Iowa State Basketball: Bracket Buzz and Big 12 Battles Heating Up
It may be cold outside, but things are heating up fast in the Big 12 - especially in Ames. As we inch closer to March, both the Iowa State men’s and women’s basketball teams are deep in the grind of conference play, chasing postseason dreams. But while both squads entered January riding the high of undefeated non-conference slates, their paths since then have looked very different.
Let’s break down where each team stands, what lies ahead, and how the bracketologists are projecting their March Madness fates if the tournament tipped off today.
Men’s Team: A Proving Ground Ahead
At 18-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, the Cyclones are tied for fifth in the standings alongside Kansas. That record might look shiny, but here’s the kicker - they’ve yet to face the conference’s top-tier teams. That’s about to change in a big way.
A gauntlet awaits: Kansas at home, followed by matchups against Houston, road trips to BYU and Utah, Texas Tech, and then a tough finale at Arizona. That’s a two-and-a-half-week stretch that features every team currently sitting above them in the Big 12 standings. Simply put, it’s a season-defining run - and one that will weigh heavily in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.
So far, the résumé is strong. Here’s how the Cyclones stack up across major metrics and bracket projections:
- ESPN Bracketology: 3-seed in the East Region, opening in St. Louis
- CBS Sports: 2-seed in the East, with a potential second-round matchup against Iowa or TCU
- KenPom Ranking: 6th overall - 14th in offensive efficiency, 6th on defense
- NET Ranking: 7th overall
- Quadrant Records:
- Q1: 5-1
- Q2: 5-1
- Q3: 1-0
- Q4: 7-0
That’s the kind of balance that gets you noticed in March - a strong strength of schedule, quality wins, and no bad losses. Still, the upcoming stretch will be the true litmus test for how far this team can go.
Big 12 Tournament Picture (per ESPN):
Seven teams projected in - Arizona (1), Houston (2), BYU (3), Iowa State (3), Texas Tech (4), Kansas (5), UCF (8)
Projected No. 1 Seeds: Arizona, Michigan, Duke, UConn
Next Up:
- Home vs.
Colorado (Q3 game)
- Away at Kansas State (Q2 game)
Women’s Team: Fighting Back from a Midseason Slide
The Cyclone women started the season strong, but conference play hasn’t been as kind. They sit at 16-5 overall, but just 4-5 in the Big 12 - good for 10th place in the standings. A five-game losing streak to open the new year knocked them out of the top ten rankings, and injuries to key players Arianna Jackson and Addy Brown played a major role in that stumble.
The good news? Jackson is back, and the team has responded. They’ve picked up momentum with dominant wins over Cincinnati and Arizona - not the toughest competition, but enough to reestablish some rhythm.
Looking ahead, the road doesn’t get much easier. The final seven games of the regular season are all against teams currently .500 or better in Big 12 play.
But here’s the silver lining: the standings are tight. Iowa State trails six teams by 1.5 games or fewer.
In other words, there’s still plenty of room to climb.
Here’s where the women land in the latest projections and rankings:
- ESPN Bracketology (as of Jan. 23): 10-seed, Baton Rouge region
- College Sports Madness (as of Jan. 20): 9-seed, Storrs region
- BartTorvik Ranking: 36th overall - 13th in offensive efficiency, 89th on defense
- NET Ranking: 36th overall
- Quadrant Records: Q1: 1-3 Q2: 3-1 Q3: 0-1 Q4: 12-0
The defense has been a weak spot, but the offense continues to hum. If they can tighten up on the other end of the floor and stay healthy, this team has the tools to make a late-season push.
Big 12 Tournament Picture (per ESPN):
Nine teams projected in - TCU (3), Baylor (4), West Virginia (5), Texas Tech (6), Oklahoma State (7), Iowa State (10), Utah (10), Arizona State (11), BYU (11)
Projected No. 1 Seeds: UConn, UCLA, Texas, South Carolina
Final Thoughts: March on the Horizon
For both Cyclone squads, the next few weeks are everything.
The men are about to enter the teeth of their schedule - a stretch that could vault them into top-two seed territory or expose some cracks. Meanwhile, the women are fighting to reassert themselves in a stacked Big 12, with a chance to climb the ladder if they can handle a tough closing slate.
It’s not March yet, but the madness is already starting to build. Buckle up - the Cyclones are entering the home stretch.