Eight Ball Says – NIT bound

Oklahoma State: (10-6, 1-1)

Outlook -- Coach Sean Sutton continues to underachieve in Stillwater, Okla. Losses to North Texas and Oral Roberts can’t make billionaire alumnus and Oklahoma State benefactor T. Boone Pickens happy. McDonald’s All-American freshman James Anderson has been a brightspot – he’s averaging 16.5 points per game – but he was injured during the Cowboys 79-71 loss to Baylor on Tuesday.

Statement victories- None

Ugly losses – at North Texas, Oral Roberts

The Magic Eight Ball Says- No Postseason

Colorado: (9-7, 1-1)

Outlook - First-year coach Jeff Bzdelik said at the beginning of the season that he wanted to change the mindset of the Colorado basketball program. The results so far? Mixed. Colorado looked rocky in the non-conference season, losing to Wyoming, New Orleans and Tulsa among others. But Colorado sprung a 55-51 upset victory against Nebraska on Tuesday. Could it be sign of good things to come? Stay tuned.

Statement victories – Nebraska

Ugly losses – New Orleans, Tulsa

The Magic Eight Ball Says – No Postseason

Texas Tech: (10-6, 1-1)

Outlook - Legendary coach Bob Knight earned his 900th career victory during his team’s upset victory against Texas A&M on Wednesday. Knight became the first men’s coach in Division I history to win 900 games. More importantly, Texas Tech showed they have the ability to be more than a punching bag in the Big 12 conference. If Texas Tech can beat Texas A&M by double-digits, then this Big 12 season might just continue to be a wacky one.

Statement victories– Gonzaga

Ugly losses - at Sam Houston State, at Centenary

The Magic Eight Ball Says – No Postseason

—Edited by Jared Duncan