Iowa State Basketball: Can Cyclones become Big 12 contenders in 2019-20?

Iowa State Basketball lost a lot from last season, but there’s still plenty of talent on the roster. Can Tyrese Haliburton and the Cyclones make noise in the Big 12?

Iowa State Basketball came into March Madness with a lot of momentum after winning the Big 12 tournament. It didn’t last, however, as the six-seed Cyclones fell in the 1st round to Ohio State. If one looks solely at the number of departing players from last season’s squad, it’s hard to imagine the team having too much success this season.

(Credit to sports-reference, KenPom and Hoop-Math for statistics and NCAA March Madness, Stadium, FIBA, Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Network and Colorado State Rams for GIFS)

Head coach Steve Prohm lost Mariol Shayok and Neil Weiler-Babb to graduation and Lindell Wigginton and Talen Horton-Tucker to the pursuit of NBA careers. Shayok signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Wigginton and Horton-Tucker signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers respectively.

As will be explored, however, there is still plenty of talent on the roster. The Cyclones aren’t ranked in any early preseason polls and are only projected as an 11-seed per ESPN’s Bracketology, but the team has decent potential if a few of the below questions break in their favor.

1. Can Tyrese Haliburton thrive as a lead ball-handler and increase his scoring?

2. Can Michael Jacobson and Solomon Young solidify the interior for the Cyclones?

3. Can Prentiss Nixon provide a scoring punch in the backcourt on decent efficiency?

4. Will Rasir Bolton get a waiver from the NCAA and be eligible to play? (This might be the most important question).