3. Iowa State (11-0)
The Cyclones have spent nonconference play loudly answering any questions that people had about this team entering the season. Wins over St. John’s, Creighton, and Syracuse at the Players Era Festival was one thing, but they’ll be riding the high of that big win at Purdue for the rest of the season. This squad has transformed into a more potent offense than in past years while T. J. Otzelberger still runs a consistent and hungry defense.
We haven’t seen Iowa State on the court since last Sunday when they earned a 78-53 win over Eastern Illinois. Despite the team’s worst 3-point shooting effort of the year, the Cyclones got their eleventh win with relative ease, getting 18 points from Milan Momcilovic and 14 from Blake Buchanan.
Between those two talents and Tamin Lipsey and the rest of these rotation players, Otzelberger has built a talented and selfless lineup that is exceeding expectations even after question marks entering the year. The Big 12 race is a different animal, but it’s hard to bet against Iowa State based on what they’ve done throughout these first two months. Next up is a game against Long Beach State that shouldn’t be too dramatic either.