ESPN

ESPN Midlands recruiting coordinator Damon Sayles stops by to talk about Josh Pelzel's commitment to Baylor, the strong crop of defensive backs in the state of Texas, and a small Texas high school that's providing several Big 12 recruits.

Just about everyone in Waco, Texas assumed Isaiah Austin had played his last game in a Baylor uniform. And until last week, they were probably correct.

Austin, a 7-foot-1 center, was projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick in this summer’s NBA draft and had given no indication to his coaches or teammates that he would return to school. Things changed Sunday, though, when Austin announced he’d be back for his sophomore season.

So what happened?

A source told ESPN.com Sunday that an MRI performed late last week revealed Austin had torn the posterior labrum in one of his shoulders. The source said the injury would have prevented Austin from going through individual workouts with NBA teams during the next few months.

Austin’s shoulder issues wouldn’t have been as big of a deal if he were tabbed as a top-10 pick. But because he was projected to go in the early-to-mid 20s, Austin needed the workouts to make a positive impression on teams and solidify his status as a first-rounder. First-round picks receive guaranteed three-year contracts. Second-round picks are promised nothing.

Austin didn’t want to risk it.

“Today might have literally been the worst day of my life,” Austin tweeted Friday, the same day he is said to have received the MRI results. “Actually, it is the worst day.”

Baylor coach Scott Drew -- reached on his cell phone shortly after meeting with Austin at his Arlington, Texas home late Sunday night -- was skeptical to talk about the specifics of Austin’s injury because of privacy laws.

“But I can confirm that he suffered an injury, and that it affected his decision,” Drew said. “He’s been very mature with how he’s handled this.”

Drew said Austin's love for Baylor and his teammates made it easier to come back.

“He still could’ve left school and been drafted,” Drew said. “But he likes it here. He’s enjoyed his time here so far. If he didn’t like his teammates and if he didn’t like Baylor he wouldn’t have come back. I think that says a lot.”

Austin’s return is a huge boost for Baylor and will likely vault the Bears into the Big 12 title discussion along with Oklahoma State and Kansas. The Jayhawks have won nine straight conference crowns but lose all five starters from last season’s 31-6 team.

Baylor’s frontcourt of Austin, Cory Jefferson (who also considered entering the draft) and Ricardo Gathers will be among the best in the country. The trio combined to average 32 points and 22 rebounds for a team that went 23-14 last season and won the NIT championship.

Point guard Pierre Jackson -- last year’s Big 12 scoring and assists leader -- is gone and will be almost impossible to replace on the perimeter. But the Bears are hopeful that either rising sophomore L.J. Rose or junior college signee Kenny Cherry can step in and fill the void.

Brady Heslip and Gary Franklin are seniors who will both see extended minutes at shooting guard. And incoming freshman Ishmail Wainwright, who stands 6-foot-6, will give Baylor the long, athletic small forward it so glaringly lacked last season following the departure of Quincy Miller.

Baylor is also in the mix for a handful of potential transfers that could impact its team immediately.

No player on the roster, though, will boast as much talent as Austin, who averaged 13 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds as a freshman. Once Austin regains his health -- it hasn’t been determined whether surgery will be needed to repair the torn labrum -- Baylor coaches want him to focus on gaining size and strength.

One of the biggest knocks on Austin is that’s he’s too skinny and not physical enough, which made him a huge liability on the defensive end of the floor at times last season, when he played at about 210 pounds. Drew said he’d like to see Austin at about 225 or 230.

“He needs to gain weight, gain strength,” Drew said. “Just like most every freshman, he hit a wall late in the season. Weight training allows you to go through that wall. That’s why strength and conditioning is so important.”

Austin also displayed bouts of immaturity at times, whether it was poor body language on the court or not doing the right things at practice.

“We talked about those things when I met with him tonight,” Drew said. “But he was already getting better in those areas. He matured during the season and it was really noticeable in the end. His focus is on getting better, just like it will be for all of us.”

Baylor made history in New York.

The Bears became the first Big 12 team to win the NIT, soundly defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 74-54 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

"I’m proud of these guys," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "Really proud of their heart and determination, and they’ll always be remembered. Whenever you make history -- you don’t get a lot of chances to do that."

Baylor led 27-22 at halftime, and Iowa cut the deficit to 28-27 early in the second half. But the game turned into a rout from there. Pierre Jackson, the Bears' leading scorer (19.9 PPG), heated up, scoring 13 of his 17 points after intermission. He also collected 10 assists, giving him a fourth consecutive double-double, and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

"In the second half, they were getting some good screens for me to get to the paint," Jackson said, "and I got to the right spots and knocked down shots."

"They’re a terrific offensive team," said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. "They had us spread out. They were moving the ball, and they’ve got a lot of weapons, and Jackson is tremendous."

