Big 12 baseball power rankings: Arizona climbs after series win at WVU

Holdover Big 12 contender met new Big 12 challenger last weekend in Morgantown, West Virginia. The party crashers prevailed with Arizona taking two out of three from West Virginia and moving into a tie for first place in the conference baseball standings.

Last year's Pac-12 regular-season and tournament champions stumbled out of the gate wearing the new Big 12 patch on their sleeves, but have won 18 of 20 since. They're No. 20 in this week's USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.

With Arizona claiming head-to-head on WVU's home field and recent top dog Oklahoma State having a rough go of it lately, we're moved to bump the Wildcats to the top of the Big 12 power rankings.

Records and stats shown are through Sunday's games.

1. Arizona (18-5, 5-1 in the Big 12)

Last week: 3

What to know: Mind-blowing stat of the year candidate: In a 16-inning victory at West Virginia, Arizona pitchers racked up a school-record 29 strikeouts, no single pitcher with more than seven.

2. West Virginia (19-3, 2-2)

Last week: 1

What to know: Speaking of 29 strikeouts, double time in the cage this week for the Mountaineers.

3. Arizona State (16-8, 4-2)

Last week: 5

What to know: Can't touch this line from Friday night starter Ben Jacobs' in Sun Devils' 9-2 win over Kansas: 4 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts.

4. Kansas State (15-8, 5-1)

Last week: 7

What to know: What about us for No. 1 in the power rankings, the Wildcats ask? We're liking what we see, but will wait for K-State to put away more formidable fare than Utah and Baylor.

5. Oklahoma State (11-10, 1-3)

Last week: 2

What to know: Duly noted that OSU fared better than Arizona against five tough common opponents early, but the Cowboys have been much worse since.

6. Central Florida (17-6, 3-3)

Last week: 4

What to know: On a weekend UCF honored its great teams of the past, the Knights struck a sour note by losing the series to Houston.

7. TCU (17-7, 3-3)

Last week: 8

What to know: Frogs could be team for now and the future with five sophomores and three freshmen starting. If they can hold on to them, look out.

8. Kansas (18-6, 3-3)

Last week: 6

What to know: If Jayhawks are going places, Big 12 preseason pitcher of the year Dominic Voegele has to get that ERA under 6.00.

9. Texas Tech (7-13, 4-2)

Last week: 10

What to know: Red Raiders' 4-2 conference record doesn't feel so great after the series finale against TCU, when they blew a three-run lead and lost in 11 innings.

10. Utah (13-9, 2-4)

Last week: 11

What to know: What a start to the home schedule, outscoring Oklahoma State 27-8 and winning the series.

11. Brigham Young (13-9, 3-3)

Last week: 12

What to know: Returning first baseman Cooper Vest is having a breakout season, among the Big 12's top three in slugging (.758), home runs (9) and RBI (30).

12. Baylor (16-7, 2-4)

Last week: 13

What to know: Gabe Craig, a 6-foot-5 senior righthander, is second in the Big 12 with four saves and unscored upon in 15 of 16 appearances dating to last season.

13. Houston (13-10, 2-4)

Last week: 14

What to know: Cougars snapped a string of 10 consecutive Big 12 series losses by taking two of three at UCF.

14. Cincinnati (12-11, 1-5)

Last week: 9

What to know: Bearcats are averaging three runs per game in their first two conference series.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 baseball power rankings: Arizona climbs after series win at WVU

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Big 12 baseball power rankings: Arizona climbs after series win at WVU

1. Arizona (18-5, 5-1 in the Big 12)

2. West Virginia (19-3, 2-2)

3. Arizona State (16-8, 4-2)

4. Kansas State (15-8, 5-1)

5. Oklahoma State (11-10, 1-3)

6. Central Florida (17-6, 3-3)

7. TCU (17-7, 3-3)

8. Kansas (18-6, 3-3)

9. Texas Tech (7-13, 4-2)

10. Utah (13-9, 2-4)

11. Brigham Young (13-9, 3-3)

12. Baylor (16-7, 2-4)

13. Houston (13-10, 2-4)

14. Cincinnati (12-11, 1-5)

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