WRNL Staff Predicts The Basketball Season

For the second straight fall the start of the basketball season is sort of forgotten but nonetheless the Iowa State basketball season starts of on Tuesday night! Here is how we think the season will play out!

Jake Brend

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

12-1

Iowa State’s Conference Record

11-7

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas

2. Kansas State

3. Iowa State

4. West Virginia

5. Texas

6. TCU

7. Baylor

8. Texas Tech

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

Lindell Wigginton

Barry Brown Jr.

Quentin Grimes

Dean Wade

Sagaba Konate

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Dedric Lawson

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill Self

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Kansas wins conference by 3 games
2. Jaylen Fisher bounces back and stays healthy
3. Bob Huggins gets ejected twice

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. Undefeated at Hilton
2. Lindell puts Konate on a poster
3. Nick Weiler-Babb record two triple-doubles

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Jared Larson

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

10-3

Iowa State’s Conference Record

12-6

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansa(dida)s, 2. Iowa State 3. Kansas State 4. Texas Tech 5. WV 6. TCU 7. Baylor 8. Texas 9. Oklahoma 10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team Konate, Wade, Wigginton, Lawson and Lard

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lawson

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Talen Horton-Tucker

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill $elf

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

Kansas’ non-con game against UNC battled Wofford will be closer than expected.

Huggins will break his stool, probably in a fit of rage.

Snyder makes an appearance at a K-State game, and things get weird, yeah.

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

Solomon will come back by the Iowa game

Team will turn heads at Maui

Wigginton will have another dunk that’s tattoo worthy

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Matthew Nelson

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record: 12-1

I’m not concerned with most of the opponents on Iowa State’s non-conference schedule, including Arizona, Missouri, and Ole Miss. Arizona is a dumpster fire thanks to Sean Miller, Missouri lost their best player for the year, and Ole Miss is picked to finish last in the SEC. I think they handle Iowa, but fall to Top-5 Gonzaga in Maui.

Iowa State’s Conference Record: 11-7

If things fall into place for Steve Prohm, I think Iowa State will be better than the 6th place finish that has been predicted. My best guess is that the Clones lose one home game (either Kansas or Kansas State) and 4 road games (KU, KSU, TCU, WVU). The bottom of the Big 12 appears to be set, and I think the Cyclones are competitive with everyone behind Kansas and Kansas State.

Final Big 12 Standings

Kansas (barf), Kansas State, WVU, Iowa State, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor, OSU, OU.

All Big 12 First Team

Dedric Lawson, Lindell Wiggington, Barry Brown, Dean Wade, Sagaba Konate.

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wiggington - Lindell is easily the most accomplished scorer returning from last year, which tends to be how this award is handed out. If his decision making improves, its him and it may not even be a close race.

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Dedric Lawson. I hate Kansas.

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Even if Kansas finishes last, Bill Self will still win coach of the year.

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

Kansas starts the season out slow only to turn it on by the end of Big 12 play before losing in the conference tournament semifinal and bowing out of the Big Dance in the second round. Stop me if you’ve seen this movie before.

Kansas State is good in a suffocate-you-to-death manner, and we all will hate Bruce Weber’s whiny red face more than we already do by seasons end.

West Virginia takes a big step backward. Having talented big men and unproven guards is not a recipe for success for basketball in 2018-19.

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

Anything Iowa State gets from Cameron Lard is a bonus. He will likely be suspended and on some sort of minutes restriction to start the season, and he is very likely on thin ice (personal opinion). That said, if his habits are better and he is committed to being the best version of himself, he could be an all-league player.

The Cyclones will utilize smaller lineups more frequently. While I don’t want to disrespect Solomon Young, him and Lard cannot play at the same time. We saw this last year, as neither is skilled enough to keep defenses honest. How do we get small lineups, then? Enter Michael Jacobson, Young’s injury, and a suspended Cameron Lard. I’m guessing we see Jacobson in the middle, and Talen Horton-Tucker at the other forward spot.

Iowa State will get plenty of help from their bench. Eventually, Iowa State will have 3 healthy/not suspended bigs, at least one of whom will have to come off the bench (my guess is Jacobson and Young both do). In addition, Zoran Talley and Terrence Lewis are both proven commmodities. In addition, it sounds like at least Tyrese Haliburton has impressed enough to play right away as well.

