Player of the Week
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Freshman Kingston Flemings has continued to impress, enhancing his draft stock from a likely lottery pick to a potential mid-lottery selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. He capped the stretch with two standout performances, scoring 15 points in just 19 minutes on 5-of-9 shooting and 3-of-3 from three in a blowout win over New Orleans, then delivering his most complete outing against Florida State with 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two steals, and four blocks, reinforcing his growing two-way impact as a true floor general.
Who’s Hot?
Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Melvin Council Jr. was named the Big 12 Player of the Week after leading Kansas to several victories last week. In a 20-point home win against Missouri, he scored nine points while adding eight assists and five rebounds on 10 shots over 36 minutes. He followed that performance with an impressive 36-point, seven-rebound outing in a one-point overtime road win against North Carolina State, helping secure the Jayhawks’ eighth victory of the season. With Kansas still without Darryn Peterson, Council Jr. has stepped up in a major way, averaging 13.2 points and a team-high 4.8 assists per game.
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, the Preseason Player of the Year and a projected All-American, has emerged as one of the Big 12’s top performers through the opening weeks of the season. While Texas Tech has been inconsistent as a team, Toppin has delivered steady production across the first 10 games. He is averaging 21.9 points per game overall and has elevated his play against ranked opponents, posting 26.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. Last week, he recorded 30 points and 11 rebounds in a narrow seven-point loss to No. 17 Arkansas.
Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars, last season’s national runner-up and preseason conference favorites, suffered their first loss of the year in late November, falling by three points to then-No. 17 Tennessee. Since that defeat, Houston has reasserted itself as one of the Big 12’s premier teams, winning four straight games by double digits, including a 42-point home win over New Orleans on Saturday.
Cameron Carr, Baylor
Cameron Carr transferred to Baylor after spending two seasons at Tennessee, where he appeared in just four games last year. Through his first nine games with the Bears, Carr has become one of the conference’s top scorers, averaging 21.4 points per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. Before this season, Carr averaged just 2.3 points per game across 18 career appearances. His breakout has been one of the Big 12’s biggest surprises, and he has emerged as a potential centerpiece for Baylor as his career takes a sharp upward turn.
Who’s Not?
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State opened the season strong, winning its first five games, but hit a rough stretch in late November and early December. The Wildcats dropped four straight contests, including three losses by double digits, before recently snapping the skid with back-to-back wins. Despite the rebound, Kansas State still appears to be among the conference’s weaker teams. A difficult Big 12 slate looms, beginning with matchups against No. 10 BYU and No. 1 Arizona.
Bryson Tiller, Kansas
Bryson Tiller, a 6’11” former four-star recruit, was expected to play a major role for the Jayhawks this season. Through 12 games, however, he has struggled to find consistency, averaging 8.8 points per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range. Over the past five games, Tiller has averaged 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, with shooting splits dipping to 41.9 percent overall and just 11.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Top Five Big 12 Teams
1. Iowa State Cyclones (11–0)
Iowa State has continued its dominant run into mid-December, becoming the first Big 12 team to reach 11 wins. The Cyclones remain undefeated and have already collected two top-15 victories, including a statement 23-point road win over then-No. 1 Purdue. Their next major test comes on January 13, when they travel to Kansas.
2. Arizona Wildcats (10–0)
Arizona sits atop the national rankings with an undefeated start through 10 games. The Wildcats have notched five wins against top-20 opponents and two victories over top-three teams. With a manageable stretch ahead, their next major challenge arrives January 26 on the road against BYU.
3. BYU Cougars (10–1)
BYU is ranked No. 10 nationally and is led by AJ Dybantsa, a potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Cougars’ lone loss came in a narrow two-point defeat to UConn on November 15. Since then, BYU has rattled off seven straight wins, six by double digits, with its best victory coming against then-No. 23 Wisconsin.
4. Houston Cougars (10–1)
Houston has regained momentum following its late-November loss to Tennessee and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. The Cougars face Arkansas in New Jersey this weekend, marking their first ranked matchup since the Tennessee loss. Kelvin Sampson’s blend of veteran leadership and five-star talent has the program back in rhythm.
5. Colorado Buffaloes (10–1)
Colorado rounds out the top five after winning 10 of its first 11 games. The Buffaloes’ lone loss came on the road against Colorado State earlier this month. They will close out the non-conference slate before opening Big 12 play on January 3, with a challenging stretch ahead against Texas Tech, Kansas, and Iowa State.