Ranking each Big 12 basketball team entering conference play
7. Iowa State Cyclones
Early-season losses to Virginia Tech and Texas A&M sting a bit for Iowa State, but the Cyclones have had some nice wins early on including a blowout of their in-state rival Iowa. Iowa State has made the NCAA Tournament in each of T.J. Otzelberger鈥檚 first two seasons but suffered an early exit last year due to a porous offense. That likely won鈥檛 be the case again in 2023-24 should they make it that far as the Cyclones put up nearly 87 points per contest thanks to some exciting young talent including Keshon Gilbert, Tamin Lipsey and freshman Milan Momcilovic. Iowa State is also top five in the nation defensively. The numbers may change a bit once Big 12 play begins, but this is a team that could sneak up toward the top of the conference by the end of the season.
