BIG 12 OVERRATED?: Houston SOARS Up Rankings as Arizona, Big 12 Make TOP DOG Case

Big 12 basketball dominates the KenPom preseason rankings with five teams in the top 12, but is the conference overrated? Analysts spotlight Arizona Wildcats and Houston Cougars as clear frontrunners, raising questions about the impact of returning players, transfer portal dynamics, and key losses like Jayden Bradley, Braden Burries, and Kingston Flemings. Intriguing gaps between Texas Tech, Kansas, and the mid-tier teams spark debate over Big 12 depth and whether the SEC’s consistency could surpass its Big 12 rival this season. Leif Thulein and Parker Ainsworth break down team-by-team prospects, including the coaching brilliance of Grant McCasland at Texas Tech, Houston’s gritty preseason secret scrimmage against Ole Miss, and Arizona’s gauntlet non-conference schedule featuring matchups with UCLA, Auburn, and Connecticut. Will eligibility waivers make or break programs like Kansas and BYU? Can freshmen phenoms Caleb Holt and DJ Thomas lead their squads to a Big 12 crown? Don’t miss this comprehensive look at the conference shake-up. 00:00 Big 12 in KenPom Rankings Discussion of KenPom's bullishness on Big 12 teams, returning production analysis, and preseason conference expectations. 06:58 Conference Depth & SEC Comparison Examination of tier gaps in Big 12 rankings, impact on rebuilding programs, and comparing depth and strength with the SEC. 13:20 Secret Scrimmages & Non-Conference Prep Insights on preseason secret scrimmages, physicality of Houston, and Arizona and Houston's non-conference scheduling philosophies. 22:29 Big 12 Team Tiers & Predictions Debate on Texas Tech, top teams' strengths, eligibility concerns, and conference power ranking predictions. Become an everydayer! Subscribe to the Everydayer or All-Access tier of Locked On Coogs for even MORE Coogs! https://lockedoncoogs.supercast.com/ Be sure to follow and subscribe to Locked On Coogs to hear the latest on all things Houston Cougars, wherever you get your podcasts! Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3t6eecjs Apple: https://tinyurl.com/ycx4w8wx Audacy:https://tinyurl.com/yc682r3e Stitcher: https://tinyurl.com/4z9wyark Google:https://tinyurl.com/2b3up9e4 Castbox:https://tinyurl.com/nhbtjbpa Podbean: https://tinyurl.com/3yh4ckcr Megaphone:https://tinyurl.com/3e7mb9wd For Fans, and Haters who came to stop by: https://www.bonfire.com/store/fans-an... Follow Locked On Coogs on Twitter Parker Ainsworth:https://tinyurl.com/mvtu527v