2024-25 Big 12 Men's Basketball Season Recap

A Grades

BYU Cougars

• Grade: A
• Highlights: BYU exceeded expectations with a Sweet 16 appearance, led by Richie Saunders and freshman Egor Demin. Their eight-game winning streak and top-ranked offense were key to their success.

Houston Cougars

• Grade: A
• Highlights: Kelvin Sampson's leadership propelled Houston to a 35-5 record and a Final Four victory over Duke. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the championship game, the Cougars had a stellar season.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

• Grade: A
• Highlights: Texas Tech finished second in the Big 12 and reached the Elite Eight. Grant McCasland's team was a legitimate title contender, with JT Toppin earning All-American honors.

West Virginia Mountaineers

• Grade: A
• Highlights: Despite injuries, West Virginia had a strong season under Darian DeVries. Javon Small led the team to significant victories, making them a notable snub on Selection Sunday.

B Grades

Arizona Wildcats

• Grade: B
• Highlights: Caleb Love's return boosted Arizona, leading them to the Sweet 16. Despite some inconsistencies, the Wildcats had a solid first year in the Big 12.

Iowa State Cyclones

• Grade: B
• Highlights: T.J. Otzelberger's player development shone through, with Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic making significant contributions. However, the Cyclones fell short of their postseason potential.

C Grades

Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Grade: C
• Highlights: Steve Lutz's first season saw improvement, with a run to the NIT quarterfinals. The Cowboys exceeded preseason expectations, finishing in the top 40 in defensive turnover percentage.

TCU Horned Frogs

• Grade: C
• Highlights: TCU had a challenging season, finishing tied for ninth in the Big 12. Injuries and offensive struggles hampered their performance.

UCF Knights

• Grade: C
• Highlights: Despite a strong start, UCF's defense couldn't sustain their early success. Mikey Williams' limited impact was a disappointment.

D Grades

Arizona State Sun Devils

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Arizona State's season was marred by injuries and dismissals, finishing 15th in the Big 12. Bobby Hurley's 10th campaign was a significant letdown.

Baylor Bears

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Despite high expectations, Baylor struggled to find momentum. Scott Drew's team finished seventh in the Big 12 and had an early exit in the NCAA tournament.

Cincinnati Bearcats

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Cincinnati's season was underwhelming, with poor shooting and a continued NCAA tournament drought. Wes Miller's team won just seven Big 12 games.

Kansas Jayhawks

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Kansas had a disappointing season, failing to meet high expectations. Bill Self's team had the worst campaign of his tenure, ending with a first-round NCAA tournament loss.

Kansas State Wildcats

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Kansas State's high NIL investments didn't translate to success. Jerome Tang's team had a sub-.500 season, missing the mark on expectations.

Utah Utes

• Grade: D
• Highlights: Utah's season ended with Craig Smith's firing. Despite some notable wins, the Utes failed to make the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

F Grade

Colorado Buffaloes

• Grade: F
• Highlights: Colorado had a disastrous season, finishing last in the Big 12. An 0-13 start to conference play set the tone for a year to forget.