NCAA Basketball: Alabama, Duke, Marquette rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
5. Iowa State (3-0)
When Iowa State was rocking people with their defensive intensity last season, they weren’t doing it with star power. While several of the top teams have notable names that were crushing it on offense, the Cyclones leaned into a talented and balanced roster, albeit one that leans hard on Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, among others. There hasn’t been a significant challenge to that defense yet this season, but we’ve seen more of the same from these Cyclones already.
Their third win of the season came this past Monday, as Iowa State scored an 87-52 victory against IU Indy. This team is giving up barely 50 points an outing and had one of their best offensive performances in the early going. Lipsey led the charge with 17 points and 5 assists while Joshua Jefferson, a new face this season, had 16 points and 10 rebounds himself.
It’s easy to be bored by the early results for the Cyclones, who have made quick work of easy opponents and are still just figuring themselves out. However, their strengths will soon be on full display, starting next week in the Maui Invitational. A thankless schedule sees them facing an outstanding Auburn squad to start things off on Monday, opening quite the tough stretch in Iowa State’s schedule here to end November.