It is difficult as an ISU fan to witness what happened in 2021-22 and try to make heads or tails out of what could happen this upcoming season. Tj took the term "doing more with less" to a nearly unprecedented level. Sweet 16 is everyone's most recent memory of the team, and it's conveniently easy to forget that they really struggled at times with conference opponents, granted the needless caveat to mention that the Big 12 was and has been the highest echelon of the sport for some time now.
I don't think it's crazy to say that the upcoming version of the Iowa State men's team is more talented on paper than the past season's version. What will be interesting to see play out is how cohesive it can be. Last year's team united behind the idea that everyone counted them out from the get go. That 'chip' won't be there this year, at least not to the same level.
I do think the talent is there to get back to the ncaa tournament, and I am comfortable enough to predict that they do. Seeding wise, an 8 seems like a safe pick. I could see them anywhere from 7-11. It seems like they will susceptible to scoring droughts again and may still struggle to shoot it. Dealing with the unknown at the PG position too, but while Tyrese Hunter was a great freshman player for us, his inefficiencies held the team back at times. I am not ready to punt that position and say Iowa State will be worse there in 22-23. I am excited about our front court, and think it could end up being the best defensively, possibly in school history.
Iowa is most likely in the same boat. They have some talent on paper, but there is a need to see and understand how it will materialize before making a comfortable prediction. Kris Murray is the obvious stud that the offense will run through, but how good the ancillary pieces are will determine the success of the season. If things click on all cylinders and Sandfort and Perkins have upped their game semi significantly, I could see the hawks back in the tournament no question. I could even see them seeded higher than Iowa State, simply because of how the selection committee favors Big 10 teams, and due to how successful I think Iowa can be next year in what appears to be another rendition of a watered down Big 10.
Regardless though, Iowa will have obvious flaws and won't be unlike recent years where they are very soft defensively, especially inside, and lack athleticism to match up with the elite teams. It will come down to how well they can keep up with teams on the offensive end. Seed prediction 6 if everything clicks, to as low as 11, but I do think they'll be in the field.
