7. Iowa State Cyclones -17-4 (7-3 Big 12)
The Cyclones were riding high nationally, ranked in the top 5 nationally, and looking like a Final Four contender. Yet things came crashing down this week, taking a pair of unexpected losses. The first was on the road at Arizona, which quietly is near the top of the Big 12.
Iowa State was in a tough fight for 40 minutes and was set to win before a Caleb Love full-court shot sent it into OT. But they scored just four points in the final segment, falling 86-75 to the Wildcats. Tamin Lipsey had 18 points, while Keshon Gilbert chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds.
Losing to Arizona at their place is understandable. What isn’t was what happened on Saturday. Kansas State is under .500 overall and one of the bottom teams in the Big 12. But on the road, the Wildcats pulled off a dominant second-half run to get the 80-61 upset over Iowa State. Lipsey had another 20 points, but as a team, the Cyclones shot under 37% from the field.
This is the first true test of adversity for Iowa State this season. But it doesn’t get any easier for them as they go on the road to take on Kansas, who will probably be highly upset and motivated after what happened to them on Saturday as well.