Big 12 Basketball: Baylor, Texas remain on top in 2020-21 power rankings

Iowa State Cyclones Big 12 Basketball

It has been less than a desirable start for the Cyclones. There has been hope over the past week and a half as the Cyclones have played inspiring basketball. The Cyclones have played three of the best teams in the conference and have played competitive basketball.

Against West Virginia, they went to Morgantown and played them to the final whistle, 70-65. Against Baylor, they had a lead halfway into the second half. That would end up being the closest game Baylor has played all season.

Iowa State would once again travel and would give another top team in the country a scare. The Cyclones had four players in double figures, led by Javan Johnson’s 21 points on 9-17 shooting. They held Texas to just 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc in a 76-72 loss.

After playing in three close conference games, the Cyclones would get blown out by Texas Tech. The loss of a key freshman did not stop the Red Raiders as they put up 91 points on the Cyclones.

Iowa State had four players in double figures, but only six bench points. Veterans Solomon Young and Rasir Bolton led the way for the Cyclones with 15 points apiece.

The lack of depth and Power 5 caliber players seems to be an issue. Rarely do Big 12 teams struggle this mightily, even the last-place teams. Steve Prohm has brought upon success in the past but does not have the ball rolling with the program right now.

Iowa State will get the trip of the two Kansas’s. They start with the Wildcats on Wednesday and Kansas on Saturday.