Cyclones picked eighth in 2022-23 Big 12 preseason poll

Mar 25, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger yells during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State has been picked to finish eighth in the Big 12’s preseason poll released on Thursday.

The coaches have pegged Baylor as the favorite to win the league by receiving five of the possible 10 first-place votes. Kansas is second in the poll with four first-place votes while Texas is third with one first-place vote of its own.

The Cyclones were picked to finish dead last in the Big 12 last season before becoming one of college basketball’s biggest surprises in year one under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. Iowa State started last season by going 12-0 during the non-conference slate then finished tied for seventh in the Big 12 with a 7-11 record in league play.

Iowa State will once again be tasked with welcoming in a host of new faces on this year’s roster, including St. Bonaventure transfers Osun Osunniyi and Jaren Holmes, VCU transfer Hason Ward and several highly touted true freshmen. That group will be helped by a quartet of returning veterans in Gabe Kalscheur, Aljaz Kunc, Caleb Grill and Robert Jones.

The Big 12 will be holding its men’s basketball media day next Wednesday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Full Big 12 2022-23 preseason poll:

1 – Baylor – 5 first-place votes – 77 points

2 – Kansas – 4 first-place votes – 73 points

3 – Texas – 1 first-place vote – 64 points

4 – TCU – 58 points

T-5 – Oklahoma State – 42 points

T-5 – Texas Tech – 42 points

7 – Oklahoma – 32 points

8 – Iowa State – 30 points

9 – West Virginia – 20 points

10 – Kansas State – 12 points

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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