Player of the Week:
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
AJ Dybantsa delivered one of the defining performances of the college season, earning Player of the Week honors after carrying BYU back from a 22-point second-half deficit against Clemson. The freshman star scored 20 points after halftime and finished with 28 on 52.9 percent shooting, adding nine rebounds, six assists, three made threes, and a 9-of-10 night at the line while stabilizing the Cougars on both ends. The moment showcased real grit and composure for an 18-year-old and reinforced his status as one of the nation’s elite young talents. For the season, he leads No. 10 BYU with 20.3 points per game on 54.2 percent shooting while defending multiple positions and functioning as both a primary and secondary creator. Performances like the Clemson comeback strengthen his case as a legitimate No. 1 pick candidate, even after slipping to No. 2 in the latest mock draft.
Freshman of the Week:
Koa Peat, Arizona
Freshman Koa Peat has continued to showcase his early-season dominance for the newly ranked No. 1 Arizona Wildcats, averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Last week, he helped guide Arizona to two more wins, highlighted by a commanding 29-point victory over No. 20 Auburn. Across the week, Peat averaged 17 points, four rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting an efficient 60.8 percent from the field. As a draft prospect, Peat may be slightly overrated at this stage due to real questions about his positional size and long-range shooting, but as long as he is evaluated with the right expectations, more in the mold of a Jaime Jaquez–type contributor, he projects as a smart, reliable pick who can impact winning at the next level.
Who’s Hot?
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Momcilovic has emerged as one of the top players in the BIG 12 during the first month of the season, building on his selection to the BIG 12 First-Year Team last year. As the leading scorer for Iowa State, currently ranked #4 in the nation, he has been a pivotal force behind the team’s success. In the first week of December, Momcilovic was named the conference Player of the Week after leading Iowa State to two victories, including a decisive 23-point win over the then #1 Purdue Boilermakers. During that week, he averaged 23.5 points, shooting 58.6% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Kansas has faced early challenges due to injuries and tough losses, but Flory Bidunga has steadily emerged as the Jayhawks’ steadiest and most productive player in 2025. In the absence of Darryn Peterson, Bidunga carried a major load, leading the team with 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 59.6 percent from the field. He has been dominant on the glass, a physical finisher, and one of the most dependable rim protectors in the Big 12, averaging 2.5 blocks per game and anchoring Kansas’s interior defense. His free-throw percentage has climbed to a respectable 71.9 percent, but the lack of reliable perimeter scoring touch remains his biggest hurdle as an NBA prospect. Even so, Bidunga’s elite rebounding, shot-blocking, and interior efficiency make him one of the most valuable big men in college basketball and a stabilizing force for a Kansas team still finding its rhythm.
Kingston Flemings, Houston
After ten games, Kingston Flemings has emerged as one of Houston’s most impactful players, ranking second on the roster in scoring at 14.8 points per game while shooting an outstanding 61.1 percent from the field and 53.9 percent from three. As a true point guard, he sets the tone defensively, leading the team with 1.9 steals per game, and he continues to orchestrate the offense at a high level with 5.1 assists per contest. His best outing came during Houston’s lone loss of the season, when he poured in 25 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 75 percent from deep. While his scoring has been a bit inconsistent in recent games, the overall trajectory of his play has him climbing into the mid-lottery range on updated mock drafts.
Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats have made a strong start to the season, currently ranked as the #1 team in the nation. They remain perfect with an 8-0 record, including four victories over top 20 teams, highlighted by a 29-point blowout against Auburn in their most recent game. Arizona is a well-rounded and deep team, averaging 88.5 points per game while shooting 53% from the field. Defensively, they are equally impressive, allowing opponents to score only 67.1 points per game. This weekend, the Wildcats will take on #12 Alabama in Birmingham, facing another top-15 team as they look to defend their #1 ranking.
Who’s Not?
Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks entered the 2025 season with top-20 expectations, but inconsistency and early injuries quickly disrupted their momentum. Their star and projected top pick Darryn Peterson, who missed eight of the first ten games, was a major absence during a stretch that included a 1–3 record against top-25 opponents. Now, the tone has shifted. Peterson returned this week and immediately delivered 21 points in his first game back, injecting energy into a roster that had been searching for direction. With their centerpiece finally healthy and several tune-up games ahead before conference play, optimism is growing in Lawrence that Kansas can reset its season and build meaningful momentum heading into the heart of Big 12 action.
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tugler played a key role for last year’s Houston team that finished as national runner-up and entered this season with BIG 12 preseason honors, but he has yet to match those expectations. After opening the year with three double-digit scoring performances in his first five games, he has now averaged just 7.5 points per game and has reached double figures only once in his past five outings. The arrival of multiple five-star recruits has shifted Houston’s rotation and reduced his offensive involvement, limiting the impact of a player who was vital to last season’s success.
Top Five BIG 12 Teams
1. #1 Arizona Wildcats (8-0)
Arizona, the current No. 1 team in the country, continues to look every bit like the Big 12’s top program through the early season. The Wildcats have already secured multiple ranked victories and are led by several projected first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Head coach Tommy Lloyd has this group playing at an elite level, and with another top-15 matchup on deck, Arizona aims to maintain its momentum and stay firmly atop the national rankings.
2. #7 Houston Cougars (9-1)
Houston was the preseason pick to win the Big 12, and so far the Cougars have backed up that confidence. Their only loss came by three points to No. 17 Tennessee, and they’ve dominated the rest of their schedule, with seven of their nine wins coming by double digits. With a deep roster featuring multiple projected 2026 first-rounders, Houston remains one of the most balanced teams in the conference. A showdown with No. 17 Arkansas just before Christmas will serve as their final major test before league play begins in January.
3. #4 Iowa State Cyclones (10-0)
Iowa State became the first Big 12 team to reach ten wins after rallying past Iowa on Thursday night. Ranked No. 4 nationally, the Cyclones are powered by the conference’s Player of the Week and an offense averaging more than 94 points per game. They’ve already built a résumé with two marquee victories: a one-point win over then–No. 14 St. John’s in Las Vegas and a commanding 23-point road win over then–No. 1 Purdue. Few teams in the nation are playing with more confidence.
4. #10 BYU Cougars (8-1)
BYU’s highly touted freshman class has transformed the program into one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. Their lone loss came early in November to then–No. 3 UConn, and since then the Cougars have looked increasingly dominant. Most recently, they added another notable result with a strong win over Clemson. They also handled then–No. 23 Wisconsin by 28 points, underscoring their two-way versatility and depth. With several manageable games closing out December, BYU is well-positioned to enter conference play with momentum.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0)
Oklahoma State has taken care of business, even if its path has been the most favorable of the teams listed. The Cowboys have yet to face a ranked opponent and have played only two Power Five teams so far, defeating Texas A&M by 24 points and Northwestern by five. Their upcoming matchup with Oklahoma marks the beginning of a tougher stretch. Once January arrives, two top-25 opponents in their first three conference games will provide a clearer picture of how sustainable their undefeated start truly is.