Iowa State’s first week of the season brought a split, and the national polls reflected it.
The Cyclones opened with a loss to Memphis in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then bounced back with a comfortable home win over Southern Miss. Now they head into a two-game week at Hilton Coliseum, starting with Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. and followed by Niagara on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 12 p.m. CT.
In the latest USA TODAY Sports men’s college basketball poll, Iowa State slid to No. 23 after previously sitting tied for No. 14.
The AP Poll was even less forgiving. Iowa State dropped out of the top 25 entirely and is now receiving votes after being ranked No. 18 last week.
The USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll has Florida at No. 1, followed by Duke, Illinois, UConn and Michigan State. Virginia, Texas, Houston, Tennessee and Louisville round out the top 10. Iowa State checks in at No. 23, just ahead of Nebraska and BYU.
Here’s the full coaches’ top 25: Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn, Michigan State, Virginia, Texas, Houston, Tennessee, Louisville, Arizona, Gonzaga, St. John’s, Kansas, UCLA, Alabama, Texas Tech, Miami, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Michigan, USC, Iowa State, Nebraska, BYU.
Among the teams receiving votes in the coaches poll were Kentucky with 101, Memphis with 34, Saint Louis with 23, Purdue with 12, Texas A&M with 11, Baylor with 9, North Carolina with 6, Marquette with 6, West Virginia with 5, Missouri with 4, LSU with 3, Wisconsin with 1, Villanova with 1 and Nevada with 1.
The AP Top 25 has Florida at No. 1 as well, with Duke, Illinois, UConn and Michigan State right behind. Virginia, Texas, Houston, UCLA and Louisville fill out the top 10. Iowa State is not in the ranked field, but it did appear among the teams receiving votes.
The AP’s receiving-votes list included Memphis with 97, Saint Louis with 67, Iowa State with 57, North Carolina with 20, Iowa with 15, Baylor with 14, TCU with 13, Marquette with 10, Indiana with 7, Nevada with 5, Texas A&M with 5, High Point with 3, Santa Clara with 2, East Texas A&M with 1, Creighton with 1 and Utah State with 1.
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The bigger sting for Iowa State is what comes next in a crowded Big 12 picture. The league now has five teams in the Top 25, and Nebraska slid into the spot Iowa State vacated, leaving the Cyclones with an early reminder that reputation alone will not carry them through the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]
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Cincinnati brings a clear challenge with a rushing attack that can control the tempo, led by quarterback JC French IV and running back Cole Tabb. For Iowa State, the margin for error is thin, and the matchup sets up as one where the Cyclones will need to steady themselves quickly if they want to keep their postseason hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]