Big 12 Basketball: Big XII Preseason Team Power Rankings

Mar 14, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Naz Long (15) celebrates after the win over the Kansas Jayhawks in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament at Sprint Center. Iowa State Cyclones won 70-66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2. Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones return their three best players in Monte Morris, Jameel McKay, and player of the year contender Georges Niang. All they lost was Bryce Dejean-Jones, who was relegated to a bench role, and “glue-guy” Dustin Hogue.

But the biggest loss of all is that of head coach Fred Hoiberg, who departed to the NBA to coach the Chicago Bulls, and in comes Murray State’s Steve Prohm. It’s always tough for a veteran team to lose their head coach, but if Prohm can instill a solid defensive system while maintaining major aspects of Hoiberg’s offense, this could be a very dangerous team.

Iowa State will win the conference if…

Prohm can build a respectable defense around Jameel McKay. McKay was the Big 12 defensive player of the year last season, and for good reason, blocking 2.4 shots a game. Iowa State posted their best defensive rating of Hoiberg’s tenure with McKay on the roster, and he only played from late-December onward.

The Cyclones would score points even with any random guy off the street roaming the sidelines. They have that many offensive weapons. The question, as it always has been with him, is whether they can defend or not. That’s what will take them from good to great. Problem is, Prohm’s reputation on that end perfectly parallels Hoiberg. Meaning, it isn’t good.

Next: 3. Oklahoma Sooners