Kansas University didn’t look like a contender for the Big 12 Conference title when blowing a 17-4 lead to Saint Joseph’s, and it didn’t look like one when struggling to put away Pepperdine.

Yet, judging from the final three minutes of the first half of the Yale game through the Kentucky blowout, it seems as if the only school better equipped heading into Big 12 play is eighth-ranked Texas.

KU opens the Big 12 schedule tonight in Coors Events Center against improved Colorado in front of what is certain to be a split-loyalty crowd.

Here’s a guess as to how attractive the teams will be to the NCAA and NIT selection committees by the time the Big 12 tourney (March 9-12) concludes in Dallas (overall record, RPI, Sagarin computer ranking from USA Today):

1. Texas (13-2, 20 RPI, 2 Sagarin): LaMarcus Aldridge, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center, is projected to go in the top three in the NBA Draft. P.J. Tucker and Daniel Gibson give Longhorns shot at national title to go with football crown.

2. Kansas (9-4, 117, 64): Jayhawks make opponents play ugly, but still have some things to prove. How will such a young team respond to playing in front of hostile crowds? Can they win close games?

3. Oklahoma (9-4, 49, 68): Ever see a player a couple of times and find yourself convinced he is bound for superstardom? That happened to me with two players: Dwyane Wade after seeing him in high school, first live and then on tape, and Terrell Everett after watching him on TV. I’m batting .500. Everett averages 3.9 turnovers per game and is shooting .364 overall, and .256 from three-point land. He must improve all those numbers for Sooners to stay in top 25.

4. Oklahoma State (10-5, 87, 54): As are most young teams, Cowboys have ups (16-point victory over Tennessee) and downs (19-point loss to UAB).

5. Iowa State (11-4, 31, 39): Curtis Stinson, Rashon Clark and Will Blalock give Cyclones three proven scorers, but .450 field-goal percentage defense is last in conference.

6. Colorado (10-2, 70, 16): NBA guard prospect Richard Roby, a sophomore, is surrounded by seniors and juniors, making Buffs a tougher out than in most years.

7. Kansas State (9-3, 42, 55): Will this be the year K-State finally beats KU? Nah, probably not.

8. Texas A&M (11-1, 78, 66): Aggies aren’t annual doormats anymore under Billy Gillispie, a former Bill Self assistant.

9. Missouri (9-4, 123, 110): Thomas Gardner leads the Big 12 in scoring (20.2 ppg), and the Tigers opened conference play with a home sweep over the Oklahoma schools. The Tigers have come a long way since losing their season opener to Sam Houston State, but will they do enough to save Quin Snyder’s job?

10. Nebraska (11-3, 121, 117): Shocked Sooners in Big 12 opener, but they don’t have enough scoring firepower to do much damage.

11. Texas Tech (8-7, 174, 146): Jarrius Jackson plays 37 minutes a game because a tired Jackson is better than a fresh reserve on the depth-challenged Red Raiders.

12. Baylor (0-0): Scott Drew has done a remarkable job recruiting talent under trying circumstances, but such a young team needed the seasoning of a nonconference schedule, and NCAA sanctions denied the Bears that. Guard Aaron Bruce led freshmen in scoring last season with 18.2 ppg.