Kansas forward Perry Ellis finishes off the net as his teammates and the fieldhouse stand to watch as the Jayhawks celebrate locking up a share of their twelfth-straight Big 12 title following their 67-58 win over the Red Raiders, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Perry Ellis finishes off the net as his teammates and the fieldhouse stand to watch as the Jayhawks celebrate locking up a share of their twelfth-straight Big 12 title following their 67-58 win over the Red Raiders, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse.

The longer the streak extends the more the question gets asked: Which season in the Kansas Jayhawks’ run of consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships was the most difficult or most impressive?

It’s a great debate for those that follow the now 12-time defending kings of the conference. And every year about this time, with the regular season almost over, the man who coached each of those title teams is asked to compare, contrast and find some way to encapsulate the various challenges that come up year after year.

Just last week, KU coach Bill Self said of this season’s competition: “I think there’s more really, really good teams in our league than there ever has been.”

That might turn out to be true. The latest Bracketology projections indicate the Big 12 could easily end up sending seven teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Think about that. No. 1-ranked KU (26-4 overall, 14-3 Big 12) already has won the conference outright and has a 2-game lead in the loss column on second-place West Virginia — in a conference where the best teams play 12 games against tourney-worthy competition. The Mountaineers still have a home game with Texas Tech and a road date with Baylor left to play this week. Let’s say WVU splits those. As long as Kansas defends its home court Saturday against Iowa State, the Jayhawks would win the Big 12 by 3 games.

The 2016 season really might go down as the most impressive in the run, depending on what transpires in the future.

There are plenty of factors that go into such a debate, but for the purposes of this exercise, here is a glance at how Kansas has performed year-by-year during its title streak, with the Jayhawks’ final Big 12 record, a look at the top of the standings, how Kansas performed against the top contender(s) and how many Big 12 teams went dancing.

When you put those factors together, 2010 is pretty remarkable, even if that pre-dated the round robin format now in place.

Immerse yourself in the data and decide for yourself: Which of the Jayhawks’ championship seasons stands out as the best?

— We’ll add the final numbers for 2016 when the season wraps up this weekend.

2005 — KU 12-4 in 12-team league

As Oklahoma State's Joey Graham (14) found out, Kansas University's Wayne Simien (23) could be a force inside. Against the Cowboys on Feb. 27, Simien collected 32 points and 12 rebounds in KU's 81-79 victory.

• Co-champions with Oklahoma

• Lost only regular-season meeting with OU, 71-63, in Norman, Okla.

• Six NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2006 — KU 13-3 in 12-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

(FILE) Kansas guard Brandon Rush reacts with excitement during the first half after a forced turnover on the Tigers.

• Co-champions with Texas

• Lost only regular-season meeting with UT, 80-55, in Austin, Texas

• Four NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2007 — KU 14-2 in 12-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

(FILE) Kansas forward Julian Wright finishes a dunk with a smile during the second half of Saturday's game against the Tigers at Mizzou Arena.

• Finished 1 game ahead of runner-up Texas A&M

• Lost only regular-season meeting with A&M, 69-66, at Allen Fieldhouse

• Four NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2008 — KU 13-3 in 12-team league

(FILE) KU sophomore Mario Chalmers (15) shoots between CU's Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, left, and Richard Roby, right, Saturday, Feb. 2, 200 during the Jayhawks' 72-59 victory in Boulder. Chalmers had eight points in the game.

• Co-champions with Texas

• Lost only regular-season meeting with UT, 72-69, in Austin, Texas

• Six NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2009 — KU 14-2 in 12-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

(FILE) Kansas center Cole Aldrich delivers a thunderous dunk over Kansas State forward Jamar Samuels during the first half Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 at Allen Fieldhouse.

• Finished 1 game ahead of runner-up Oklahoma

• Won only regular-season meeting with OU, 87-78, in Norman, Okla.

• Six NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2010 — KU 15-1 in 12-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sherron Collins kisses the Big 12 championship trophy after the Jayhawks' win over Oklahoma, Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse. In back is Kansas forward Marcus Morris.

• Finished 4 games ahead of second-place teams Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M

• Swept K-State — 81-79 (OT) in Manhattan, 82-65 at Allen Fieldhouse

• Won only regular-season meeting with BU, 81-75, at Allen Fieldhouse

• Won only regular-season meting with A&M, 59-54, in College Station, Texas

• Seven NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2011 — KU 14-2 in 12-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

Marcus (22) and Markieff Morris (21) celebrate a blocked dunk by Marcus against Oklahoma State during the first half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

• Finished 1 game ahead of runner-up Texas

• Lost only regular-season meeting with UT, 74-63, at Allen Fieldhouse

• Five NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2012 — KU 16-2 in 10-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson raises up the fieldhouse during overtime against Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

• Finished 2 games ahead of runner-up Missouri

• Split regular-season meetings with Mizzou — lost, 74-71, in Columbia, Mo.; won, 87-86 (OT), at Allen Fieldhouse

• Six NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2013 — KU 14-4 in 10-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas center Jeff Withey comes in for a jam against Oklahoma Jan. 26 at Allen Fieldhouse. This photo was taken using a remote camera with a wide-angle lens placed behind the glass of the backboard.

• Co-champions with Kansas State

• Swept regular-season meetings with K-State — 59-55 in Manhattan, 83-62 at Allen Fieldhouse

• Five NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2014 — KU 14-4 in 10-team league

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins flashes a wide smile after getting a bucket with seconds left to life the Jayhawks over Texas Tech 64-63 on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. At right is Kansas forward Perry Ellis.

• Finished 2 games ahead of runner-up Oklahoma

• Swept regular-season meetings with OU — 90-83 in Norman, Okla., 83-75 at Allen Fieldhouse

• Seven NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2015 — KU 13-5 in 10-team league

photo by: Mike Yoder

Kansas guard Frank Mason III (0), center, holds the 2015 Big 12 trophy after KU defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 76-69 Tuesday, March 4, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse..

• Finished 1 game ahead of runners-up Iowa State and Oklahoma

• Split regular-season meetings with ISU — lost, 86-81, in Ames, Iowa; won, 89-76, at Allen Fieldhouse

• Split regular-season meetings with OU — won, 85-78, at Allen Fieldhouse; lost, 75-73, in Norman, Okla.

• Seven NCAA Tournament teams in Big 12

2016 — KU 13-5 in 10-team league

– Finished 2 games ahead of runner-up West Virginia

– Split regular-season meetings with WVU — lost, 74-63, in Morgantown, W. Va.; won, 75-65, at Allen Fieldhouse

• Likely seven NCAA Tournament teams