Kansas Basketball Remains in Big 12 Title Race Despite Loss to Iowa State

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Despite dropping their third conference game of the season at Iowa State, Kansas basketball remains in contention for a share of the Big 12 regular season title. The Jayhawks are currently tied for third place in the standings, two games behind league-leading Houston. With several key matchups remaining, including a showdown with the first-place Cougars, Kansas still has a path to claim its first conference crown since 2023.

Why it matters

Kansas is one of the traditional powerhouses of college basketball, and the Big 12 regular season title is a highly coveted prize. The Jayhawks' ability to bounce back from their slow start in conference play and remain in the hunt for the championship has major implications for their postseason aspirations and legacy as a program.

The details

After opening Big 12 play with a 1-2 record, Kansas responded by winning eight straight games to surge up the standings. However, their loss to Iowa State on February 14th caused them to slip into a three-way tie for third place with the Cyclones and Texas Tech, each with a 9-3 conference record. Houston currently leads the Big 12 at 11-1, with Arizona in second at 10-2. The Jayhawks' path to the title will require them to defeat the first-place Cougars when the teams meet next week, as well as navigating a difficult remaining schedule that includes a road matchup against top-ranked Arizona.

• Kansas opened Big 12 play with a 1-2 record.
• The Jayhawks then won eight straight conference games.
• Kansas lost to Iowa State on February 14th.
• Kansas will face Houston next week.
• Kansas will play at Arizona one Saturday from now.

What’s next

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