AMES -- Iowa State is on its first three-game losing streak since the end of the 2023 season.
After opening the season ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP Poll, the Cyclones have been projected as a No. 1 seed most of the season. Last week's losses to Arizona and Kansas State and Monday's 69-52 defeat at Kansas have thrown the Cyclones' march to a No. 1 seed off course.
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Here's where ISU is projected to play in the NCAA Tournament:
Iowa State off the No. 1 line
ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects the Cyclones as a No. 2 seed in the bracket's West region (Milwaukee, Wisconsin site). He matches ISU up with No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast.
Lunardi lists Auburn (20-1, 8-0 SEC) as the top overall seed.
Before the loss to Kansas, CBS Sports' Jerry Palm dropped the Cyclones down to a No. 3 seed. He has ISU in the West region of the bracket playing against No. 14 seed Towson.
Iowa State basketball NCAA Tournament resume
The Cyclones are No. 9 in the NET rankings. ISU is 6-4 in quadrant one games and boasts victories against Marquette (No. 18 in NET), Texas Tech (No. 8) and Kansas (No. 7) .
ISU's lone non-conference loss, 83-81 to Auburn, is as respectable as it gets. The Tigers rank No. 1 in the NET.
Iowa State basketball NCAA Tournament history
Iowa State has never earned an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed.
The Cyclones have earned a No. 2 seed three times, including last season. They also accomplished the feat back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.
In three seasons under coach TJ Otzelberger, the Cyclones have made the NCAA Tournament every year. ISU made the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024 and lost in the first round to Pittsburgh in 2023.
Analyzing Iowa State's 2025 football schedule: Deion Sanders, a brutal October and a Big 12 Championship rematch Shooting struggles at Kansas extend Iowa State's losing streak to three Iowa State basketball tumbles in week 14 AP Poll after losses to Arizona, Kansas State
Ben Hutchens is an Iowa State University beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at [email protected].
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