Iowa, on the other hand, had a nightmarish game on offense. The Hawkeyes shot just 18-for-69 (26.4 percent) from the field and 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) from beyond the arc. They missed open looks on the perimeter and several chippies around the rim, clearly bothered by the presence of 7-foot-1 center Isaiah Austin (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks) and 6-foot-9 forward Cory Jefferson (23 points, 7 rebounds).

Roy Devyn Marble, who had scored 21 or more points in each of Iowa's first four games in this tournament, finished with just six, shooting 3-for-12 from the field.

"[It] seemed like we just kept missing easy shots," McCaffery said. "The stat that jumps out at me is we had 20 offensive rebounds against this team. That’s effort. That’s special. That should have equated to more success offensively."

Baylor (23-14) was ranked No. 19 in the country in the preseason, so ending up in the NIT was a disappointment. But the Bears certainly finished the season strong.

"You look at most teams in the NIT, they probably lost a lot of close games, and with our team, we lost some close games," Drew said. "And the common denominator was when we shot over 70 percent from the free throw line, we won, and when we shot in the 50s and 60s, we lost. That’s with a young front line."

Drew will lose his starting backcourt of Jackson and A.J. Walton, both seniors. But if the talented post players return, Baylor will be dangerous next season.

Iowa (25-13) had its NCAA tournament bubble burst Selection Sunday but gained valuable experience by playing five more games. Senior swingman Eric May departs, but everyone else should be back, and the Hawkeyes should go dancing next season, for the first time since 2006.

"There’s just no substitute for experience," McCaffery said. "Come to Madison Square Garden, the greatest venue in sports, and play twice against two really good teams, win one, lose one, learn from that -- it can only make us better."

 
NEW YORK -- Quick thoughts on Baylor's 74-54 victory over Baylor in Thursday's NIT title game at Madison Square Garden:

What it means: Baylor is your 2013 NIT champion -- the first Big 12 team ever to win this tournament.

Baylor (23-14) had a disappointing regular season. The Bears were ranked No. 19 in the country in the preseason, coming off a berth in the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight a year ago. They didn't even make the Big Dance this time around but finished the season on a high note.

Iowa (25-13) was on the bubble on Selection Sunday and didn't make the NCAA cut, but collected four wins and some valuable experience the past couple of weeks.

The turning point: After Iowa's Roy Devyn Marble scored the first bucket of the game, Baylor scored nine consecutive points and led the rest of the first half. It took the Bears' leading scorer, Pierre Jackson, almost 15 minutes to collect his first point. But Baylor still led 27-22 at intermission. The Hawkeyes shot just 7-for-28 (25 percent) in the first half and committed eight turnovers.

Iowa cut the deficit to one early in the second half, 28-27, thanks to five quick points by Eric May. But Baylor answered with seven points in a row to reassert control, and soon turned the game into a rout. The Bears pushed the lead past 20 for the first time on a Cory Jefferson two-hand slam with 7:04 remaining. The rest was garbage time.

Star watch: Jackson scored just four points in the first half, shooting 1-for-6. The second half was a different story. The senior finished with 17 points and 10 assists, and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Jefferson scored a game-high 23 points, and Isaiah Austin added 15.

Mike Gesell scored a team-high 13 points off the bench for Iowa, while Aaron White chipped in 12. Marble finished with just six points.

Number crunch: It just wasn't Iowa's night offensively. The Hawkeyes missed open shots from the perimeter, and several chippies around the rim -- they were clearly bothered by the presence of the 7-foot-1 Austin (five blocked shots) in the paint. For the game, Iowa shot 18-for-69 from the field (26.4 percent), including 5-for-24 from beyond the arc (20.8), while Baylor shot 26-for-48 (54.2 percent).

What's next: That's the final college basketball game of the season at Madison Square Garden. Enjoy the Final Four, and we'll see you next year.

Last Wednesday's announcements that Connecticut had agreed to a home-and-home series with Boise State and that Cincinnati would be heading to the Big House in 2017 were the latest in a trend that has seen BCS-conference schools boost their nonconference schedule strength.

While the soon-to-be-former Big East is entering its last season as a BCS school, before the four-team college football playoff takes into effect in the 2014-15 season, aggressive scheduling is one way to keep the league on the national radar.

The slates will provide several opportunities for big national upsets in the coming years, so here's a look at some of the notable future opponents for SMU.

SMU: The Mustangs have quite the in-state home-and-home lineup. They canceled this season's home game with Baylor, and while it is unknown if the 2013 game will be made up or bought-out completely, the schools still have a home-and-home scheduled through 2019. The Battlle for the Iron Skillet with TCU will continue through 2017, with the Horned Frogs playing host this season. SMU will go to Texas A&M this year and host the Aggies in 2014, closing out a four-year home-and-home. They begin this season with a Friday night home contest against Texas Tech.

