Iowa State men’s basketball: Cyclones finish regular season at 16th in AP, Coaches polls

Iowa State has remained at the same position from week-to-week in the polls multiple times this season, so it’s fitting to end the regular season sticking at 16th in the Associated Press poll after splitting the weekend with Baylor and Oklahoma State.

Mar 8, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Fred Hoiberg reacts during their game with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State beat Oklahoma State 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Cyclones received 572 points in the AP, well above 17th-ranked Oklahoma and behind 15th-ranked North Carolina. The Sooners jumped up six spots this week, enjoying their highest ranking of the season.

Kansas also split the week, blowing out Texas Tech at home but losing on the road to West Virginia. Andrew Wiggins had a career-high 41 points, but they couldn’t overcome the Mountaineers with Joel Embiid absent from the game. They dropped two spots to 10th place, but remain the highest ranked Big 12 team.

In comparison, the Jayhawks also received 10th in the Coaches poll. The Cyclones were the same at 16th and the Sooners are at 18th.

Texas finished on the fringe of the top 25 rankings, making it into the top 30 in both polls. Other Big 12 teams receiving votes include Baylor, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have dropped out of both top 25 polls after losing both games last week and dropping five of their last six games. You could say that the sky falling in Indiana was a future metaphor for the black and gold.