We all knew that Kansas and Oklahoma State were going to be favorites and some of the top teams in the country this year, but all of the other Big 12 teams showed surprises this year.

Top tier contender Baylor was projected to be a contender to win the Big 12 this year in college basketball, but they have started off the conference season with a 1-6 record, with losses to Texas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.

Teams such as Kansas State, Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa State have surprised a large amount of people. All four teams have been ranked at some point this year. They are also ranked in the top six of the conference, along with Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Iowa State started the season 14-0, with wins over Baylor, Michigan and Iowa. Ever since then, they have lost four of their last five games, and are 3-4 in conference play. Their top two leading scorers, Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane, combine for 34 points of their offense, and Dustin Hogue is averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds a game. They have four people averaging in double figure points.

Kansas State and Texas have shocked many people after both started off the year struggling. Texas is tied for 2nd in the conference (16-4, 5-2 in conference), and Kansas State is tied for 4th in the conference (15-6, 5-3). Texas defeated Kansas State in Austin, TX, earlier this year on a buzzer beating three pointer.

Oklahoma might be the biggest shocker of all, tied for 2nd in the conference with Texas (17-4, 6-2). They have beat Texas, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State in conference play. They have five players scoring double figures, with both Cameron Clark and Buddy Hield combining for about 33 points a game.

About halfway through the conference season, the top Big 12 Player of the Year candidates are both Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins from Kansas, Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart, Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane, and possibly Oklahoma’s Cameron Clark. Here is a list comparing their individual statistics (through 1/30).

PLAYER                                Points/Gm          Reb/Gm          Ast/Gm             FG%

• Cameron Clark, F, Oklahoma          16.5                  5.8                        1.3                       45.8
• Joel Embiid, C, Kansas                       11.4                  7.6                      1.4                       65.9
• DeAndre Kane, G, Iowa State          16.6                   6.8                     5.6                     49.8
• Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma St.     17.3                   5.7                      4.4                      43.0
• Andrew Wiggins, G, Kansas             16.5                    6.1                      1.5                     46.2

Click here link to the current Big 12 standings.

Here are some SMWest  predictions on who they think will finish in the top three in the conference standings.

• Ross Siegle: 1) Kansas, 2) Oklahoma State, 3) Oklahoma
• Michael McCosh: 1) Kansas, 2) Oklahoma State, 3) Kansas State