Kansas basketball moves into the top three in latest AP Poll

In the most recent AP Poll, Kansas basketball moved into the top three overall while Big 12 teams continue to dominate.

Kansas basketball received its highest AP Poll ranking so far this season yesterday. The Jayhawks clocked in at No. 3 overall after moving up from No. 5. An 11-point loss by Iowa to Gonzaga paved the way for Kansas to move up, giving the Big 12 two of the top three teams.

Here are the Big 12 teams that are currently ranked in the poll:

• 2. Baylor
• 3. Kansas
• 7. West Virginia
• 10. Texas
• 15. Texas Tech
• RV. Oklahoma State

The fact that half of the conference is ranked in the top 15 just goes to show how tough winning the Big 12 will be this season for any team. It’s also important to note a special distinction between Kansas and Baylor despite the fact that they’re so close to each other in the rankings.

While Kansas basketball is very good and improving, Baylor is on another level. You can razz the Bears about Scott Drew and losing the conference last year all you want, but they’re an elite team whose mentality should be championship or bust. Kansas will face Baylor on January 19 in Waco, and the Jayhawks will need to have improved drastically between now and then in order to win that game.

That’s looking ahead though. Right now, Kansas is getting ready to take on No. 7 West Virginia in Allen Fieldhouse and the Mountaineers have looked good so far this season. The only blemish on West Virginia’s record is a five-point loss to Gonzaga, so the Mountaineers are definitely for real.

As Kansas delves into the Big 12 season, we are going to see what the Jayhawks are really made of. They’ve gotten better this season, and one can only hope that will continue to happen as the Jayhawks make a push for their second straight Big 12 title.