Iowa State's Tournament Hopes Hinge on Weekend Games

0:00On March 7th, the Iowa State Cyclones, men's basketball team burst out of the gate this season with a perfect 16-0 start, but they've hit some rough patches lately. Now sitting at 11 wins and six losses in Big 12 play, they're in fifth place behind Arizona, Houston, Texas Tech, and Kansas. That position puts their tournament seating and jeopardy, especially with a top four spot needed for a double buy. Their final regular season game comes this weekend against Arizona State, which could bump their conference record to 12 and 6 with a win. A loss drops them to 11 and 7, making things even tighter. Officials say their seed could range from as high as fourth to as low as sixth, depending on how the other game shake out. Cyclone fans are feeling the pressure, knowing a better seed means more rest before the Big 12 tournament. Many are crossing their fingers for upsets in key matchups, even if it means rooting against rivals like Kansas. That home game vibe and head-to-head results are stacking the odds against them. To snag fourth, Iowa State needs a win plus Kansas losing to Kansas State on March 7th at 1 p.m. Central Time.

1:06ESPN give the J-Hawks a 90.8% chance there. For fifth, it's a win or Cincinnati beating TCU in their 1 p.m. Central Time Clash, where the horned frogs hold a slight edge at 55.4%. Sent? Percent? These scenarios make a double buy a long shot, but not impossible, leaving everyone on edge as the weekend approaches and the tournament picture. Sharpen's into focus.