Basketball

WILLIAMS: Analyzing Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament situation after a big week

Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalen Hill (1) defends Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Hunter (11) at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones win 75 to 54. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

AMES — In the eyes of many Iowa State fans, after blowing a 15-point second half lead to Kansas State last Saturday, the world was all but coming to an end. 

Seven days later, with two conference wins to show for it (at TCU on Tuesday and 75-54 over Oklahoma on Saturday), the Cyclones are right back in the thick of things when it comes to landing an NCAA Tournament berth under first-year head coach T.J. Otzelberger

There is still work left to be done, but let’s take a look at where things standing heading into the final stretch of the season. 

First things first … 

We need to acknowledge what the NCAA Tournament committee did on Saturday, when it released its initial top-16 seeds (at this point in the season). 

The biggest notable: No Houston. 

Why does that matter to Iowa State? It’s about context. 

I’ll explain: Houston is currently ranked fourth in the NET rankings. The Cougars, however, have zero Quad 1 wins on the season. They are ranked 14th in the AP poll but were nowhere to be found in the committee’s top-16. 

NCAA selection committee chairman Tom Burnett went on CBS Saturday morning to discuss the release. 

“It’s not the end-all, be-all,” Burnett said of the NET rankings on the CBS broadcast. “We look at it as the first step.”

Another notable team was Providence, who came in at No. 15. At 21-3 (11-2 in the Big East), the Friars have five Quad 1 wins but are only ranked 29th in the NET. 

As defined by the NCAA, the NET rankings take into account: Game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses. 

A quality tool, no doubt. But given what we saw from the committee on Saturday, quality wins simply mean more. 

Prior to Saturday’s win over Oklahoma (a NET ranking of 39), Iowa State’s NET ranking was 43. 

However, Iowa State has eight Quad 1 wins, which is tied for the second most of any team in college basketball. 

FINAL ANALYSIS… 

I feel like there isn’t a more intense roller coaster of emotions in sports than being a college basketball fan. The season is so long, with so many peaks and valleys, that it is often difficult to step back and take a look at the big picture. 

The fact is though that the committee values games in November as much as it does ones played in February. So Iowa State’s Quad 1 neutral court wins over Memphis and Xavier are just as impressive as last week’s collapse vs. K-State was disappointing. 

Last week’s Quad 1 win at TCU means the same as December’s Quad 1 win at Creighton. 

The committee looks at your entire body of work, not merely what you did in conference play or in the final month of the season. 

Iowa State has done the hard work to get into the Big Dance. Just don’t screw it up from here, which I realize is easier said than done. 

Just one man’s opinion: Win on Wednesday vs. West Virginia and that alone might be enough to get Iowa State into a play-in game. Clearly though, getting to that 20-win mark would be huge, and all but assure the Cyclones a spot in the Field of 68. 

@cyclonefanatic