Baylor fought back from a 20-point deficit, but fell short against No. 14 Oklahoma State, 74-72, at the Big 12 tournament.

DeLoss Dodds gets a $62,500 bonus if Texas’ athletic department operates “with financial solvency,” Kirby Hocutt gets a payment worth 6 percent of his base salary if Texas Tech makes a bowl game, and Kansas State’s John Currie simply gets a bonus if Bill Snyder earns one.

These interesting tidbits were revealed when USA Today came out with its new survey of athletic director salaries, which are on the rise across the country.

Dodds, not surprisingly, earns the most among Big 12 athletic directors with a total compensation package of $1,109,041. Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione is next, earning $1 million.

Third place, however, comes as a surprise. Iowa State’s Jamie Pollard makes $900,000, which is third-most among Big 12 athletic directors, and 12th-most in the country. No one else in the Big 12 earns more than $700,000. Pollard’s relatively high income, though, stems from a one-time retention payment of $400,000 he received last year for completing eight years of employment. The Cyclones are smart to give Pollard incentive to stay. He is responsible for hiring Paul Rhoads and Fred Hoiberg to coach Iowa State’s football and men’s basketball programs. The Cyclones have gone to bowl games in three of four years under Rhoads, and Hoiberg has Iowa State on the cusp of making back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

Overall, the USA Today study found that FBS athletic directors make an average of about $515,000, or roughly one-third of what they pay their football coaches.

If the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats both win the rest of their regular-season games, they will share the Big 12 title. The Jayhawks are seeking their ninth straight league crown. Kansas State hasn't won a conference championship since 1977, so even tying KU for first place would be huge for the Wildcats, especially considering they're playing for a new coach, Bruce Weber.

Baylor has a chance to alter the conference race because it has remaining home games against K-State (Saturday) and Kansas (March 9). The Bears were waxed during their initial meetings with the Jayhawks and Wildcats, but they're talented enough to beat both teams if the stars align and the moon is full. Whatever happens, the final week of the season should be interesting. Here are this week's power rankings.

1. Kansas: Elijah Johnson's 39-point performance in Monday's overtime win at Iowa State marked the best game by a Big 12 player this season. A healthy and aggressive Johnson could be the difference in this team winning a game or two in the NCAA tournament and making the Final Four. Ben McLemore is averaging just 10.3 points in his past four games.

2. Kansas State: The Wildcats have won eight of their past nine games. They look better every time they step on the court. K-State's shot selection is good and they're playing tough defense. Shane Southwell has made 10 of his past 17 attempts from 3-point range. The Wildcats' past six wins have come by nine points or more, including a 20-point thrashing of Baylor on Feb. 16.

3. Oklahoma State: Le'Bryan Nash snapped out of a mini-funk Wednesday and scored a career-high 28 points in the Cowboys' 64-47 drubbing of TCU. Nash is averaging 19.5 points in his past four games. OSU has three tough games remaining against Texas, Iowa State and Kansas State. But only one of those contests (Iowa State) is away from home.

4. Iowa State: The Cyclones (19-9, 9-6) might be the most snakebitten team in the Big 12. Three of their losses have come in overtime and another occurred on a last-second basket at Oklahoma State. Fred Hoiberg's squad ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (80.1), 12th in assists (16.3) and 19th in rebounds (39.3). Saturday's game at Oklahoma will be pivotal in terms of NCAA tournament seeding.

5. Oklahoma: Lon Kruger's squad led Texas by as many as 22 points in the second half Wednesday before wilting down the stretch in a 92-86 overtime loss. The Sooners, who are getting a team-high 15 points per game from Romero Osby, will have a tough chore Saturday against Iowa State, a team they lost to by 19 points earlier this season. Things get easier after that with a home game against West Virginia and a road tilt with TCU to close the regular season.

6. Baylor: If the season ended today, the Bears wouldn't deserve to be in the NCAA tournament. But they still have plenty of opportunities to play their way into the field with remaining home games against No. 13 Kansas State and No. 6 Kansas. Both of those contests are at home. A win at Texas on Monday would also enhance Baylor's résumé. Scott Drew's squad has been a disappointment, but the talent is still there to upset anyone.

7. Texas: Even though the Longhorns have lost to West Virginia twice, I'm still ranking them above the Mountaineers, based on their current play. Overtime home wins against Iowa State and Oklahoma proved that Texas hasn't given up during the worst season in coach Rick Barnes' tenure. Myck Kabongo had 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in Wednesday's overtime win against Oklahoma. He's averaging 11.2 fee throw attempts in his past five games.

