Fansided

College basketball bubble watch: Week 7

By Nathaniel Reeves

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Northwestern Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Collins speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Northwestern Men's Basketball Head Coach Chris Collins speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – DECEMBER 7: Cameron Lard #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates with teammate Terrence Lewis #24 of the Iowa State Cyclones after dunking the ball in the second half of play against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Hilton Coliseum on December 7, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 84-78 over the Iowa Hawkeyes. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – DECEMBER 7: Cameron Lard #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates with teammate Terrence Lewis #24 of the Iowa State Cyclones after dunking the ball in the second half of play against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Hilton Coliseum on December 7, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 84-78 over the Iowa Hawkeyes. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Iowa State Cyclones 

Everyone wrote the Cyclones off following an ugly start to the season, but Steve Prohm’s team has quietly turned things around with an eight-game winning streak to enter the bubble picture.

This was expected to be somewhat of a rebuilding year in Ames, but back-to-back blowout losses against Missouri and Milwaukee was not exactly the start Prohm envisioned in his third year as head coach. Iowa State has solidified its rotations during the eight-game winning streak since, headlined by solid victories over Boise State and Northern Iowa.

The Cyclones are going to need a lot more than that on their resume by the end of the season, and the Big 12 appears likely to provide a challenging slate yet again. Iowa State should have no trouble in its final nonconference game of the season against Maryland- Eastern Shore on Wednesday, with huge matchups against Kansas State and Texas awaiting after the Christmas break.

Despite losing a ton of talent from last year’s 24-win squad, the Cyclones have the pieces to finish in the top half of the Big 12 if they continue their current form. Senior Donovan Jackson has taken a big step forward with 16.6 points per game this year, while freshman Lindell Wigginton is putting up some impressive numbers as Iowa State’s point guard.

Losing to Maryland-Eastern Shore would obviously be catastrophic, although that doesn’t appear likely to happen. Getting off to a 2-0 start in Big 12 play against a pair of teams who will also be fighting for an NCAA Tournament spot would be a huge boost to Prohm and the Cyclones.

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