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Ian Rewoldt

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

10-3

Iowa State’s Conference Record

9-9

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas

2. West Virginia

3. TCU

4. Kansas State

5. Texas

6. Iowa State

7. Texas Tech

8. Baylor

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

Lindell Wigginton

Jaylen Fisher

Quentin Grimes

Dean Wade

Dedric Lawson

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Dedric Lawson

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Jamie Dixon

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Memphis natives are Kansas’s top three leading scorers
2. Bob Huggins finds random guards to become studs out of nowhere again.
3. Bob Huggins gets ejected twice

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. Win two out of three in Maui
2. Beat the Hawks in Carver
3. Terrence Lewis leads team in 3 point percentage

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Smdee

Non Conference Record

10-3: Maui will be a fun early season test that will ultimately not end up impacting the season.

Conference Record

10-8: With Soloman finally back, the Cyclones will trot out the deepest team in the Big 12 and routinely be in the fight for the 2nd and 3rd spot before eventually bowing out towards the end of the year. If the Cyclones want to truly develop into a top tier program, an equal emphasis must be placed on both sides of the ball- look for signs of balance this year as the Clones slowly begin to figure it out. But at the end of the day, College Basketball is about peaking at the right time, and hopefully Iowa State can put it all together starting in early March.

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas

2. Kansas St.

3. West Virginia

4.Iowa State

5. TCU

6. Texas

7.Texas Tech

8. Baylor

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

G: Lindell Wigginton

G: Dedric Lawson

F: Barry Brown Jr.

F: Dean Wade

F: Sagaba Konate

Big 12 Player of the Year

Barry Brown Jr.

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Quentin Grimes

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill Self

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Kansas will win the Big 12

2. A Big 12 team other than Kansas will be in the Final Four

3. Jamie Dixon will barely lose out to Bill Self for the Big 12 Coach of the Year

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. THT will turn heads but ultimately come up just short of winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

2. Cameron Lard will be seen on the AJ’s dance floor at least 8 different times during

3. Iowa State will return to either the Big 12 Tournament Championship or the Sweet 16, but not both

Austin Keeney

Non Conference Record

10-3. It won’t surprise me if we struggle a bit in Maui while sorting out rotations and integrating new pieces.

Conference Record

10-8

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas

2. West Virginia

3. TCU

4. Iowa State

5. Kansas State

6. Texas

7. Texas Tech

8. Baylor

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

Dedric Lawson

Lindell Wigginton

Dean Wade

Sagabe Konate

Jarrett Culver

Big 12 Player of the Year

Dedric Lawson

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Quentin Grimes

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bob Huggins. He hasn’t won this award since 2015(!). Bill Self has won or shared the award each of the last 2 years so it goes elsewhere this year.

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. At least 7 teams make the NCAA Tournament

Kansas is on their own level, but teams 2-7 should be very close together. Expect everyone to pile up a bunch of quality wins against each other and raise the profile of the whole conference. I think Kansas, K State, Iowa State, TCU, Texas, West Virginia, and Tech all make it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott Drew overachieves and Baylor is in the mix too with Makai Mason and my favorite name of the year, Flo Thamba

2. Kansas State doesn’t live up to the hype

Bruce Weber’s squad is getting a bump after making the Elite 8 last year and bringing back most of their guys. But honestly, they weren’t that great last year. And although the Kentucky win was impressive, their other tourney wins were against Creighton and a 16 seed. Then they got run off the floor by Loyola. Lots of talent, yes, but I see them ending up in the middle of the pack

3. Kansas finishes the regular season #1 in the AP poll

They’re going to be really good and it makes me sick

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. 2 wins over ranked teams on the road in conference play

2. 5 players average double figures in scoring

3. Lindell leaves for the NBA after this season

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Back40Cyclone

Iowa State’s Non Conference Record

11-2

Iowa State’s Conference Record

12-6

Final Big 12 Standings

1) Actually Helping Wheat Growers

2) Sidewalk Chalk

3) Mountain Mama

4) Tall Corn Nation

5) $$$$$

6) Yellow Spotted Lizards

7) Wranglers

8) Prairie Schooners

9) Taco John’s

10) Teddy Bears

All Big 12 First Team

Dean Wade

Lindell Wigginton

Dedric Lawson

Jayen Fisher

Sagaba Konate

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Dedric Lawson

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill Snyder, I mean Bruce Weber.