8. West Virginia: Each of the Mountaineers' six Big 12 wins have come against teams ranked eighth, ninth or 10th in the league standings. West Virginia's leading scorer (Eron Harris) is only averaging 9.3 points. Harris, a freshman, turned in an encouraging performance by scoring 25 points in Wednesday's home loss to Baylor. With upcoming road games at Kansas and Oklahoma and a home game with Iowa State, the Mountaineers may not win again.

9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are just 2-13 in Big 12 play and haven't won a game since beating Iowa State on Jan. 23. They'll likely be favored at home Saturday against TCU, a team it beat in the conference opener. And there's a chance Texas Tech could sneak up on Texas on March 9 in Lubbock. Freshman point guard Josh Gray (9.7 points, 3.2 assists) is showing positive signs.

10. TCU: The season can't end fast enough for the Horned Frogs, whose only Big 12 victory came in that stunner against Kansas on Feb. 6. Each of TCU's 14 Big 12 losses have come by nine points or more. It will be interesting to see how competitive Trent Johnson's squad is in Saturday's road game against fellow Big 12 bottom feeder Texas Tech.

A handful of Kansas' eight straight Big 12 titles have come with relative ease. But if the Jayhawks claim the crown again this season, no one will be able to say that they didn't earn it. Bill Self's squad nearly fell out of the picture by losing three games in a row earlier this month. But now KU is tied for the league lead again after Wednesday's double-overtime victory at Oklahoma State. The championship is hardly in the bag, but history suggests it'd be foolish to doubt the Jayhawks this late in the season. Here are the latest power rankings.

1. Kansas. The Jayhawks defeated Kansas State and Texas by an average of 23.5 points before escaping Stillwater with a 68-67 double-overtime win Wednesday. Backup guard Naadir Tharpe hit the game-winner on a night when Ben McLemore scored only seven points. KU's toughest remaining game is Monday at Iowa State.

2. Kansas State. Forget all the talk about the Wildcats hitting their ceiling. Bruce Weber's squad just keeps getting better. Point guard Angel Rodriguez looked like a first-team All-Big 12 guard in his 22-point, 10-assist effort in Saturday's win over Baylor. If K-State wins out it will claim at least a share of the conference title for the first time since 1977.

3. Oklahoma State. The Cowboys nearly defeated KU Wednesday even though Marcus Smart went just 2 of 14 from the field. Small forward Le'Bryan Nash continues to be an enigma. In his past four games, he's scored 14, 6, 26 and 8 points. Oklahoma State plays at West Virginia Saturday and at TCU Wednesday.

4. Iowa State. Fred Hoiberg's squad finally beat a decent Big 12 team on the road. Wednesday's 87-82 victory over Baylor was impressive on a variety of fronts. The Cyclones shot 54.2 percent from the field and got 15 or more points from four players: Melvin Ejim, Korie Lucious, Tyrus McGee and Georges Niang. Monday's home game against Kansas is obviously huge.

5. Oklahoma. The Sooners have won three of their past four games, with the only setback coming in a road defeat at Oklahoma State. Lon Kruger's squad has a tough upcoming stretch against Baylor, Texas and Iowa State. (The Texas game is on the road). If Oklahoma wins two of those three contests, the Sooners would be a virtual lock to make the NCAA tournament. Wouldn't they?

6. Baylor. If it weren't for West Virginia, the Bears would be the Big 12's biggest disappointment. Scott Drew's squad has lost five of its past seven games, including home setbacks against Iowa State and Oklahoma. Baylor has defeated just one team (Oklahoma State) in the upper half of the league standings. Its other six Big 12 wins have come against Texas, West Virginia, TCU (twice) and Texas Tech (twice).

7. Texas. The Longhorns have gone 2-1 since the return of point guard Myck Kabongo, beating Iowa State at home and TCU on the road and losing at Kansas. Kabongo has been solid, but not spectacular. He's averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 assists and three turnovers while shooting just 38.7 percent from the field. Texas hosts co-league leader Kansas State on Saturday.

8. West Virginia. The Mountaineers are 13-13 overall and 6-7 in league play. They may have the toughest remaining schedule of any Big 12 team, with home games remaining against Oklahoma State, Baylor and Iowa State and road games against Kansas and Oklahoma. West Virginia lost their first meeting with each of those schools.

9. Texas Tech. The Red Raiders almost upset West Virginia in Morgantown on Saturday before falling 66-64. A few days later, they were blown out at home by Oklahoma 86-71. Texas Tech's next two games (against Iowa State and Kansas State) are both on the road. Things could get ugly.

10. TCU. The Horned Frogs threw a scare into Texas Wednesday before wilting down the stretch in a 68-59 loss. First-year coach Trent Johnson shouldn't be judged on his team's 10-16 record. He simply doesn't have the personnel to compete. At least not yet.

A week ago it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Kansas would win a ninth straight Big 12 title. The Jayhawks were 19-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play, while every other team had at least two league losses.

Now the landscape has changed.

