Editor`s note: This is the eighth of the Big 12 capsule previews, which will run in order of predicted finish. The first seven teams: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Missouri.

Iowa State Cyclones

AP preseason ranking: Not ranked.

Head coach: Greg McDermott (44-51 at ISU, 265-178 overall).

Last season: 15-17 overall, 4-12 conference (10th).

Returning stars: Craig Brackins, 6-10, Jr., F (20.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg); Lucca Staiger, 6-5, Jr., G (8.2 ppg); Diante Garrett, 6-4, Jr., G (9.8 ppg).

Keep an eye on: Freshman Chris Colvin, ranked as the No. 10 prospect at point guard by scout.com, and junior college transfers LaRon Dendy (6-9, forward) and Marquis Gilstrap (6-7, forward) will help take some of the pressure and focus off Brackins.

Stats that matter: Brackins is the top returning scorer in the Big 12 after scoring 20 or more points 19 times last season, including a 42-point performance against Kansas. ... Staiger, who made 74 3-pointers last season, led the German U20 National Team in scoring over the summer.

Quotable: "They must not think much of the coach is what that must mean," McDermott on what having his talented team picked eighth by the Big 12 coaches in the preseason poll. "That would be my guess. But it is a testament to the league."

Outlook: Brackins didn`t put the NBA on hold and return to Ames to lead the Cyclones to the NIT. There is no question there is enough talent at Iowa State to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. But McDermott will have to prove that he can coach all of the promising pieces into a surprise team.

CU sees `em: Jan. 30 in Ames (7 p.m.) and Feb. 27 in Boulder (11:30 a.m, Big 12 Network).

Tomorrow`s preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders.

-- Ryan Thorburn