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1) Kansas doesn’t win a 14th straight

2) Bobby Huggins will be required to wear a seat belt on his bar stool

3) Texas Tech will actually change their logo to that of Taco John’s, for sponsorship purposes.

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1) Six conference losses will be to the same teams,

2) We win Maui and everybody gets lei’d

3) We wear Yellow jerseys with red shorts at least once this season.

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Levi Stevenson

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

13-0. The non-conference schedule is pretty damn soft, and that’s a damn good thing. This team has loads of young talent, but can use every possible opportunity to build chemistry and get the young guys on the floor. Mizzou and Arizona are looking like they will take a significant step back from last season, so both of those games are very winnable. Far and away the most difficult non-con game would be a potential showdown with Gonzaga, who looks to be a Final Four contender this year. However, the key to beating teams like Gonzaga is to rebound well, and shoot efficiently from outside. Enter Michael Jacobsen, Cam Lard, and the bevvy of three point shooters Iowa State has on the roster. Iowa State’s ability to rebound from the guard spots shouldn’t be underestimated either, as Lindell Wigginton, Nick Weiler-Babb, and Marial Shayok are all extremely capable rebounders.

Iowa State’s Conference Record

13-5. Home wins over everyone but Kansas State, road wins over Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas, and TCU.

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas

2. Kansas State

3. Iowa State

4. TCU

5. West Virginia

6. Texas

7. Baylor

8. Texas Tech

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

Lindell Wigginton

Barry Manilow

Kansas’ Leading Scorer

Hillary Duff Movie Love Interest

Cam Lard

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton - Probably going to lead the league in scoring, which is almost always the defining factor.

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Marial Shayok - The senior leader is going to be one of the key cogs in the Cyclone machine that’s going to challenge at the top of the conference for most of the year.

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill Self because there is no justice in this universe.

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Sagaba Konate becomes a 38% three point shooter.
2. Bill Self coaches his second-to-last season in Lawrence.
3. Baylor falls ass-backwards into the Elite Eight again.

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. Win the Maui Invitational
2. Talen Horton-Tucker ends up in the starting lineup before January.
3. Michael Jacobsen records a 20 rebound game.

GIF to Summarize the Season

David Braga

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

10-3

Iowa State’s Conference Record

12-6

Final Big 12 Standings

1. Kansas *sigh*

2. West Virginia

3. Iowa State

4. TCU

5. Kansas State

6. Texas

7. Texas Tech

8. Baylor

9. Oklahoma

10. Oklahoma State

All Big 12 First Team

Lindell Wigginton, Barry Brown, Dedric Lawson, Dean Wade, Sagaba Konate,

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Dedric Lawson *sigh*

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Bill Self *sigh*

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Bob Huggins gets a technical in both Iowa State games

2. All 10 teams make the NCAA Tournament

3. 3 buzzer beaters in conference play

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. Sweep Kansas

2. Nick Weiler-Babb gets 13 assists in a game twice

3. Sweet 16 here we come

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF

Matthias Schwartzkopf

Iowa State’s Non-Conference Record

13-0

Iowa State’s Conference Record

18-0

Final Big 12 Standings

1.Iowa State

2. West Virginia

3. Texas

4. TCU

5. Kansas State

6. Baylor

7. Texas Tech

8. Oklahoma

9. Oklahoma State

10. Kansas

All Big 12 First Team

Lindell Wigginton, Marial Shayok, Nick Weiler-Babb, Cameron Lard, Talen-Horton Tucker

Big 12 Player of the Year

Lindell Wigginton

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Marial Shayok

Big 12 Coach of the Year

Steve Prohm

3 Random Big 12 Predictions

1. Bill Self turns red

2. Bob Huggins sits on a stool

3. More from the Addidas fallout pops up

3 Random Iowa State Predictions

1. Wigginton Scores 50 in one game

2. Talen Horton-Tucker scores 69 in the national title game.

3. Steve Prohm runs out of chapstick

Summarize Iowa State’s Season with a GIF