Player of the Week
Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati
Moustapha Thiam earns Player of the Week honors after leading Cincinnati to a 2-1 stretch highlighted by a marquee road win at No. 8 Kansas. He opened the week with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds in the 84-68 victory, then followed with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a tough road battle at No. 16 Texas Tech. He closed the stretch with 24 points and 15 rebounds in a dominant 91-68 win over Oklahoma State, controlling the paint on both ends. Scoring 20+ in all three games and posting two double-doubles, Thiam’s physical interior presence and efficiency separated him as the clear standout.
Who’s Hot?
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
AJ Dybantsa continues to cement himself as the nation’s leading scorer and the clear frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick. He was named both Conference Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week last week, and at this rate, he could realistically hoard Player of the Week honors every single week. Despite BYU splitting its two games, Dybantsa was on a tear offensively. Over the stretch, he averaged 32 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 51.1% from the field and 40% from three. His standout showing came in a seven-point road loss to Arizona, where he erupted for 35 points and seven rebounds, shooting 46% from the floor. His scoring versatility, shot creation, and ability to carry the offensive load remain unmatched nationally.
Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats endured a tough early-February stretch with consecutive losses to Kansas and Texas Tech, but they responded emphatically last week to reestablish themselves as one of the nation’s elite teams. Arizona secured a five-point home win over No. 23 BYU before notching an impressive seven-point road victory over No. 2 Houston. With two more top-25 matchups remaining against Kansas and Iowa State, the Wildcats have opportunities to further solidify their standing heading into the conference tournament.
Who’s Not?
Utah Utes
Utah was projected to finish 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll but has fallen short of even those modest expectations. The Utes currently sit at the bottom of the conference standings, having won just two of their 15 Big 12 games. Although they snapped a seven-game losing streak with a five-point road win over West Virginia, Utah has still dropped 13 of its last 15 contests and has struggled to gain any consistent traction.
Emmanuel Sharp, Houston
Emmanuel Sharp remains a key senior leader for the Houston Cougars and the team’s second-leading scorer at 16 points per game, shooting 41.2% from the field and 37.2% from three on the season. However, his production dipped during Houston’s two losses last week. While he averaged 15 points per game, his efficiency suffered, as he shot just 27.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Compounding the issue, Sharp committed nine total fouls across the two games and fouled out in a three-point road loss to Iowa State after just 25 minutes.
Top Five Big 12 Teams
1. Arizona Wildcats
After their early-February stumble, the Wildcats responded with two top-25 wins, defeating BYU and Houston to earn their seventh and eighth top-25 victories of the season. Arizona is likely to finish the regular season without former five-star Koa Peat due to a leg injury, but the Wildcats still look poised to enter the conference tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. Two more marquee matchups remain on the schedule.
2. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas has rebounded from a slow start and is now one of four teams sitting at 11-4 in conference play. A setback against Cincinnati cost the Jayhawks sole possession of second place, but they remain dangerous behind one of the nation’s best players in Darryn Peterson. With Houston and Arizona looming, Kansas will have ample opportunity to make a final statement.
3. Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones continue to play at a high level and are tied for second in the conference while ranked fourth nationally. Iowa State earned a 16-point road win over Utah last week and will face two ranked opponents in its final three games, hosting Texas Tech before traveling to Arizona in early March.
4. Houston Cougars
Houston dropped both games last week, falling to Iowa State and Arizona, and slid from first place into a tie for second. A road trip to Kansas awaits before the Cougars close the regular season with three favorable conference matchups, positioning themselves for a strong seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech finds itself tied for second but faces adversity after losing Preseason Player of the Year JT Toppin to a torn ACL. The Red Raiders close the season with two challenging road games against Iowa State and BYU, matchups that will determine their positioning entering postseason play.