Well, Cyclone fans, here we are.

In the days before the men’s and women’s Big 12 tournaments start, those of us who watched the men’s and women’s basketball teams have time to reflect on the regular seasons that were.

Like any other year, there were ups and downs. But unlike recent years, the ups far outweighed the downs for both programs.

Things certainly didn’t start out great for the women, with an 0-5 beginning to the Big 12 season. But coach Bill Fennelly led his squad to a 9-9 finish, a feat few thought possible after that fifth loss.

All the while, the ISU men sped through one of their most memorable seasons to date. Wins against Kansas and Baylor — both ranked in the top 10 at the time — were two of several marquee wins in the Big 12, during a season in which the men matched or surpassed milestones not seen or set since 2001.

Two court rushes — though the Baylor version was a faux pas in our book — for men’s games and the aforementioned comeback story for the women were fun to follow.

In short, it was a great year to be a Cyclone basketball fan, and the ISD Sports Editorial Board recognizes that.

But a top 25 ranking and (likely) berths to the respective NCAA tournaments and top-four finishes for both squads in the Big 12 only last as long as the amount of time between now and tipoffs in Kansas City.

We hate to burst a bubble, but all the momentum built over the last few weeks could fizzle in a hurry.

Both Fennelly and coach Fred Hoiberg are aware of that and said as much in Monday’s news conferences.

For the women, beating Kansas State three times in a season won’t be easy — though Fennelly did say he and the team approach it as winning one at a time, forget three — and the ISU men will be facing a Texas squad with an NCAA selection committee to impress.

Basically, there’s a chance both of these teams have two games left; their opening rounds in both the Big 12 and (presumably) the NCAA tournament.

Should Cyclone fans be excited about postseason chances and rankings? Absolutely.

Just be careful, and wrangle those ever-inflating expectations you may be heaping on your favorite teams.

We think both teams — especially the women, who have an opening-round game in Hilton Coliseum for the NCAA tournament — certainly have the talent and ability to make some noise in both tournaments.

If the men can play in the postseason the way they did in the second half of the Baylor game, special things could easily happen. Not to mention the axe they have to grind with Missouri, should that rematch happen.

If the women can capitalize on home-court advantage in the NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16 isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Just keep that excitement and those predictions in check.

As Hoiberg has championed all season long, take each of these remaining games one at a time.

Sit back and enjoy them in the moment, and don’t look too far ahead.