Hopefully, things are getting back to normal for UH fans after Beryl blew through on Monday morning. No major issues to report from the team at GoCoogs, save for power being out for a few.
But now, back to basketball! A week ago, before the July 4 holiday and the hurricane, Brad and Jayme began a two-part piece ranking the top six teams in the Big 12.
Today, we complete their July rankings with teams 1-3.
#3
Jayme Hollingsworth (Former D1 basketball staff member & GoCoogs.com Basketball Scouting Editor): I have Iowa State as my third-ranked team in the Big 12. The Cyclones were great last year and have added several nice pieces from the transfer portal to round out their roster.
Brad Towns (Former UH Athlete & GoCoogs.com Editor/Co-host of CATS): I put Baylor at #3. Scott Drew is at the point where his Baylor squad reloads every year. 2024-25 is no different.
Jayme: That’s where Iowa State is at, too. The Cyclones bring back a stacked roster for the 24-25 season, including four key returners, led by the pesky point guard Tamin Lipsey. Lipsey will likely compete for the Big 12 “Defensive Player of the Year” and “Big 12 Player of the Year.”
Running alongside Lipsey in the starting lineup will be returners Keshon Gilbert, Milan Momcilovic, and Curtis Jones. Iowa State will continue to be a tough-nosed, defensive powerhouse under Coach Otzelberger. Their squad can compete for a national championship.
Brad: Baylor returns Langston Love and Jayden Nunn but added the #3 recruit in the country, V.J. Edgecombe, who just went crazy in Olympic qualifying for the Bahamas. They picked up Duke transfer Jeremy Roach and one from Miami, Norchad Omier. Their probable starting 5 will match up with anyone in the country.
#2
Brad: TJ Otzelberger can’t find shirts that fit, but he always puts together a damn good team in Ames. Iowa State is my #2 team in the Big 12. I really like their additions through the portal: Joshua Jefferson (St. Mary’s), Dishon Jackson (Charlotte), and Brandt Chatfield (Seattle) give them a lot of strength and size in the frontcourt.
Jayme: I think Dishon will be in their starting lineup.
Kansas is my team at two. Bill Self will not endure another season like he had in 2024. The Jayhawks had a solid starting lineup last year but struggled with a lack of depth down the stretch. That shouldn’t be an issue this season, as the Jayhawks have built a powerhouse roster for the 2025 season.
Brad: If they were in any other league, we probably both have Kansas at #1. But this Big 12 is the best league in the country.
Jayme: Kansas returns three key starters in Hunter Dickinson, DaJuan Harris Jr., and KJ Adams Jr. They will likely round out the starting lineup with Wisconsin star transfer A.J. Storr and Alabama deep threat Rylan Griffen. This will arguably be the best starting lineup in the nation.
Brad: The SEC has years with four top-5 football teams. This season, the Big 12 could easily have that in basketball. I had the Jayhawks number four, but it would not surprise me if they won the Big 12 or even the national title.
Jayme: Absolutely. The Kansas bench has improved a lot from last year. They added two top-50 recruits in McDonald’s All-American Flory Bidunga and four-star Rakease Passmore. From the portal, Self brought in Shakeel Moore (Mississippi State), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State), and Noah Shelby (Rice/Vanderbilt).
#1
Brad: I’m not much of a homer, but I have Houston as my #1 team. To be the man, you have to beat the man. And right now, UH is the Big 12 regular season champion. It also helps that UH returns four starters and 80% of the scoring production.
Jayme: And the Coogs are my top team as well. The Big 12 has so many elite teams that could win the conference in 2025, but I like the team that returns the most experience and has the most depth (1-14) on their roster.
UH’s 80% returning scoring is the highest percentage in the Big 12.
Brad: Of course, that stat is misleading because Jamal Shead was an all-time PG for UH. But I feel justified in putting UH #1 because of the starting lineup, and this will be the deepest team Kelvin Sampson has had in his 11 years.
Jayme: Yeah, this is his deepest team. The Coogs return Terrence Arceneaux, Jojo Tugler, Ramon Walker Jr., Mylik Wilson, and Cedric Lath from the 2024 Big 12 Championship season (and redshirts Kordelius Jefferson and Jacob McFarland).
Brad: I think we agree that this starting lineup can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league. Four returning starters – LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, J’Wan Roberts, and Ja’Vier Francis, along with the addition of Oklahoma star point guard Milos “Los” Uzan – and then four guys off the bench that could start in this conference.
Jayme: UH also added freshmen Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty, who are both capable of helping immediately. It’s crazy, but the Coogs have zero weaknesses entering the 2025 season. The depth, experience, toughness, and culture will keep this program at the top.
Jayme:
1. Houston
2. Kansas
3. Iowa State
4. Baylor
5. Kansas State
6. Cincinnati
Brad:
1. Houston
2. Iowa State
3. Baylor
4. Kansas
5. Arizona
6. Cincinnati