Despite dropping a winnable game in Stillwater, Iowa State is still movin' on up, Jeffersons-style, in the Big 12. The Cyclones are now tied with Baylor for third place in the Big 12. It's more for bragging rights at this point (unless you think we just go balls out and get in the top two of the league) because there's not a very high chance we don't face one of Kansas State or Texas in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. They're pretty much our destiny. Oh, and for whatever it's worth, everyone from Oklahoma State on down is eliminated from winning the conference title. So there's that.

Monday, February 13

Iowa State @ Baylor (ESPNU) 6 PM

Kansas @ Kansas State (ESPN) 8 PM

Tuesday, February 14

Texas A&M @ Texas Tech (ESPN2) 6 PM

Texas @ Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 7 PM

Wednesday, February 15

Oklahoma State @ Missouri (ESPN2) 8 PM

Saturday, February 18

Oklahoma @ Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 PM

Kansas State @ Baylor (Big 12 Network) 12:30 PM

Missouri @ Texas A&M (ESPN) 1 PM

Texas @ Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 3 PM

Texas Tech @ Kansas (Big 12 Network) 7 PM

Bonus Big 12 Games

UNLV @ TCU (mtn.) 6:30 PM - February 14

West Virginia @ Pittsburgh (ESPN) 8 PM - February 16

TCU @ Boise State (mtn.) 3 PM - February 18

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With Tuesday night's loss to Oklahoma State, that makes 17 straight games that Iowa State has lost to the Cowboys on the road. The last time the Cyclones won in Gallagher-Iba Arena was March 2, 1988, a 97-88 victory. That's 24 years ago. A generation. This is far and away Iowa State basketball's longest losing streak, and it's getting a little frustrating.

That span has included some great Cyclone teams, albeit teams who still couldn't break the losing streak at Oklahoma State. The '92-'93 Justus Thigpen and Ron Bayless-led Cyclones couldn't win at Gallagher-Iba. The '96-'97 Sweet Sixteen team came close, but ultimately lost 63-67. The 2001 Big XII championship team took the Cowboys to overtime before losing 80-88. At this point, it's becoming less of a streak and more of a curse.

But what could have stirred up such evil in a humble gym like Gallagher-Iba Arena? Was it voodoo? A gypsy's curse? An ancient prophecy foretold by the Native Americans who were kicked off their land by Oklahoma settlers? After the jump, a look at the damning evidence of the curse of GIA.

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(Sunday afternoon. Frank Martin is dozing in his favorite recliner while "Scarface" plays on the TV. The telephone wakes him)

Frank Martin: Say hello to my little friend?

Telemarketer: Uhhhh... Good afternoon sir, is Frank Martin available?

Frank Martin: Who do you think you are, hmm?

Telemarketer: Sir, my name is Chad and I'm conducting a survey on the potential candidates in the 2012 election, and I was hoping to get your views about...

Frank Martin: Okay, here's the story. I come from the gutter. I know that. I got no education, but that's okay. I know the street, and I'm making all the right connections. With the right woman, there's no stopping me. I could go right to the top.

Telemarketer: ... Oohhh-kaaayyy, that's very interesting. But I really just need to get your opinion about the upcoming election. Do you have time for a few questions? Please, we'd just like your honest opinion.

Frank Martin: I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.

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Since Iowa State has decided that, yes, they want to factor into meaningful basketball after the month of January, we figured it's time to start taking a look at what's happening in that funny little conference we call home.

Big 12 Games this week:

Monday, January 30

Missouri @ Texas (ESPN) 8 PM

Tuesday, January 31

Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 7 PM

Kansas State @ Iowa State (FSN Midwest/CTN) 8 PM

Wednesday, February 1

Baylor @ Texas A&M (ESPN2) 8 PM

Oklahoma @ Kansas (ESPNU) 8 PM

Saturday, February 4

Baylor @ Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 PM

Texas A&M @ Kansas State (Big 12 Network) 3 PM

Iowa State @ Oklahoma (ESPN2) 5 PM

Texas Tech @ Texas (LHN) 6 PM

Kansas @ Missouri (ESPN) 8 PM

Bonus Big 12 Games

Wyoming @ TCU (mtn.) 7 PM - February 1

TCU @ San Diego State (mtn.) 9 PM - February 4

West Virginia @ Providence (Big East Network) - 11 AM - February 5

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This Texas Tech fan was probably the most only entertaining thing (not that I'm complaining) about today's Cyclone beatdown of the Red Raiders.

May have to click the GIFs if they don't play.

BUT WAIT! WHERE HAVE WE SEEN HIM BEFORE?

GOD HELP US ALL.

The life of Keiton Page is no tall tale. Despite his diminutive size and lack of physical gifts, Page has blossomed into an accomplished Division 1 basketball player.

This isn't a story of a hardwood hero though. This is a story of a young man who's been tossed around his whole life; someone who was in need of being picked up off the ground and ultimately, someone who's been propelled to new heights and distances that many never thought were possible.

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With the non-conference season nearing its end and Christmas approaching, the conference hierarchy is starting to take shape and the top two teams in the Big 12 have begun separating themselves from the rest of the pack. Interesting note; there are six undefeated teams in the country as of December 23^rd, and two of them are in Big 12. The only other conference with two unbeaten teams is the Big East (#1 Syracuse and #4 Louisville).

1. Missouri, 12-0, #8 – The Tigers retain the top spot, but barely as they held off #24 Illinois on Thursday night 78-74 in Columbia. The win was Missouri’s second this season over a ranked team and fourth victory over an opponent from a "BCS" league. Mizzou’s body of work to date is better than Baylor’s, thus the top spot.

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How do you top a weekend where two of the top three teams in the country were upset on the road and a ridiculous fight broke out between Cincinnati and Xavier? Well, you don't. It was a much quieter week in college basketball, but there was still plenty to take away from the last week of action.

Iowa State

The Cyclones had most of the week off because of finals, but returned to the hardwood on Sunday to take on a pesky Central Michigan team in Ames. ISU triumphed 59-52 in an ugly encore following the domination of in-state rival iowa. The Cyclones jumped out to a big early lead and were up by nine at the half, but left any energy and intensity they had in the locker room and slogged through a frustrating second session.

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