:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42650690/481227235.0.jpg)
If there's one thing the Iowa State fan base has earned over the last two months, it's the right to get excited about something special — something more than a bowled-in south end zone, or the rebirth of a functioning offense under Mark Mangino, or how good Allen Lazard is going to be over the next three years.
Cyclone Nation deserves basketball season. And it's so close, we should all be able to taste it by now.
It tastes like assists, three-pointers, rebounds, transfers and unfinished business.
It tastes like jump hooks and Hilton Magic.
It tastes like spreading the floor and Fred Hoiberg's spoon after eating a Clone Co–
So anyway, basketball is nearly upon us, and that means it's time for your small but mighty staff of hoops savants here at WRNL to predict how the 2014-15 season will pan out. Below, we offer up some win-loss predictions, All-Big 12 team predictions, Player of the Year predictions and a whole lot more.
This is, of course, your time to rip all of it to shreds and make some predictions of your own — so fill up that comments section!
1. Iowa State's Non-Conference Record
AustinNarber
11-1. Alabama and Iowa worry me, more so the latter being at Carver. As for Bama, Anthony Grant's teams can control tempo and guard the perimeter well. Could be a tough out on a neutral court (although it is the Sprint Center!). We lose one of those.
NormanUnderwood
11-1. Loss to Iowa or Drake. We always dick the dog for the lesser Iowa schools.
KFitzy87
12-0. No McKay? No problem.
CylentButDeadly
No worse than 11-1. Iowa State is better than every team they'll face in the non-conference and perhaps significantly better, but it's tough to envision a second straight unbeaten start.
The CYdeliner
12-0. I have a hard time predicting two straight undefeated non-con years, but this year's schedule is a bit easier. And we think we have a better team, even without McKay.
2. Iowa State's Conference Record
AustinNarber
13-5. Unblemished at home with some inexplicable road woes, all of them close though (5-6 points). Give me a Texas sweep because I'm tired of losing to fucking Texas just in general.
NormanUnderwood
14-4. Losses at Kansas, Texas, West Virginia and Kansas State. Calling an Oklahoma sweep here.
KFitzy87
14-4. Losses to Kansas in Hilton (yuck), at Texas, at Oklahoma, at Kansas State. Yes, we win at the Phog.
CylentButDeadly
Fred Hoiberg mentioned that the only thing keeping Iowa State from a conference title is the ability to win on the road. ISU's road conference record the last three years: 4-5 in 2011-12, 3-6 in 2012-13 and 3-6 in 2013-14. If this team has a winning road record in league play, a regular season title is in play, but for right now, I'm calling 13-5 with a 4-5 road conference record.
The CYdeliner
15-3. KOOL-AID. Don't think we lose at home this year (ahem, Kansas), but lose three on the road, good enough for at least a share of the conference. We sweep one of the top four other teams. Thinking the losses are Kansas, Texas and Kansas State.
3. Final Big 12 Standings
AustinNarber
1) Kansas 2) Iowa State 3) Oklahoma 4) Kansas State 5) Texas 6) Baylor 7) Oklahoma State 8) West Virginia 9) Texas Tech 10) TCU
NormanUnderwood
1) Iowa State 2) Kansas 3) Texas 4) Kansas State 5) Oklahoma 6) West Virginia 7) Baylor 8) Oklahoma State 9) TCU 10) Texas Tech
KFitzy87
1) Kansas 2) Iowa State 3) Oklahoma 4) Texas 5) Kansas State 6) West Virginia 7) Oklahoma State 8) Baylor 9) TCU 10) Texas Tech
CylentButDeadly
1) Kansas 2) Iowa State 3) Texas 4) Oklahoma 5) Kansas State 6) Baylor 7) Oklahoma State 8) West Virginia 9) TCU 10) Texas Tech
The CYdeliner
1) Iowa State 2) Kansas 3) Texas 4) Kansas State 5) Oklahoma 6) Baylor 7) West Virginia 8) Oklahoma State 9) TCU 10) Texas Tech
4. All-Big 12 First Team
AustinNarber
Kenny Chery | G | Baylor
Marcus Foster | G | Kansas State
Perry Ellis | F | Kansas
Georges Niang | F | Iowa State
Le'Bryan Nash | F | Oklahoma State
NormanUnderwood
Marcus Foster | G | Kansas State
Juwan Staten | G | West Virginia
Perry Ellis | F | Kansas
Georges Niang | F | Iowa State
Buddy Hield | F | Oklahoma
KFitzy87
Marcus Foster | G | Kansas State
Juwan Staten | G | West Virginia
Perry Ellis | F | Kansas
Georges Niang | F | Iowa State
Myles Turner | F | Texas
CylentButDeadly
Kenny Chery | G | Baylor
Marcus Foster | G | Kansas State
Juwan Staten | G | West Virginia
Perry Ellis | F | Kansas
Georges Niang | F | Iowa State
Buddy Hield | F | Oklahoma (Yeah, I picked six guys. Deal with it.)
