Big 12 Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season

3. Iowa State Cyclones

2023-24 season record: 29-8 (13-5 Big 12)

We’re entering the top tier of Big 12 Basketball, with a trio of teams who each could make a case for not only No. 1 in the conference but also No. 1 in the entire sport for next season. That includes the Cyclones, currently set to return its top four scorers from a team that went to the Sweet 16.

The only losses from the rotation are a few role-playing big men such as Tre King, Robert Jones, and Hason Ward. They already replaced them with a more potent frontcourt, including former Saint Mary’s forward Joshua Jefferson, 6’10 center from Charlotte Dishon Jackson, as well as Brandton Chatfield, who averaged 9.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg at Seattle.

They join freshman forward Milan Momcilovic, one of the four double-digit scorers. The other three are in the backcourt, including leading scorer Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones, and star point guard, Tamin Lipsey. Adding to the scoring depth is Nate Heise, a 6’4 guard from Northern Iowa who averaged 13.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg.

Iowa State should remain having an elite defense and now there’s a chance they can have more offensive potential. They’ll need a true go-to scoring option to emerge but they project to be one of the more deeper teams in the country next season.