All aboard the Iowa State hype train.

The Cyclones received their latest preseason accolade yesterday when they came in at No. 7 in the USA Today men’s basketball preseason coaches poll. The Cyclones came in two spots behind Big 12 foe No. 5 Kansas and one spot in front of No. 8 Oklahoma. 

Fellow Big 12 teams Baylor and West Virginia came in at 21st and 23rd, respectively. Kentucky and North Carolina tied for first in the coaches poll.

It’s not the first solid showing for the Cyclones in the preseason polls. The Cyclones have also been tabbed to finish third in the Big 12 preseason poll, behind Kansas and Oklahoma. 

Individual players have also collected some hype with three Cyclones being named to awards watch lists.

Jameel McKay was named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar watch list, which is given to the best center in the country. Monté Morris was placed on the Bob Cousy Award watch list, given to the nation’s top point guard and Georges Niang was named to the Karl Malone Award watch list, given to the top power forward in the country. 

Previously, Iowa State had four Cyclones recognized with preseason honors, when Niang was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team and Deonte Burton was named Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Morris and McKay also received honorable mention honors.