It will certainly be a unique weekend in Kansas City for the ISU men’s basketball team.

For the first time in conference history, dating all the way back to when the conference was the Big 6, the Cyclones will enter the tournament as the hunter and not the hunted.

Just a year ago, Iowa State was the No. 9 seed. The Cyclones bowed out to Colorado 69-61 in the first round of the tournament to finish the season with a record of 15-15.

This season, Iowa State will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Cyclones finished the regular season with an overall record of 26-4, with a mark of 14-2 in conference play.

The only two losses came on the road, at Oklahoma in double overtime and at Colorado after one overtime.

But Iowa State knows the tournament will hardly be a cakewalk. Several other teams in the conference can still make a run for the title.

Texas will occupy the No. 2 seed. The Longhorns ended league play with a mark of 13-3. Texas’ only losses came on the road to Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma.

The Longhorns feature future NBA lottery pick Chris Mihm. The 7-1 center leads the conference in blocks per game with 3, and he also paces the league with 10.5 rebounds per game.

At 18 points per game, he is also the fourth best scorer in the league.

Meanwhile, the No. 3 seed will be Oklahoma, who ended league play with a mark of 24-5, including 12-4 in the Big 12.

The Sooners are the final Big 12 team to be considered a “lock” for the NCAA Tournament behind certain first team All-Big 12 forward Eduardo Najera.

The gritty senior averages over 18 points and nine rebounds per game. With perimeter players Tim Heskett, J.R. Raymond and Kelley Newton, the Sooners have a potent outside game to complement Najera.

The fourth seed will be Oklahoma State. The Cowboys finished the regular season with a mark of 23-5, including a 12-4 mark in the conference.

The Cowboys are led by Desmond Mason. The 6-6 forward is averaging 18.6 points per game overall and is a certain First Team All-Big 12 choice.

The Cowboys fell to Texas, Iowa State, and Texas A&M on the road this season, while they lost their regular season finale at home against Oklahoma.

The fifth seed in the tournament is Kansas. The Jayhawks have been up and down this season recording impressive wins over Ohio State and Oklahoma but losing badly to Missouri and Oklahoma State.

Kansas is the deepest team in the league, but its final conference record of 11-5 indicates that they are not the team that they were last year, when they won the Big 12 Tournament.

In fact, the Jayhawks have won the tourney all three years of its existence.

A team that is fighting for its post-season life at this point is Missouri. The Tigers got off to a fast start in conference play, going 7-1 in the first half of the season.

However, Missouri has gone only 3-5 in the second half of the season. That leaves the Tigers at 17-11 overall and a borderline choice for the NCAA Tournament.

Starting with their game against No. 11 seed Texas Tech, the Tigers will have to make their case for the selection committee with a strong showing in Kansas City.

Colorado is the tourney’s No. 7 seed. However, the Buffs may be the most dangerous team in the field with their ability to explode offensively.

The Cyclones found that out when Jaquay Walls poured in 42 points to give Iowa State its second and final conference loss.

The No. 8 seed will be Nebraska. The Huskers will probably be playing for the fate of their beleaguered coach Danny Nee, who in 10 seasons at Nebraska has yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament.

Holding down the No. 9 seed is Baylor. The Bears won four games in conference play this season.

At No. 10 is Texas A&M (3-13), while No. 11 is Texas Tech (3-13). Kansas State holds down the final position at 2-15.

The Cyclones will play the winner of the Baylor-Nebraska game. Iowa State defeated Baylor in the final game of the regular season and beat Nebraska twice this season.