If you're an Iowa State fan, Tuesday night in Fort Worth probably still stings. A five-point lead with under three minutes to go turned into a 12-0 TCU run, and just like that, the Cyclones walked off that blinding white court with a loss that felt like it came out of nowhere.
But here’s the thing - in the Big 12, there’s no time to dwell. Not when every game feels like a heavyweight bout and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Yes, Iowa State can absolutely right the ship. We’ve seen this team string together wins before, and with the talent on this roster, another hot streak isn’t just possible - it’s expected.
But let’s not sugarcoat it: this isn’t a conference where you can just flip a switch and expect to cruise. Not when you're staring down a closing stretch stacked with Final Four-caliber opponents.
The Cyclones are sitting at 8-3 in league play with seven games to go before the Big 12 Tournament tips off in Kansas City. A top-two seed in the conference tournament?
Still very much in play. A high seed come Selection Sunday?
Also on the table. But it’s going to take more than potential - it’s going to take consistency, execution, and a little bit of that Hilton Magic traveling on the road.
Let’s talk about what went wrong at TCU. Iowa State’s offense went ice cold down the stretch, and the turnovers piled up at the worst possible time.
Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson combined for six second-half giveaways - nine total between them - and those empty possessions were costly. Add in 18 missed threes in the final 20 minutes, and you’ve got a recipe for a gut-punch loss.
But if you’re looking for a silver lining, it’s this: the Cyclones didn’t play their best against Baylor either, and they still found a way to win. That speaks to this team’s ceiling.
When they’re locked in - when the defense is disruptive, the ball is moving, and shots are falling - Iowa State looks like one of the best teams in the country. That’s not hyperbole.
That’s the reality of a group that’s already proven it can hang with anyone.
The challenge? There’s no breather coming.
The Big 12 doesn’t offer up “get-right” games. This isn’t a league where you circle a date on the calendar and count on a win.
The upcoming slate is brutal - and compelling. It starts Saturday with a monster matchup at Hilton Coliseum against Kansas.
Then it’s Houston on Big Monday. After that?
More showdowns that could decide not just seeding, but the entire complexion of the conference race.
Here’s a taste of what’s ahead:
- Feb. 16: No.
3 Houston at Iowa State
- **Feb.
18:** Kansas heads to Stillwater, while BYU visits Arizona
- **Feb.
21:** Iowa State travels to BYU, and Arizona visits Houston
- **Feb.
23:** Houston at Kansas
- **Feb.
24:** Arizona at Baylor
- **Feb.
28:** Kansas at Arizona, and Texas Tech at Iowa State
That’s just the rest of February. In just over two weeks, five or more teams could either solidify their spot at the top of the standings - or tumble out of the title picture entirely. This is the stretch where contenders separate from pretenders.
For Iowa State, it’s about rediscovering that A-game. The one that’s shown up in flashes all season.
The one that can turn Hilton Coliseum into a nightmare for opponents and travel well enough to win in places like Waco and Lubbock. The Cyclones don’t have to be perfect - no one in the Big 12 is - but they do have to be sharp, especially late in games, where recent lapses have proven costly.
So yes, Tuesday night was rough. But the path forward is still wide open.
The Cyclones have everything in front of them - a chance at a top seed, a deep conference tournament run, and a real shot to make noise in March. But in this league, nothing’s given.
It’s earned, one possession at a time.