“Rankings are just a number the media puts on teams,” Baylor guard Al Freeman said. “I feel like the Big 12 is the best conference in basketball. Every team in the Big 12 can beat anyone on any given night. If you don’t come to play, you can take an L that night.”

While the Bears returned the bulk of their lineup from last year’s NCAA tournament team, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber added seven new scholarship players this season.

Several players from last year’s 15-17 Wildcat squad either left the program or were dismissed. One of the most talented departing players was guard Marcus Foster, who transferred to Creighton.

After going 10-2 in nonconference play, the Wildcats are off to a 1-4 start in the Big 12. Their only conference win was an 87-70 decision against Texas Tech on Jan. 12 in Manhattan, but they’ve been highly competitive in most games.

Kansas State opened Big 12 play with an 87-83 double-overtime home loss to West Virginia, followed by a 60-57 road loss to Texas. But Weber has been pleased with how his players have responded to coaching and how hard they’ve played.