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Michael Voppel
multiple authors
Big 12 women’s basketball has gone through a major identity change over the past three years, with the addition of eight new members and the departure of league powers through 2023. texas And oklahoma To SEC in 2024.
boiler Dominated the Big 12 from 2011 to 2022, winning or sharing every regular season title and claiming all but one conference tournament championship. Coach Kim Mulkey departs from Baylor LSU That dynamic changed in the spring of 2021.
Now in her fifth season in Waco, Texas, Nikki Collen has more firmly established her program at Baylor. The Bears are atop the Big 12 standings at 10-2 and are looking for their first regular season title since winning their 12th consecutive title in 2022. Baylor moves up to No. 11 in ESPN’s women’s college basketball power rankings this week, while fellow Big 12 teams West Virginia And texas tech Are back in the rankings.
TCU Fell out of trouble colorado On Sunday. However, the Horned Frogs have a chance to bounce back next week if they can win two high-stakes games.
The first of two TCU-Baylor matchups of the season is Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Waco. And there will be a second meeting between TCU and West Virginia on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas; The Frogs won the previous meeting 51-50 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on Jan. 14 in Morgantown.
This week’s results could help show who is clearly in the driver’s seat for the Big 12 regular season title. Or it could lead to even greater stalemate at the top of the league standings.
It would be no surprise to see Baylor and TCU compete for conference supremacy again. Last season, TCU finished first and Baylor finished second, then the Frogs defeated the Bears in the title game of the Big 12 Tournament. West Virginia was also expected to be in the championship mix this season. However, Texas Tech has been an unexpected contender.
Previous ranking: 1
Next seven days: vs. Creighton (Feb. 11), @ Marquette (Feb. 14)
The Huskies beat DePaul 86-40 last Wednesday behind 25 points from Guard azy fad. She led the way again with 17 points in Saturday’s 80-48 win over Butler. UConn scoring and rebounding leader sarah strong Did not play (rested) against the Bulldogs, and fellow forward blanca quinonez Missed her fourth consecutive game (shoulder). Although the Huskies are far ahead of the rest of the Big East, those absences made no difference to their dominance.
Previous ranking: 2
Next seven days: @Michigan State (Feb. 11), vs. Indiana (Feb. 15)
After defeating Rutgers 86–46 last Wednesday, the Bruins faced a scare from Michigan on Sunday, but ultimately escaped Ann Arbor with a 69–66 decision and extended their winning streak to 17 games. It was UCLA’s first close call since a seven-point win at Ohio State on December 28. guard kiki rice Leading the scoring in both games, he scored 37 points for the Bruins, who now have a two-game lead atop the Big Ten.
Previous ranking: 3
Next seven days: @LSU (February 14)
Since losing their only SEC game in overtime to Oklahoma on January 22, the Gamecocks have won five consecutive games by an average of 32 points. Last week, they beat Mississippi State and Tennessee by 43 points. Sunday’s 93-50 home win over the Lady Vols was the worst margin of loss in that storied program’s history. The withdrawal of guards was also seen on Sunday Tania LatsonWho had the team’s highest points of 21 after missing the last two games due to a leg injury. This Saturday’s game at LSU will be in prime time on ABC (8:30 p.m. ET).
Previous ranking: 4
Next seven days: @Vanderbilt (Feb. 12), @Tennessee (Feb. 15)
Like South Carolina, Texas also reacted positively to the loss. The Longhorns lost consecutive road games against LSU and South Carolina in mid-January, but have since won five in a row. The three most recent wins have come against ranked foes. Last week at home, Texas avenged its previous loss to LSU by winning 77–64, then defeated Kentucky 64–53. The Longhorns committed 19 turnovers against the Tigers and 23 against the Wildcats.
Previous ranking: 5
Next seven days: vs. South Carolina (February 14)
LSU’s seven-game winning streak ended with a 77-64 loss at Texas on Thursday, marking the second time this season the Tigers have been held under 70 points. However, he bounced back with a strong defensive performance in Sunday’s 77-44 win at Auburn. While the SEC regular season title may already be out of reach for LSU with three league losses, the Tigers still have plenty of motivation heading into Saturday’s showdown against the Gamecocks in Baton Rouge.
Previous ranking: 9
Next seven days: vs. Texas (Feb. 12), @Georgia (Feb. 15)
II Mikayla Blakes Remains undefeated, but now getting good help from new players and fellow guards Aubrey Galvan. The Commodores defeated Kentucky 84–83 on Thursday, with Blake scoring 37 and Galvan scoring 16, including four game-clinching free throws in the closing seconds. On Monday at home, Vanderbilt had perhaps its most impressive performance of the season, beating Oklahoma 102–86, as Blakes (34 points) and Galvan (30) combined to shoot 23 of 38 (60.5%) from the field.