Four days after losing to Oklahoma State in Lawrence, KU suffered one of the biggest upsets in recent college basketball memory -- and easily the biggest in school history -- when it fell to last-place TCU on Wednesday in Fort Worth. Just like that, the race for the Big 12 title is wide-open, with six teams in the mix for the trophy.

Here are this week's power rankings. And remember, these rankings are based on how teams are playing at the moment. Kansas, for instance, touts the best record in the league at 19-3. But the Jayhawks have been terrible lately, which is why they're at No. 4.

1. Kansas State. The Wildcats have done a good job of winning the games they are supposed to win, but we'll find out what this team is truly made of in the next three days. K-State hosts a red-hot Iowa State team on Saturday before traveling to Lawrence to face Kansas on Monday. The Cyclones and Jayhawks handed K-State its only two Big 12 losses this season, so Bruce Weber's players should be foaming at the mouth for these two games. If the Wildcats come out in attack mode, they can win both of them -- and perhaps even a Big 12 title.

2. Oklahoma State. What a stretch this has been for the Cowboys. On Jan. 30 they beat Iowa State on a Marcus Smart layup with three seconds remaining. Three days later OSU became just the second team in 104 games to defeat Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, and then on Wednesday it toppled Baylor in overtime. The schedule sets up nicely for Travis Ford's team the rest of the way.

3. Iowa State. In Monday's win over Oklahoma, six Cyclones made 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes of the game. That's how potent this Iowa State offense can be. The problem with Iowa State is that it hasn't been able to win on the road. Fred Hoiberg's squad is 1-3 in league games away from Hilton Coliseum, although it's worth pointing out that ISU played well in losses at Kansas (97-89 in overtime) and Oklahoma State (78-76). Three of the Cyclones' next four games are on the road starting with Saturday's tilt at K-State.

4. Kansas. To put Wednesday's loss to TCU into perspective ... Jerry Palm, who crunches basketball numbers for cbssports.com, said TCU's victory marked the biggest upset in RPI difference in the 20 years he's been tracking numbers. Kansas entered the game No. 7 in RPI, TCU No. 237. KU's field goal percentage (29.5) was its worst in the Bill Self era, and so was its first-half point total (13). The Jayhawks hadn't lost consecutive games since 2006. And they haven't lost three straight since 2005. Kansas plays at Oklahoma on Saturday.

5. Oklahoma. The Sooners have lost four of their past six games, but they'll be catching Kansas at the perfect time this weekend. Oklahoma needs to get more out of Romero Osby, who is averaging 13.8 points on the season but only 10.5 points in his past four games. It will be interesting to see what kind of crowd shows up at the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday. A sold-out arena would certainly help OU's chances.

6. Baylor. The Bears have lost three straight games by an average of 4.3 points. They are 2-7 in games decided by single digits, mainly because they make horrible decisions and shoot ill-advised, forced shots at the end of close games. And often it's the wrong player taking those shots. Baylor's next two games (against Texas Tech and West Virginia) are at home. Isaiah Austin is averaging 14 rebounds in his past three games.

7. West Virginia. The Mountaineers have won two in a row -- and there's a significant chance they could stretch that streak to four. Bob Huggins' squad plays at TCU on Saturday and then returns to the Lone Star State on Wednesday to face struggling Baylor. As a team West Virginia shoots just 40.3 percent from the field, a mark that ranks 303rd in the country.

8. Texas. The Longhorns host a hot Oklahoma State team on Saturday before welcoming back suspended point guard Myck Kabongo for Wednesday's game against Iowa State in Austin. Beneficial as it will be to get Kabongo back on the court, it may not make much difference in UT's season. The Longhorns are 10-12 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12. Barring a miracle, they'll miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in Rick Barnes' 14 seasons.

9. Texas Tech. The Red Raiders may be improving, but it's not showing up on the scoreboard. Texas Tech is 2-7 in league play, with the seven losses coming by an average of 19.8 points. Baylor and Oklahoma State each beat Texas Tech by 34 points. Those are the Red Raiders' next two opponents.

10. TCU. The Horned Frogs' victory over Kansas on Wednesday is even more amazing when you consider that they shot 39.1 percent from the field, shot 30.8 percent from 3-point range and lost the offensive-rebound battle 17-6. TCU also missed 16 free throws but still won 62-55.

SEC
6. Texas A&M. There’s good Texas A&M and bad Texas A&M. Bad Texas A&M is ranked 110th in adjusted offensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy. But the Aggies’ grit has helped them overcome those problems in multiple games this season. They held a double-digit lead over Missouri in the last six minutes of Thursday’s win. They squandered that advantage but made big plays down the stretch. (Fabyon Harris hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.) That was good Texas A&M. The Aggies have wins over Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas.

