Big 12 basketball is basically a nightly car crash where everyone walks away with a smile and a bruised ego. Honestly, if you're trying to keep up with Big 12 basketball scores without a spreadsheet and a strong cup of coffee, you're braver than most. This week alone felt like a decade of hoops history packed into a few nights.
The big story? Kansas.
Just when everyone was ready to write off Bill Self’s squad after they tumbled out of the AP Top 25, they went and reminded everyone why Allen Fieldhouse is where top-ranked dreams go to die. On Tuesday, they dismantled a previously undefeated, No. 2 ranked Iowa State team 84-63. Then, they followed it up on Friday night by burying Baylor 80-62.
The Kansas Resurgence and Those Allen Fieldhouse Vibes
If you looked at the Big 12 basketball scores from earlier this month, you probably saw Kansas losing to UCF and West Virginia and thought, "Man, the Jayhawks are cooked."
You’d be wrong.
Friday night against Baylor was a masterclass in response. Freshman Darryn Peterson is looking like a human cheat code. He dropped 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting. That’s not a basketball stat; that’s a video game stat. Beside him, Flory Bidunga was basically a vacuum cleaner in the paint, pulling down 11 rebounds and swatting five shots.
Baylor actually took a brief lead at 37-36 late in the first half after an 8-0 run. For a second, it felt like the Bears might pull off the upset. But then Kansas closed the half on a 7-0 run and never looked back.
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The most surreal part of that Friday game? It was the first time since December 1966 that these two blue bloods met while both were unranked.
Recent Big 12 Results (The Chaos Report)
- Kansas 80, Baylor 62: Peterson and Bidunga dominated. Cameron Carr tried to keep Baylor in it with 24 points, but the Bears' offense went ice cold to start the second half (1-for-6).
- Arizona 89, Arizona State 82: The Wildcats stayed undefeated (17-0) on Wednesday night. Koa Peat is a problem. He had 24 points and 10 boards.
- Kansas 84, Iowa State 63: This was the Tuesday shocker. Tre White hit four early threes and the Jayhawks handed the No. 2 Cyclones their first loss of the season.
- Houston 62, Arizona 58: A defensive slugfest from earlier that showed Houston still has the grittiest identity in the league.
Why the Standings are a Total Lie Right Now
Don't get too attached to the current conference table.
Arizona, BYU, and Houston are sitting at 4-0 in league play, but the gap between the top and the "bottom" in this conference is thinner than a piece of court tape. Take West Virginia, for example. They beat Kansas earlier this month. They’re sitting in the middle of the pack, yet they’ve shown they can take down anyone.
The Big 12 is currently the only conference with three teams still hunting for a perfect season deep into January. Arizona is 17-0, and while they aren't in the Big 12, Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) are the only others left in that club.
Iowa State was right there until they ran into the Lawrence buzzsaw.
The Freshman Impact Nobody Talked About in October
We knew Darryn Peterson was going to be good. We didn't know he'd be "dropping 20+ points six times before February" good.
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But it's not just the blue-chip names. AJ Dybantsa at BYU is living up to every bit of the hype, keeping the Cougars in the Top 10 all season. At Baylor, Tounde Yessoufou is playing nearly 40 minutes a night because Scott Drew literally cannot afford to take him off the floor. He had 20 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Kansas.
The depth of talent is why Big 12 basketball scores are so high this year. The conference average for points per game is significantly higher than it was three years ago. Arizona is leading the way, averaging 91 points per game.
What’s Actually Happening with the Rankings
Mike DeCourcy’s latest bracketology has eight Big 12 teams in the Big Dance.
Honestly, that feels low.
Oklahoma State is currently one of the "last four in," according to FOX Sports. They just lost to Baylor by 15 but beat UCF earlier. It’s a circular firing squad. When you look at the Big 12 basketball scores, you have to look at the "Points in the Paint" and "Turnover Margin." That’s where these games are won.
Kansas had a 42-18 advantage in the paint against Baylor. You aren't winning in this league if you can't protect the rim.
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The Mid-January Power Reality
- Arizona: Still the king until someone actually beats them. Their 89-82 win over ASU showed they can handle a rivalry punch.
- Houston: Their defense is still allowing under 60 points a game. That is terrifying.
- Iowa State: One bad night in Lawrence doesn't erase the fact that they crushed Purdue by 23 earlier this season.
- BYU: They are 16-1 and play with a pace that makes most teams dizzy.
- Kansas: They’re the "Keep Your Eye On" team. If Peterson stays healthy, they're a Final Four threat despite the early January stumbles.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're betting or just following along, stop looking at the AP Poll. It's lagging behind the reality of the court.
Watch the home-court trends. Kansas is 21-1 against Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse. Some venues are just cursed for visitors. Also, keep an eye on the "Bounce Back" factor. In this league, a 20-point loss on Tuesday usually leads to a 10-point win on Saturday. The coaching is too good for teams to stay down for long.
Check the injury reports for Darryn Peterson and any of the Houston guards. Houston’s depth is their only question mark—if they lose one more rotation piece, that suffocating defense might start to show some cracks.
Keep your eyes on the Tuesday/Wednesday mid-week slate. That is where the "trap games" live. Arizona goes to Houston soon, and that might be the game of the year.
Make sure to monitor the live box scores for the "points off turnovers" stat. In 2026, the Big 12 has transitioned into a transition-heavy league. If a team like West Virginia or UCF forces 15+ turnovers, they can beat the No. 1 team in the country. We've already seen it happen.
To stay ahead, track the strength of schedule for the February gauntlet. Teams like Kansas State and Cincinnati are currently at the bottom of the standings (0-4 in conference), but they have the talent to play spoiler for the leaders in the coming weeks. Never assume a win is guaranteed, even if the record looks lopsided.