When was the last time you simply enjoyed Iowa State basketball?
Really think about that. The Cyclone program has been ranked in the top 25 for 47 consecutive polls dating back to 2013 and has accomplished some remarkable things during that timespan, but as of late, each victory served as more of a relief and too often, watching this program was frequently burdensome and frustrating.
Iowa State entered this year's campaign with aspirations of chasing a Final Four, but over the last month especially, this team has looked nowhere near capable of achieving that lofty goal. There have been frustrating losses, the Naz Mitrou-Long injury, and a general malaise that seemed to have stricken the program.