The CYdeliner
Marcus Foster | G | Kansas State
Juwan Staten | G | West Virginia
Perry Ellis | F | Kansas
Georges Niang | F | Iowa State
Buddy Hield | F | Oklahoma
5. Big 12 Player of the Year
AustinNarber
Marcus Foster. By far the best player on a good team (as a freshman) that nearly knocked off Kentucky in the tournament last year. Double-digit scoring in 27 of his 33 games. Shot attempts should increase with Will Spradling gone. Expecting a Trey Burke-like campaign for Foster.
NormanUnderwood
Juwan Staten.
KFitzy87
Perry Ellis.
CylentButDeadly
Georges Niang. Staten will have gaudy stats, but Niang will win because he plays for a title contender.
The CYdeliner
Georges Niang.
6. Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
It's nearly unanimous for Bryce Dejean-Jones, but CylentButDeadly offers the following:
Freshman of the Year will be Kelly Oubre from Kansas, but the newcomer award will be split between Bryce Dejean-Jones from Iowa State and Anthony Hickey from Oklahoma State.
7. Big 12 Coach of the Year
AustinNarber
Fred Hoiberg. I still refuse to accept Rick Barnes won this last year. The second-worst team of Hoiberg's coaching career earned him co-honors with Bill Self in 2011-12. The Mayor wins it outright this year. A long time coming.
NormanUnderwood
Mayor McFuckingDreamy.
KFitzy87
Fred Hoiberg.
CylentButDeadly
Fred Hoiberg.
The CYdeliner
If I don't pick Freddy Dreamicakes here, I might as well quit writing for this site.
8. Three Random Big 12 Predictions
AustinNarber
1) Kenny Chery is absolutely lights-out for a Baylor team that makes the NCAA Tournament as a top-eight seed.
2) West Virginia implodes. Bob Huggins is sent packing.
3) The same seven teams get bids as last season. Texas is the first to lose.
NormanUnderwood
1) Kansas' run is over.
2) The Big 12 sends six teams to the Big Dance (predicted top five, plus either West Virginia or Baylor gets hot in KC).
3) TCU does not finish dead last.
KFitzy87
1) Texas Tech fires Tubby Smith after the end of the season.
2) Kansas comes from behind to win their last game at Oklahoma, barely keeping their streak alive.
3) TCU beats two of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
CylentButDeadly
1) Seven Big 12 teams make the NCAA Tournament (no West Virginia, TCU or Texas Tech).
2) Bob Bowlsby (wisely) opts not to make any trips to Hilton Coliseum.
3) Buddy Hield leads the conference in scoring, Cameron Ridley leads in rebounding, and Monté Morris leads in assists.
The CYdeliner
1) Kansas' streak: FIN.
2) Refs make a call in Iowa State's favor.
3) Big 12 gets two teams in the Final Four.
9. Three Random Iowa State Predictions
AustinNarber
1) We lead the nation in turnover margin and the conference in offensive rebounds.
2) Bryce Dejean-Jones averages more assists+rebounds than points.
3) Fred Hoiberg has shown postseason improvement every year. Onto the Elite Eight.
NormanUnderwood
1) We win the whole fucking thing.
2) Georges Niang gets a triple-double.
3) Monté Morris actually improves his A/TO ratio.
KFitzy87
1) Monté Morris averages seven assists a game.
2) We win back-to-back Big 12 Tournament titles.
3) Bryce Dejean-Jones throws down the best dunk in Hilton Coliseum history.
CylentButDeadly
1) Abdel Nader is the team's second-leading scorer after Georges Niang.
2) Jameel McKay doesn't start a single game but is the best sixth man in the league.
3) Iowa State goes undefeated at home.
The CYdeliner
1) The other Georgios drops 20 in a non-con game.
2) A 1-seed in the NCAA Tourney.
3) Freddy Dreamicakes nudes leak. Gets raise.
10. Summarize Iowa State's Season With a GIF
AustinNarber
NormanUnderwood
KFitzy87
CylentButDeadly
The CYdeliner
