Player of the Week
JT Toppin, Texas Tech Red Raiders
JT Toppin entered the season as the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and has lived up to that billing as the anchor for the No. 14 Red Raiders and a projected 2026 NBA Draft first-round pick. He is averaging 20.9 points and 10.9 rebounds on the season and earned Conference Player of the Week honors after a dominant three-game stretch. Toppin battled through a tough road loss at No. 7 Houston, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds on 64.3% shooting, then followed with 16 points and 13 rebounds in a gritty road win at Colorado. He had 23 points on Jan. 3 against Oklahoma State, continuing to separate himself as one of the most impactful two-way forwards in college basketball.
Freshman of the Week
AJ Dybantsa, BYU Cougars
AJ Dybantsa continues to strengthen his case as a leading contender for the No. 1 overall pick, serving as the engine for a top-10 BYU team while improving with each outing. He currently ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 23.1 points per game, shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. This past week, Dybantsa was again among the nation’s best, scoring 23 points in a blowout win over Arizona State on Jan. 7 while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, then following it with 20 points on 54.5 percent shooting in a road win at Utah on Jan. 10. His efficient scoring, playmaking, and steady production continue to drive BYU’s success at the highest level.
Who’s Hot?
Iowa State Cyclones
Picked fifth in the preseason, Iowa State has surged to become the No. 3 team in the nation. The Cyclones are undefeated at 16–0 and have won six straight games by double digits, showcasing consistency on both ends of the floor. With a road matchup against No. 22 Kansas looming, Iowa State will face its toughest test in recent weeks. The Cyclones have a legitimate shot at the Big 12 title, though the path will be challenging, with five ranked opponents in their next 11 games, including a difficult mid-February stretch.
Koa Peat, Arizona Wildcats
Freshman Koa Peat has emerged as a key contributor for the top-ranked team in the country, continuing to trend upward as the season progresses. On the year, Peat is averaging 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting over 56 percent from the floor. Over Arizona’s past two games, he delivered efficient, impactful performances, scoring 20 points with seven rebounds on 58.8 percent shooting in an 86–73 win at TCU, then following it up with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists against Kansas State while knocking down 50 percent from three. His combination of efficiency, physicality, and versatility has made him a steady presence for Arizona and a key piece in its continued dominance.
Who’s Not?
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas entered the season with one of the nation’s most highly regarded recruiting classes and opened ranked No. 19, but injuries and inconsistency have slowed the Jayhawks’ momentum. Darryn Peterson has appeared in just seven of Kansas’ 17 games, leaving the team shorthanded for much of the season. Kansas now faces its stiffest test since its loss to UConn, squaring off against No. 3 Iowa State on Tuesday. While the talent and coaching are in place, continued health concerns could keep Kansas from finding its rhythm down the stretch.
Milos Uzan, Houston Cougars
After earning Preseason All-Big 12 honors and playing a key role in Houston’s run to the national title game last season, Milos Uzan has struggled to find the same rhythm offensively. He is currently averaging 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field, but recent games have highlighted ongoing shooting woes. In a win at Baylor on Jan. 10, Uzan finished with six points on 1-of-10 shooting, and he followed that with seven points on 2-of-12 shooting in a win over No. 14 Texas Tech on Jan. 6. Over his last three games, he is averaging 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, but his efficiency has dipped sharply to 27.7 percent from the field and 26.6 percent from three, making consistency a growing concern as conference play intensifies.
Top Five Big 12 Teams
1. Arizona Wildcats (16–0, 3–0)
Arizona sits atop the national landscape, remaining unbeaten through 16 games and holding first place in the Big 12. The Wildcats have dominated most opponents, winning 11 straight games by double digits. A challenging road slate awaits, including ranked matchups with No. 25 UCF and No. 9 BYU, followed by a brutal February stretch that culminates in a showdown with No. 3 Iowa State on March 2.
2. Iowa State Cyclones (16–0, 3–0)
One of the biggest surprises in the country, Iowa State has far exceeded preseason expectations. Ranked third nationally, the Cyclones are positioning themselves as true contenders. With 15 games remaining, including seven against ranked opponents, their upcoming road test at Kansas will set the tone for the rest of conference play.
3. Houston Cougars (15–1, 3–0)
Houston entered the season as the preseason Big 12 favorite and has largely lived up to that status. The Cougars are riding a nine-game winning streak, highlighted by a narrow four-point win over Texas Tech. While the next few weeks are manageable, Houston will close the season with six ranked matchups, which will define its postseason ceiling.
4. BYU Cougars (14–1, 2–0)
BYU has matched its preseason expectations, dropping just one game so far, a two-point loss to UConn early in the season. The Cougars face a pivotal stretch late in January, with games against No. 14 Texas Tech, No. 1 Arizona, and No. 22 Kansas, all of which will test their standing in the conference race.
5. Colorado Buffaloes (12–3, 2–0)
Colorado has been the surprise entry in the Big 12’s top five after being projected near the bottom of the league. With 12 wins already, the Buffaloes now enter their toughest stretch, featuring road games and seven remaining matchups against ranked teams. The season will culminate with a challenging home contest against No. 1 Arizona, providing a true measuring stick for their progress.