AMES — They know it's coming every year. They don't welcome it, certainly, but they'd be foolish not to expect it.

Without a doubt, every season is going to hit a skid, go sideways and provide some adversity. The problem is, while inevitable, it's not like clockwork, and the timing for Iowa State, which has lost four of its last six games, is less than ideal with the calendar reading March and the postseason bearing down on the Cyclones.

"We've kind of hit our tailspin now for whatever reason, and we've got to get it fixed," ISU coach Steve Prohm said. "This isn't the best time of year for this because there are a lot of implications this time of year. But you've got to deal with the cards you're dealt, and that's where we're at right now."

The fact that the Cyclones (20-9, 9-7) have gone wobbly the first week of the season's most important month is cause for concern, not only because the whole season is supposed to be a build up to these moments but because there is precious little time to recalibrate whatever is broken.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves We know how talented we are, but that's only going to take us so far," senior Marial Shayok said. "We've got to stay together and come ready to play.

"We got comfortable, for sure, and didn't really come out and respect each opponent. I think it started with the TCU game at home (Feb. 9) and it kind of trickled down to the rest of these games."

The losses nixed the highest of ISU goals such as a Big 12 regular-season title or a high, geographically protected NCAA tournament seed, but as Shayok alluded to, the talent is still there and the Cyclones haven't done overwhelming damage to their NCAA tournament path.

The priority is less winning the final two games -- though that is a priority -- but showing signs of the type of improvement that would make them resemble the team that looked like a Final Four contender in January.

"We're supposed to be better than we were in January," Shayok said. "We're supposed to playing our best basketball of the season, and I think we will be. It's just a matter of time.

"I know time is whittling down but we've just got to listen to coach and stay together no matter what and we'll be just fine."

Wednesday's matchup in Morgantown against West Virginia is really the last game that ISU can imperil its current NCAA tournament standing as a Quadrant 2 game. ISU now probably projects something close to a five seed and wouldn't want to fall below a six as a No. 7 means a potential matchup with a No. 2 seed in the second round.

The more pressing issue, though, is getting back on track regardless of where the seed ultimately lands.

"It's frustrating from the standpoint because you know you've got to change it now," Prohm said. "This season has been good. We want it to be great. We were on pace for that, and now we've kind of gotten hit in the mouth a little bit.

"I don't think we need any drastic changes from like what we're doing offensively. Our attention to detail defensively has to be better so we're better on offense. Then we've just got to continue to work at it."

Regardless of what happens in the final two games or in Kansas City at the Big 12 tournament, the Cyclones are going to be in the NCAA tournament so there's only so much parallel you can draw to last year's last-place Big 12 team, but the scars of that squad's seven-game losing streak to end the season are still fresh with the carryovers on this year's tourney-bound team.

"It's important because we need momentum going into the Big 12 tournament and also going into the NCAA tournament," sophomore Lindell Wigginton said. "We need momentum going into those games. It's definitely important how we finish."