Thank goodness for Kansas, Texas Tech and TCU. The decision to rank the Jayhawks, Red Raiders and Horned Frogs Nos. 1, 9 and 10, respectively, is the only thing that's easy about the weekly Big 12 power rankings. The league continues to be as unpredictable as it has been in years. But that also makes it more interesting. Here is the latest attempt to rank the conference.

1. Kansas. While KU's defense has been outstanding, its offense continues to sputter. The Jayhawks are averaging 62 points in their past six games, and three of their past four wins have come by five points or less. Kansas' guard play has been sloppy at times.

2. Kansas State. The Wildcats' 83-57 thrashing of Texas Wednesday is even more impressive considering the minimal contributions made by Rodney McGruder and Will Spradling, who combined for 12 points. KSU plays at Oklahoma -- a team it defeated 69-60 last month -- on Saturday.

3. Oklahoma. The Sooners pulled off one of the more impressive Big 12 wins of the season thus far by defeating Baylor 74-71 in Waco Wednesday. Amath M'Baye and Steven Pledger each scored 20 points for a team that shot 52.7 percent. OU's only two Big 12 losses are against Kansas and K-State, both on the road.

4. Baylor. The Bears were lifeless in the first half of Wednesday's 74-71 home loss to Oklahoma. They deserve credit for fighting back from a 16-point deficit, but it should've never gotten to that point. Isaiah Austin was a bright spot with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Baylor now has back-to-back road games at Iowa State and Oklahoma State. Uh-oh.

5. Oklahoma State. Marcus Smart's layup with 3 seconds remaining propelled the Cowboys to a 78-76 win over Iowa State Wednesday. Oklahoma State hopes to capitalize on that momentum in Saturday's game at Kansas, where the Jayhawks have won 102 of their past 103 games at Allen Fieldhouse.

6. Iowa State. I never thought I'd rank the Cyclones this low, but their inconsistency has been maddening. How do you go from coming within 1 second of beating KU in Lawrence to losing at Texas Tech? Five days after beating K-State at home, Iowa State lost at Oklahoma State. Fred Hoiberg's squad won't get an NCAA tournament bid if it can't win a few road games.

7. West Virginia. Bob Huggins' squad has lost four of its past five games, with the only win in that stretch coming against TCU. Huggins and talented transfer Aaric Murray can't seem to get on the same page. Games against Texas Tech, TCU and Texas are up next, so the potential for a three-game winning streak exists.

8. Texas. The Longhorns looked like the Big 12's worst team in Wednesday's 83-57 loss at Kansas State. Point guard Myck Kabongo becomes eligible in three games, but it may not matter. Sheldon McClellan averages a team-high 14.8 points.

9. Texas Tech. Three of the Red Raiders' next four games are at home, and Saturday's tilt with West Virginia at United Spirit Arena looks like their best chance at a win during that stretch. Jaye Crockett averages team-highs in points (12.7) and rebounds (7.7).

10. TCU. The Horned Frogs' past two losses (to Baylor and West Virginia) have come by an average of 23.5 points. TCU plays at Texas Saturday before hosting Kansas on Wednesday. That one could get ugly. Arkansas transfer Devonta Abron is averaging only 6.6 points.

Saddle Up is our semi-daily preview of the night's (or, in this case, day's) best basketball action. "Tell them about the dream, Martin."

Oklahoma State at Baylor, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN: What if I told you that the final score of Baylor's last home game was -- wait for it -- 107-38? And that they set a school winning margin record in doing so? You would probably be really impressed, right? Don't be. The Bears racked up that tally against Hardin-Simmons, which is not a Division I opponent. I suppose if you insist on being impressed by that win, you could point to the fact that Baylor was able to destroy poor law firm-rec league-sounding Hardin-Simmons without Pierre Jackson and Isaiah Austin, whom coach Scott Drew elected to rest on Saturday. Your mileage may vary.

Anyway, if there is anything to take away from that game (beyond the fact that non-D1 opponents like Hardin-Simmons are exempt from RPI calculations, which is why it is savvy to schedule one or two a season and get a guaranteed tune-up game without the requisite RPI hit) it is that both Jackson and Austin don't have to fight the fatigue of a two-day turnaround when Oklahoma State comes to town this afternoon.

That is good news, because the Bears will need both. The Cowboys have built their 2012-13 renewal on one of the nation's five-best defensive efforts this season. Freshman point guard Marcus Smart's much-lauded intangibles don't always show up in the box score, but where they do show up is on the defensive end, where Smart ranks in the top 15 in the country in steals rate and blocks 3.3 shots for every 100 possessions. He is a difficult guard to play against, because his combination of size and quickness makes him uniquely immovable when he is planted in front of an opposing guard. That lockdown work on the perimeter, combined with Oklahoma State's impressive basket protection inside the arc (OSU opponents make just 40.1 percent of their twos), have fueled this season's impressive revival.

