Following Tuesday night’s three-point win against Oklahoma State, the Cyclones are now sitting alone in second place in the Big 12 Conference.

That’s not what many expected at the end of January.

Iowa State fell to then-No. 7 West Virginia on January 31, moving it to 5-4 in conference play and keeping it in a tight battle for fourth place.

Yet the month of February was kind to No. 24 Iowa State (20-9, 12-5 Big 12). They won seven of eight games, catapulting them to second place. The lone game lost, though, was at Texas.

That’s when the switch took place.

“[That loss] humbled us,” senior Naz Mitrou-Long said. “We didn’t go in there with any high-horse mentality, but coming off a W like we did, you lose a game like that — no discredit to Texas, they’re a good young team with a great coach — we’re not supposed to drop the ball in that game. The way we came out the gate was unacceptable.

“It was humbling, and I think that really sparked the run.”

Now Iowa State has just one game left in the regular season — a battle at No. 11 West Virginia at 6 p.m. Friday. 

That game decides the Cyclones’ seeding in the Big 12 Championships, which start next week at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. A win secures a No. 2 seed in the tournament. A loss, and their fate is more unsure.

A win on Friday wouldn’t only impact the Big 12 tournament, though. It would have a big impact on the Cyclones’ spot in the NCAA Tournament, too. 

And while that’s something he’s paying attention to, Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said that’s not his priority.

“If we can be a two in the big 12 tournament, thats what’s first,” Prohm said. “That’d be awesome. 

Regardless of the implications of the game, though, senior Matt Thomas said seeding scenarios aren’t something they look at much. He’s just focused on one game at a time.

“Everyone has just bought in and is playing for each other,” Thomas said. “We don’t really listen to that outside noise, we’re just trying to take care of business and get better every single day.”

Here are the three scenarios that can unfold over the next week, determining Iowa State’s seeding at the Big 12 Championships:

No. 2 Seed

Earning a spot as the No. 2 seed in the tournament is simple: get a win on Friday at West Virginia.

Regardless of how the other games in the conference unfold this weekend, a win over the Mountaineers will keep Iowa State ahead of both them and No. 10 Baylor, ensuring a second place finish in the conference and the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

This would mean that Iowa State first game at the Big 12 Championship would be on Thursday, March 9 at 6 p.m. The Cyclones would play the winner of the No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed. 

No. 3 Seed

If Iowa State falls to the Mountaineers on Friday, their fate in the tournament depends on the outcome of Baylor’s game against Texas on Saturday. 

Following a loss on Friday, Iowa State will be the No. 3 in the tournament if Texas upsets the Bears. This outcome would result in Iowa State being tied for second place, but the tiebreaker would push the Cyclones behind West Virginia and ahead of Baylor. 

Iowa State’s first game at the Big 12 Championship would be on Thursday, March 9 at 8 p.m., and would be against the No. 3 in the tournament.

No. 4 Seed

Iowa State will be a No. 4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament following a loss at West Virginia, and a Baylor win against Texas on Saturday.

This outcome would result in Iowa State being in a three-way tie for second place in the conference. West Virginia would win the overall tiebreaker, taking the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Baylor comes next, based on head-to-head wins, becoming the No. 2. This leaves Iowa State as the No. 4.

This would mean that Iowa State first game at the Big 12 Championship would be on Thursday, March 9 at 11:30 a.m. and would be against the No. 5 seed in the tournament.