The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State men’s basketball team received its highest preseason ranking in school history, receiving a No. 7 ranking in the poll announced today by The Associated Press.
The No. 7 preseason ranking tops the Cyclones’ previous high ranking of No. 9 entering the 1996-97 season. It is just the fifth time in school history that the Cyclones have been ranked in the preseason top-25.
Iowa State is one of four ranked Big 12 teams. Kansas starts the season at No. 4, while Oklahoma and Baylor follow the Cyclones at No. 8 and No. 22, respectively.
Iowa State, which returns four starters from last season’s team, faces Grand Valley State in an exhibition game on Friday before opening the season against Colorado in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 13.
Associated Press Preseason Top 25
1. North Carolina
2. Kentucky
3. Maryland
4. Kansas
5. Duke
6. Virginia
7. Iowa State
8. Oklahoma
9. Gonzaga
10. Wichita State
11. Villanova
12. Arizona
13. Michigan State
14. California
15. Indiana
16. Utah
17. Wisconsin
18. Vanderbilt
19. Notre Dame
20. Connecticut
21. LSU
22. Baylor
23. Purdue
24. Butler
25. Michigan
