18. Iowa State
T. J. Otzelberger inherited a 2-win team at Iowa State and has led the Cyclones to a pair of NCAA Tournaments. His teams have exceeded expectations in each of his first two seasons and have been better than competent in a difficult Big 12. Right now, it’s certainly looking like people won’t be underrating Iowa State heading into next season.
The Cyclones lose a lot of their talent from last season, including Caleb Grill to the Transfer Portal, but Otzelberger has made the moves to keep them right in contention. First and foremost, the Cyclones have a Top 10 recruiting class, highlighted by forward Omaha Biliew, a 5-star prospect and one of the best in the nation. The Cyclones landed UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert, one of the top young guards in the Portal, and also get a second year from Tamin Lipsey, who showed signs of promise last season. Fellow transfers Curtis Jones, the leading scorer at Buffalo, and Jackson Paveletzke of Wofford both averaged at least 15 points a game last season.
Iowa State reloaded this roster with significant talent; you’ve got a great starting five already from the players we listed above and that’s not all Otzelberger will have next season. The Big 12 is going to look pretty different with those new programs joining next year, but Iowa State has done enough to legitimately remain a contender in the conference. Recent transfers have done wonders for the Cyclones but it all boils down to how this year’s group of new faces mesh together.