ISU Projected as a No. 3 Seed

Ames, Iowa — Iowa State’s men’s basketball team has been slotted as a No. 3 seed in the latest national bracket projections, reinforcing the Cyclones’ standing among the country’s elite ahead of next month’s tournament. The forecast, released Monday, positions ISU on the three-line for the first time this season, a notable jump that reflects the program’s recent surge through the conference slate.

Selection analysts cited the Cyclones’ balanced scoring and improved defensive efficiency as key factors in the elevated seeding. The projection places ISU among the top 12 teams on the board, ensuring a favorable draw and a potential second-weekend path that could run through nearby regional sites.

Iowa State, which has not been seeded this high since the tournament expanded to 68 teams, now controls its own destiny with several regular-season games remaining. A strong finish could lock the Cyclones into the No. 3 line—or even nudge them higher—while a slip-up might open the door for bubble teams lurking just outside the top four seeding tiers.

The athletic department declined to comment on the projection, reiterating its week-to-week approach, yet players quietly welcomed the recognition inside the Sukup Practice Facility. The team returns to action later this week, seeking to validate the forecast and strengthen its résumé before conference tournament play begins.