Iowa State’s last three weeks have taken a toll on the team.

The Cyclones (20-9, 9-7 Big 12) started the season with an 18-5 record. Each of those losses seemed to be followed shortly by a big win to cancel it out.

With plenty still to play for, Iowa State has two more regular season games to improve its resume before the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when Iowa State takes on West Virginia.

Since escaping Norman, Oklahoma, with a 75-74 win on Feb. 4, coach Steve Prohm’s squad has lost four of its last six games, including two home losses to unranked teams.

While the Cyclones have all but punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament later this month, seeding is still up in the air. ESPN’s latest bracketology update had Iowa State listed as a No. 5 seed, whereas CBS pinned the Cyclones as a No. 7 seed.

Reversing the trend of the last three weeks is the first step.

“Over the last three weeks our offensive numbers ironically have actually gotten better,” Prohm said. “Our defensive numbers have really dropped. If you look at our statistics in the last six games, especially from the 3-point line, it’s been bad … We’ve just gotta shore some things up in that area. We can’t let our offense dictate what we do on the defensive end.”

The Cyclones knocked off West Virginia in the first matchup of the season, a 93-68 final score at Hilton Coliseum.

Plenty has changed since that Jan. 30 game, however.

Iowa State could be without redshirt senior guard Nick Weiler-Babb, who injured his knee in the Cyclones’ recent loss at Texas.

“I don’t know about Nick,” Prohm said. “Right now it’s kinda day-to-day, might be a game-time decision, actually. We’ll probably play it safe with him if we have to.”

In his absence, the Cyclones could look to sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton.

Wigginton has spent the last 18 games coming off the bench. He is second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game.

“I feel good starting, but I don’t think it changes anything,” Wigginton said. “The only thing that changes is me or [freshman guard Tyrese Haliburton] playing the point. We’ve just gotta get out in transition like Nick does.

“I feel comfortable, I feel confident with whatever role I’m in.”

Weiler-Babb has started all 29 games this season for the Cyclones, averaging 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Weiler-Babb played a big role against West Virginia during the first matchup. He was third on the team with 14 points and chipped in six rebounds, four steals and three assists in the win.

As Prohm said, the Cyclones know their most meaningful basketball is still ahead of them.

“We’ve got a lot more basketball to play than just Wednesday night,” Prohm said.

When the Cyclones won the Big 12 Tournament in 2017 and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the team played its best at the end of the year. The Cyclones entered the NCAA Tournament that year, having won nine of their final 10 games.

Prohm has said since October that he feels this year’s team is similar to the 2017 team. Their ability to match the late-season success remains to be seen.

“Usually we’re playing really well this time of year,” Prohm said. “That year we were. Other teams I’ve had have done the same thing. We’ve just gotta get it fixed.

“It starts defensively and we have to continue to focus on sharing the ball on offense and staying together right now.”