1. Well, it happened.
Iowa State went the entire Big 12 season without winning a game. It’s a deep year for the Big 12…but with two other teams bad enough for Iowa State to expect to win every time against them were they at the level they want to be at. In some ways, a harder year to go winless than most.
2. They didn’t lose by a ton, but they were the clear losers.
It wasn’t an “if a few breaks…” kind of game. Kansas State beat Iowa State thoroughly. It was only a five-point margin, but there was no point in the game where it looked like Iowa State’s to lose. They had chances, sure. But they didn’t cough it up or anything like that.
This is both relieving and depressing. It isn’t like Iowa State just caught everyone at the wrong time. They were worse than everyone in the league. And they showed it every time out. Some nights were better than others, but in the end, Iowa State really was this bad. This was not a fluke.
3. Where, from here?
First, the Big 12 Tournament. There’s been a lot of resigning of oneselves to how that will go, but it’s still an opportunity to get a win, to make some noise, etc. All those things can technically happen, and that’s the approach the team needs to find a way to take. But that’s easier said than done. I’d imagine it’s a hard locker room right now in which to believe a win could come this week.