It's also precisely why Jackson and Austin need to be well rested and ready to go. Jackson might be the quickest guard in the country and serves not only as Baylor's primary scorer but its top assist man; everything runs through him. And Austin, the talented 7-footer with real guard skills, has had a good but not great freshman season. To hold on to a win in Waco, Jackson may need to dominate, and Austin will definitely need to be a presence in the paint. So, yes. It's good they sat out against Hardin-Simmons. (It was probably good for Hardin-Simmons, too.)

Kansas State has moved up a spot in this week's Big 12 power rankings -- and the Wildcats could be even higher by this time next week if they capitalize on two huge opportunities in the coming days. K-State's next two games are against Oklahoma and Kansas -- both at home. The Sooners and Jayhawks are the only schools in the Big 12 besides K-State that have yet to lose a league game. Should be a fun week. Here are the latest rankings.

1. Kansas. The Jayhawks' offense has sputtered a bit lately, but defensively Bill Self's squad has been stout. The Jayhawks held Baylor to 44 points on 23.2 percent shooting Monday. Leading scorer Ben McLemore injured his ankle but is expected to play against Texas on Saturday in Austin.

2. Iowa State. After nearly upsetting KU in Lawrence nine days ago, Iowa State has defeated Texas by 20 points and staved off a late rally by West Virginia. The Cyclones' next two games are road tilts against the league's worst two teams: TCU and Texas Tech.

3. Kansas State. No other player in the Big 12 has been as good as Rodney McGruder since the beginning of conference play. The senior is averaging 22 points per game against Big 12 opponents and is shooting 54 percent from the field. Center Jordan Henriquez has given his team a nice boost off the bench in recent weeks.

4. Baylor. The Bears can't be as bad as they looked against Kansas on Monday, can they? Baylor is in for a long Big 12 season if it doesn't show more discipline and start taking better shots. Baylor plays a nonconference game against Hardin-Simmons on Saturday before hosting Oklahoma State in a crucial contest Monday night.

5. Oklahoma. The Sooners hit the jackpot by hiring Lon Kruger. Oklahoma is one of the league's three remaining undefeated teams along with Kansas and K-State. Romero Osby leads the team in points (13.7) and rebounds (6.3). Saturday's game at K-State is huge for both teams. Four of OU's next six games are on the road.

6. Oklahoma State. By the time they take the court for Saturday's game against Texas Tech, the Cowboys will have had a week to think about last weekend's 77-68 loss to rival Oklahoma in Norman. Marcus Smart has shown great leadership, but he's shooting just 41.3 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from 3-point range.

7. West Virginia. The Mountaineers haven't lived up to their expectations, but they certainly appear to be getting better, especially in the toughness department. Bob Huggins' squad erased an 18-point second-half deficit against Iowa State but lost when Cyclones forward Georges Niang hit a layup with 2.5 seconds remaining. WVU is a threat to beat anyone in the conference.

8. Texas. The Longhorns have lost four of their past five games, including two in overtime. With Kansas visiting this weekend, things probably won't get better soon. Sheldon McClellan played just one minute in last weekend's 20-point loss to Iowa State as coach Rick Barnes, displeased with McClellan's effort, sent the team's leading scorer a message.

9. Texas Tech. Chris Walker's squad has lost its past three Big 12 games by an average of 22 points. Jaye Crockett leads the team in points (13.8) and rebounds (8.3). Texas Tech's next two games (at Oklahoma State on Saturday and at home against Iowa State on Wednesday) will be tough. But a Jan. 26 tilt at Texas could be interesting.

10. TCU. The Horned Frogs led Baylor at halftime Saturday before losing 51-40. Trent Johnson's squad simply doesn't have the personnel to compete with major college schools. No one would be surprised if TCU finished 0-18 in league play.

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- A few quick thoughts from Kansas' 61-44 victory over Baylor on Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Overview: After barely escaping Iowa State and then playing poorly in a win at Texas Tech last week, Kansas returned to form Monday by embarrassing Baylor in front of 16,300 fans. The Bears looked completely inept against the Jayhawks' menacing defense. Scott Drew's squad trailed 33-20 at intermission after shooting just 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) in the opening half.

Kansas blocked 13 shots (including 10 in the first half) and led by as many as 19 points in the second half. It certainly wasn't one of the Jayhawks' better offensive games, but it didn't need to be. KU's defense was relentless from start to finish, rarely allowing the Bears -- usually a good 3-point shooting team -- a good look at the basket. Instead, Baylor's guards were forced to drive into the paint and force wild shots and passes (which were usually either blocked or stolen).

Bill Self's squad scored 11 points off Baylor's 14 turnovers. The Jayhawks also out-hustled the Bears inside, outscoring them 38-14 in the paint and 13-8 on second-chance points.

Kansas improved to 15-1 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play. Baylor fell to 11-5 and 3-1.

