KC Power Rankings: Jayhawks and Wildcats in a Battle for the Top Spot

There is a lot going on in the Kansas City sports scene: The Royals have started spring training, the Chiefs are trying to figure out what to do with the first overall pick, Sporting Kansas City is the hottest ticket in town, Kansas is looking for another Final Four appearance and the Wildcats are right on their heels, Missouri is looking to outperform what has been a somewhat disappointing season to date, the Missouri Mavericks and Missouri Comets are making playoff pushes, Central Missouri is going for a Division II national title, and the T-Bones are preparing for another season.

With so many teams in the Kansas City area which one is ruling the town? It is the goal of the Kansas City Power Rankings to figure that out every Monday.

5) Chiefs

November 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback

(11) during warm ups prior to kickoff of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Past week: Made an unofficial trade for Alex Smith.

The Chiefs took a significant risk trading the 34th overall pick and a 2014 pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Alex Smith. The move causes ripple effects throughout the Chiefs roster. Matt Cassel is likely gone, the number one overall pick is now open to draft a left tackle should the Chiefs not retain Branden Albert, and rumors abound Dwayne Bowe is more likely to discuss a longterm deal now.

If Branden Albert stays in Kansas City, the front runner for the number one overall pick becomes a wide open race. There has not been this much uncertainty about who will go number one overall in a long time.

4) Royals

Feb 21, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman

(35) poses for a picture during photo day at the Royals Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Past week: The Royals have started spring training on fire with a 9-0 record. Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer are a combined 19-39 from the plate.

It is taking everything within me to not overreact to the Royals start to spring training. The Royals have outscored opponents 69-32 in the first nine games. What do we make of this? Nothing, it’s spring training. But as a win starved Royals fan it is hard to look at this start, the improved rotation, and the potential of a lineup with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Salvador Perez, Hosmer, and Moustakas and not be excited.

3) Sporting KC

Past week: SKC scored three unanswered goals to come away with a 3-1 victory in their MLS season opener.

The best shot at a championship for Kansas City in 2013 comes in the form of Sporting Kansas City, and they got off to an excellent start in Philadelphia over the weekend with a 3-1 over the Union. Graham Zusi was in top form, having a hand in some way shape or form in all three Sporting goals. Sporting is going to have to keep this up if they are going to win over new Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith though. He was spotted at a San Jose Earthquake match this weekend.

Meanwhile, Sporting’s first round pick Mikey Lopez had a solid performance in USA’s Under 20 overtime loss to Mexico last night. Lopez is expect to join Sporting later this week.

Sporting travel to Toronto for a matchup in the Rogers Centre on Saturday before coming home for their home opener March 16th.

2) Kansas Jayhawks

Past week: A controversial win over Iowa State and a Ben McLemore lead blowout win over West Virginia over-shaddowed Charlie Weis landing a four star running back.

Elijah Johnson (Big 12 Player of the Week) and McLemore (Big 12 Freshman of the Week) went off for 39 and 36 points this week in games against Iowa State and West Virginia. Kansas is now a week away from clinching at least a share of its ninth straight Big 12 title. It won’t be easy, though, as they’ll have to travel to Waco to take on a desperate Baylor team.

Lost is the basketball madness was Charlie Weis landing his first commitment for the 2014 recruiting class, Traevohn Wrench. Wrench is a Gardner Edgerton running back who has been assigned four stars by Rivals.com. It isn’t so much Weis has brought in a four star player, it is the timing. When was the last time Kansas football landed a four star player this early in the recruiting process?

1) Kansas State Men’s Basketball

Mar 02, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard

(22) dunks over Baylor Bears center

(21) during the second half at the Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Past week: The Wildcats last second win over Baylor makes the final weekend of the Big 12 regular season must-see television.

Who would have thought once Frank Martin bolted for South Carolina the Wildcats would be in this position? Kansas State has not won a conference championship in basketball since 1977, back when the Big 8 still existed, but are now in prime position to win at least a share of the conference championship.

Rodney McGruder was the hero this week, hitting a three in the final second of the game against Baylor to earn a 64-61 victory. His 18 points helped withstand a huge surge from Baylor who needs a few more wins in order to make the NCAA tournament. With the win KSU is now in control of its own title destiny.

The Wildcats will host TCU on Tuesday before traveling to Oklahoma State this weekend, a game which will likely decide the Big 12 champion. K-State beat OSU 73-67 to open up the conference season.

Also receiving votes: Missouri Tigers, Central Missouri basketball, Washburn women’s basketball, Blue Springs girls basketball, Blue Valley Northwest boys basketball, Shawnee Mission South boys basketball