NCAA Basketball: Auburn, Gonzaga, Ohio State rise in latest top 25 power rankings

6. Iowa State (1-0)

Another program on the rise in recent years, Iowa State has transformed from a complete afterthought to national contenders across the last three seasons. TJ Otzelberger inherited a two-win team and built elite defense and a successful program. The Cyclones enter this season with heightened expectations yet again, expecting to be one of the top teams in a very strong Big 12.

We haven’t seen them tested quite yet, though they handled opening night with ease, handling Mississippi Valley State in an 83-44 victory. That defense was profoundly on display, even against a weaker opponent, though the Cyclones struggled from outside the arc. Regardless, Keshon Gilbert had 17 points and Tamin Lipsey added 16 as the two returning stars led the charge.

Iowa State does not get to face SWAC teams very often and these kinds of scores aren’t what you should expect out of Ames, but that defense isn’t a joke. This is the very fabric upon which Otzelberger has built this program’s revival and it’s a major reason they made the Sweet Sixteen last year. They’ll look to put another performance like that together next week, as the only opponent on the docket is Kansas City.