Key player: Along with his 17 points, Ben McLemore grabbed eight rebounds, made three steals and blocked two shots for Kansas. McLemore left the game with what appeared to be an ankle sprain with 2:44 remaining.

Kevin Young scored only four points, but he was incredibly active in the paint with seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

Isaiah Austin had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Baylor while Pierre Jackson added 10 points and four assists. Jackson entered the game averaging 19.2 points. Ricardo Gathers played the toughest out of all the Bears with 13 rebounds (including five offensive) off the bench.

Key stat: The victory was the 101st for Kansas in its past 102 games at Allen Fieldhouse. KU has lost just once at home since 2007.

Up next: Baylor plays Hardin-Simmons in a nonconference game Saturday in Waco while Kansas travels to Austin to take on Texas, which is 0-3 in Big 12 play.

Kansas is still the heavy favorite to win a ninth consecutive Big 12 title. But its path to the championship may be more difficult than Big 12 fans expected. That was evident Wednesday, when Iowa State nearly upset Bill Self's squad at Allen Fieldhouse. Some late-game heroics by Ben McLemore sparked a furious comeback that resulted in a 97-89 Kansas victory in overtime. Still, the effort by the unranked Cyclones served as a reminder that there are other capable teams in this league besides the Jayhawks. Here's a look at this week's Big 12 power rankings.

1. Kansas. The Jayhawks have won 100 of their past 101 games at Allen Fieldhouse. The only home game they've lost there in the last six-plus years came against Texas in 2011, the morning after forward Thomas Robinson's mother passed away unexpectedly. KU plays at Texas Tech on Saturday before hosting Baylor on Monday. McLemore averages a team-high 16.9 points.

2. Iowa State. It's rare that a team moves up in the polls after a loss, but the poise the Cyclones displayed in Wednesday's setback against KU was remarkable considering the opponent and venue. This team has a lot of nice pieces and will continue to improve as long as Michigan State transfer Korie Lucious plays at a high level. Fred Hoiberg is one of the country's more underrated coaches.

3. Baylor. The Bears opened Big 12 play with an overtime win against Texas and looked scary good in Tuesday's road-thumping of Texas Tech. Baylor won by 34 points but probably could've beaten the Red Raiders by 60. Scott Drew, who returns to the bench this weekend after serving a two-game suspension, has already led his team to a victory at Kentucky's Rupp Arena. Winning against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Monday will be even tougher.

4. Kansas State. Rodney McGruder looked like the best player in the league while scoring 26 points in the second half of Saturday's home victory against then-No. 22 Oklahoma State. Winnable road games against West Virginia (Saturday) and TCU (Wednesday) are up next. Reserve forward Nino Williams is averaging 16.5 points off the bench in his past two games.

5. Oklahoma State. The Cowboys snapped a two-game losing streak with an 18-point home win over TCU on Wednesday. OSU needs to get more production out of wing Le'Bryan Nash. The potential first-round NBA draft pick ranks third on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game. But he's shooting just 42.8 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from 3-point range.

6. Oklahoma. The Sooners are the Big 12's most improved team. Lon Kruger's squad opened conference play with a road victory at West Virginia. Sure, the Mountaineers are struggling. But winning in Morgantown isn't easy no matter what. A victory in Saturday's Bedlam game against Oklahoma State in Norman would give the Sooners a huge jolt of momentum and generate legitimate NCAA tournament buzz.

7. West Virginia. Bob Huggins' squad showed a ton of resolve by battling back from a double-digit deficit to force overtime against Texas in Austin on Wednesday. WVU went on to win 57-53 for its first league victory as a member of the Big 12. As poorly as things have gone for the Mountaineers thus far, a home win over K-State on Saturday could alter the course of their season. Huggins spent a year as KSU's head coach before taking over at WVU in 2007.

8. Texas. After two consecutive overtime losses to open Big 12 play, it's tough to envision the Longhorns (8-7, 0-2) extending their streak of 14 straight NCAA tournament berths. Heck, at this point, they might not even make the NIT. Texas' next three games are: on the road against Iowa State, at home against Kansas and on the road against Oklahoma. The Longhorns will be underdogs in each.

9. Texas Tech. Longtime followers of the Big 12 have opined that TCU might be the worst team in the history of the conference -- and that Texas Tech might be the second-worst. The Red Raiders weren't even close to being competitive in Tuesday's 34-point loss to Baylor. Whoever takes over this program in the spring will have a massive rebuilding job on his hands.

10. TCU. No one will be surprised if the injury-riddled Horned Frogs finish 0-18 in Big 12 play. Their best chance for a victory game in last week's league opener against Texas Tech, but TCU lost at home by nine points. Saturday's road tilt at Baylor will be followed by back-to-back home games against Kansas State and Iowa State.