Previous ranking: 7
Next seven days: @ Northwestern (Feb. 12), vs. Michigan State (Feb. 15)
Coaches often say that there are no so-called moral victories. But with the Wolverines, consider that three of their four losses have come by three points to top-five teams: 72-69 to UConn on Nov. 21, 72-69 to Vanderbilt on Jan. 19 and 69-66 to UCLA on Sunday. The Wolverines – who also beat Nebraska 88-76 last week – have played well against some of the best teams in the country, and that will help come NCAA Tournament time.
Previous ranking: 8
Next seven days: vs. Maryland (February 15)
The Buckeyes have won 11 of their last 12 contests, including wins last week against Washington (70-60) and Oregon (80-64). second year guard Jaloni Cambridge He combined for 45 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the win. second year center elsa lemilla He had his best game of the campaign against the Ducks with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Previous ranking: 12
Next seven days: vs. UNC (February 15, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)
The Blue Devils won Thursday’s marquee ACC battle at Louisville 59-58. They extended their winning streak to 15 games by defeating SMU 95-36 on Sunday. Ahead toby fournier Led the Blue Devils in both games with a combined 41 points. At 13–0, Duke leads the ACC by one game over Louisville, but the Blue Devils still must face their Triangle rivals North Carolina (twice) and NC State.
Previous ranking: 6
Next seven days: vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 12), vs. Florida State (Feb. 15)
The Cardinals’ 14-game winning streak ended Thursday at home as Duke won by one point and took the ACC lead. Louisville, which shot just 34% against the Blue Devils, recovered from that loss with an 84-65 win at Syracuse on Sunday. The remainder of Louisville’s schedule looks less challenging than Duke’s, as the Cards play four of their last five at home and do not face any currently ranked foes.
Previous ranking: 16
Next seven days: vs. TCU (Feb. 12), @UCF (Feb. 15)
Baylor struggled in two close wins last week: 76-70 at Cincinnati and 67-64 at visiting Arizona State. The Bears have won 10 of their last 11, including a loss at West Virginia on Feb. 1. Baylor leads Division I in opponents’ 3-point rate (23.2%). And it is one of the top scorers in the Power 4 conferences. talia scott (20.3 points per game) and one of the top rebounders among forwards Dariana Littlepage-Bugs (10.8 per game).
Previous ranking: 10
Next seven days: vs. Florida (Feb. 12), @ Alabama (Feb. 15)
The Sooners didn’t play badly in a 78-70 loss at Texas on Feb. 1, which made Monday’s 102-86 loss at Vanderbilt all the more disappointing. Despite a week to prepare, Oklahoma’s defense could not slow down Vandy’s guards, who dominated the contest. On the bright side, five of the Sooners’ six losses have come to teams ranked No. 6 or better at the time (UCLA, Kentucky, LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt), and the other was to then-No. 18 Ole Miss. There are no easy games in the SEC, but only two of the Sooners’ last six foes have been ranked.
Previous ranking: not ranked
Next seven days: vs. UCF (Feb. 11), @ TCU (Feb. 15)
The Mountaineers have won six of their last seven, including wins against Colorado (61-55) and visiting Arizona (87-68) last week. West Virginia has long been known for its tough defense and grind-it-out style. But if the Mountaineers finish at their current 76.8 ppg, it will be the program’s second-highest average behind 82.4 ppg in 1991–92.
Previous ranking: not ranked
Next seven days: @Oklahoma State (Feb. 14)
Texas Tech defeated Houston (85-61) and Kansas (70-65) last week, and is 4-3 since starting the campaign 19-0. Now 10–3 in the Big 12, the Lady Raiders remain in contention for their first regular season league championship since 2000, when they shared the title with Iowa State and Oklahoma.
Previous ranking: 11
Next seven days: vs. Arkansas (Feb. 12), @Kentucky (Feb. 15), vs. Tennessee (Feb. 17)
Despite the senior star’s 22 points, six rebounds and five assists, the Rebels lost their only game last week on Thursday, 64-63 at Alabama. coty mcmahon. Ole Miss is ranked sixth in the SEC, but four of its remaining seven foes are ranked, including South Carolina and LSU.
Previous ranking: 14
Next seven days: vs. UCLA (Feb. 11), @ Michigan (Feb. 15)
The Spartans remain one spot in the power rankings despite an 86-70 loss at home to Maryland last Wednesday. They came back from 16 points down at Penn State on Saturday to win 81-70. Facing the league’s two top teams this week, Michigan State still has a chance to make a big splash in the Big Ten.
dropped out: iowa hockeys, tcu horned frog
