Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly has built one of the most stable programs in the Big 12.
The Cyclones have reached a pair of regional finals and developed one of the nation's strongest fan bases under his watch, which is why the school gave Fennelly what amounts to a lifetime contract a few years back.
That's also why Fennelly would have gotten a pass if the Cyclones took a step back this season. Iowa State lost three senior starters from last year's 27-9 squad and was picked to finish seventh in the brutal Big 12.
As it turned out, Iowa State (18-4, 6-3) skipped the rebuilding and went straight to reloading.
Led by veterans Alison Lacey and Kelsey Bolte and bolstered by a stellar freshman class, the 20th-ranked Cyclones have surged into a three-way tie for second place in the Big 12 - which boasts seven teams in this week's Top 25 - and look like a safe bet for another NCAA tournament berth.
Save for undefeated and third-ranked Nebraska, Iowa State has been the surprise of the Big 12. The Cyclones have won six of seven heading into Saturday's home date with No. 11 Baylor.
``I'm probably, where we are, surprised a little bit. But I sure hope we can continue to get better,'' Fennelly said.
The biggest reason for the strong start has been Lacey's vastly improved play and leadership - a must after Iowa State lost star guard Heather Ezell to graduation.
Lacey, a senior from Canberra, Australia, has embraced her expanded role and developed into one of the nation's best players. She ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 17.6 points per game - six points more than she averaged a year ago - and is second in the league with 6.6 assists. She's also first in free-throw percentage at 88.8 percent, and her assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.2-1 is easily the Big 12's best.
Fennelly said Lacey turned down a chance to play for Australia in the World University Games to stay in Ames last summer and work with the Cyclones' newcomers.
``She has done a great job every day in practice and in the games of trying to get them in the right spots and understanding that if she can just get them to do some little things to help, she's good enough to do a lot of the heavy lifting,'' Fennelly said. ``Everyone came in, knew who the leader was, knew whose team it was, and her high level of play has elevated everyone around her.''
Bolte, a junior guard from Ida Grove, Iowa, has upped her scoring average to 12.2 points per game while shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range - a major reason why the Cyclones have become the league's best beyond the arc.
Replacing post players Nicky Wieben and Amanda Nisleit also figured to be a major challenge for Iowa State. But the freshman frontcourt trio of Anna Prins, Chelsea Poppens and Amanda Zimmerman have adjusted to the rigorous Big 12.
Prins, the 6-foot-7 standout from Broomfield, Colo., is averaging 8.9 points per game and leads the Cyclones with 20 blocks. Poppens, a 6-2 forward, is right behind her with 8.5 points an outing along with nearly six rebounds, and Zimmerman is shooting 54.3 percent from the floor.
A key for the Cyclones down the stretch will be whether Prins, Poppens and Zimmerman can avoid hitting the freshman wall.
``For them to be on a team that's 18-4 and tied for second place in our league says that they're doing some positive things,'' Fennelly said of his young post players. ``Hopefully they have enough left in the tank to really finish strong.''
