Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

By Jason Kinander

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Tyrese Hailburton #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones tries to drive past Alan Griffin #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Tyrese Hailburton #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones tries to drive past Alan Griffin #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

5. Iowa State Cyclones (10-2)

Previous Ranking: No. 5

Iowa State has been one of the pleasant surprises in the Big 12 during non conference play.

The Cyclones, coming off of a disastrous 2017-18 season, are a completely different unit. Built off of freshman, transfers, and the stardom of sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton, the Iowa State Cyclones are worlds better than expected.

Freshman guard Talen Horton-Tucker has been a major contributor for the Cyclones, while senior forward Marial Shayok, a transfer from Virginia, has been a huge presence scoring in the absence of Wigginton, who missed most of non-conference play with a foot injury.

However, Wigginton is back and fully healthy now, just in time for the Cyclones to begin conference play. Iowa State will open up Big 12 play against Oklahoma State before hosting the Kansas Jayhawks on January 5th, in a massive game that will certainly set the tone early on in the Big 12.

The return of Wigginton, coupled with the emergence of Shayok and Horton-Tucker will be huge for Iowa State in January. Iowa State expects to find themselves back in the NCAA tournament, and has the potential to make it pretty far, as early indication have shown.

Iowa State has a history of being a contender in the Big 12, and this season is no different. It’s a different look for the Cyclones this time around, but in a good way, as last season’s disaster is well behind them.

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