As the college basketball season approaches, Big 12 coaches are making a bold claim: their conference reigns supreme over all others in the nation. During the league’s media day in Kansas City, Missouri, the coaches unanimously declared the Big 12’s superiority a fact, not merely an opinion.
Big 12 Boasts Impressive Rankings and Tournament Success
The coaches’ confidence is backed by impressive numbers. The Big 12 has five teams ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press preseason poll, including No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 8 Baylor, and No. 10 Arizona. This concentration of elite teams at the top of the rankings is unmatched by any other conference.
Moreover, the Big 12 has consistently performed well in the NCAA tournament. Two of the last four national champions hail from the Big 12: Baylor in 2021 and Kansas in 2022. This recent success on the biggest stage further solidifies the league’s claim to superiority.
Coaches Cite Unparalleled Competitiveness
Beyond the rankings and tournament achievements, Big 12 coaches emphasize the unparalleled competitiveness within the league. Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller asserted, “Every league is really hard. I think when people, like myself, stand up here and say we have the best league, it’s not a slight towards anybody else’s league or disrespect. It’s a fact. I don’t think it’s an opinion. Just look at the numbers. Seriously, look at the numbers.”
“It’s not close. It’s not debatable. I guess people can debate what they want to. But the results show it. There have been three schools in the last four years to win a national championship and two of them are from the Big 12. It has the best players, best coaches, best environments and kids want to be a part of that.”
– Jerome Tang, Kansas State head coach
Big 12 Tops KenPom Conference Ratings
The Big 12’s dominance is further supported by advanced metrics. According to KenPom’s rankings, the Big 12 had 13 teams finish in the top 75 during the 2023-24 season. The conference has also topped KenPom’s conference ratings for three straight years and nine of the past 11 seasons overall.
Expanded Conference Presents New Challenges
The Big 12’s expansion, with the addition of Arizona and three other schools, has only strengthened the league’s depth and competitiveness. Kansas head coach Bill Self noted, “A lot of leagues are top heavy, but they’re also bottom heavy. This league has no bottom. No matter where you go, winning on the road or not winning on the road will not be considered an upset in coaches’ minds.”
The grueling 20-game conference schedule will test even the most talented teams. Self acknowledged that the challenging nature of the league could lead to more perceived “off days” for teams, but he emphasized that those won’t truly be off days – “You just got beat.”
Proving Supremacy in the NCAA Tournament
While the Big 12 coaches are confident in their league’s superiority, they recognize that the ultimate proof will come in the NCAA tournament. Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson, while acknowledging the Big 12’s strength, stressed the importance of focusing on coaching his own team rather than getting caught up in comparisons.
“If you don’t think little things will kill you, get locked up in a tent with a mosquito and you think about the damage that thing can do to you. The Big 12 is an elephant. Ain’t nothing you can do about those things now. What I focus on is I focus on coaching my team.”
– Kelvin Sampson, Houston head coach
As the 2024-25 season unfolds, the Big 12 will have the opportunity to back up their bold claims on the court. With a deep roster of elite teams and a history of success, the league is poised to once again assert its dominance in the world of men’s college basketball.
