Iowa State basketball team in middle of unbelievable turnaround season

Iowa State’s basketball team is in the middle of an incredible turnaround season that is setting records.

The Cyclones bottomed out last season and went 2-22. The poor season led to the firing of Steve Prohm, under whom they made the NCAA Tournament three times in six seasons. As part of the 2-22 season, Iowa State went 0-18 in conference last season.

But whatever Iowa State didn’t do last season, they have made up for this season.

The Cyclones are now 22-12 after winning two NCAA Tournament games to reach the Sweet 16. They have become the first team to win as many games in the NCAA Tournament as they did the entire previous season.

.@CycloneMBB is the first team ever to win as many games in the NCAA Tournament as they did in the entire previous season.

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) March 21, 2022

Iowa State also set a record (by far) for having the worst season prior to a Sweet 16 run.

Per @ESPNStatsInfo, before #IowaState (.083 win percentage in 2020-21), the team with the lowest winning percentage to reach the Sweet 16 the next year was Ohio State, which went 8-22 (.267) in 1997-98 before a Final Four run in 1998-99.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) March 21, 2022

And how’s this for another nugget about Iowa State? They are 15-0 in non-conference games this season. Yes, their only losses came in Big 12 play.

That’s quite a turnaround under first-year coach T.J. Otzelberger.

Photo: Iowa State guard Tyrese Hunter (11) and guard Caleb Grill (2) celebrate a basket during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Friday, March 18, 2022 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis. Iowa State beat LSU 59-54