:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53613015/usa_today_9909025.0.jpg)
Post season basketball is finally upon us, Cyclone Nation. Iowa State heads to Hilton South in search of their third Big 12 Tournament Championship in the last four years. Their first matchup in their title quest is a dance with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Keeping this short and sweet today because there’s not much to say after watching these two teams play twice already. Enjoy the all day basketball, and if Iowa State doesn’t win this first game, just drink until Selection Sunday.
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State by the Numbers
| Iowa State | Oklahoma State | |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | Oklahoma State | |
| AP Ranking | 23 | 27 |
| Season Record | 20-10 (12-6) | 20-11 (9-9) |
| Home/Away | 12-3 / 8-7 | 11-5 / 9-6 |
| Series Record | 62-63 | 63-62 |
| Series in Kansas City | 6-9 | 9-6 |
| Via Kenpom (3/9) | ||
| Overall Ranking | 24 | 20 |
| Adjusted Offense | 17 | 1 |
| Adjusted Defense | 41 | 123 |
| 2P% | 50.3% (133) | 50.5% (123) |
| 3P% | 39.9% (13) | 40.4% (9) |
| FT% | 69.8% (191) | 78.6% (5) |
| EFG% | 54.0% (42) | 54.2% (38) |
Last Time Out
Iowa State had it’s rematch with West Virginia, which went eerily similar to the first game.
Oklahoma State comes off its second consecutive loss after falling to Kansas at home on Senior Day.
Rounds 1 and 2
Monte Morris is the best point guard in the Big 12 and it’s a damn shame he’s not a Cousy Award Finalist. Fight me.
Matchups and Players to Watch
Monte Morris vs. Jawun Evans is a gimme. Evans put on a hell of a show in Ames, and he’s going to give Iowa State fits again. In the second matchup, Oklahoma State did a good job of getting Iowa State to switch Solomon Young on to 6’8” Leyton Hammonds. He cashed 5-3’s on 9 attempts. Iowa State’s bigs defending the perimeter has been an issue all season. See Luke Kornet of Vanderbilt, Nathan Adrian of West Virginia, Przemek Karnowski of Gonzaga.
It’s not necessarily that they all cashed a bunch of threes, but Iowa State’s bigs haven’t been good defending in space and that causes problems with rotations, fouls, and easy buckets. Young and Bowie will have to step out to contest long balls from Hammonds, but they can’t fly at him and just let him drive by either. Watch how the bigs of Iowa State defend if you want an early indicator of how this game will go.
A Word and a GIF Summary
Today’s Word: Intensity
Iowa State has had some real clunkers when tipping off in the late morning/early afternoon sessions. Oklahoma State is too good of a team for Iowa State to be able to get down by double digits early on like we’ve seen them do at times on the road this season. If we see a start like we did at Hilton with these two teams, I like Iowa State’s chances, if we see a start like we did at OU, it will get ugly, fast.
Today’s GIF:
Pick 3
- I’m drunk by noon
- Both teams start cold
- This game goes about like the Championship vs. Baylor a few years ago
#23 Iowa State - 77; Oklahoma State - 73
Game Notes
Game Time: Thursday, March 9th, 11:30 a.m. CST
Line Open: Oklahoma State (-1); O/U (165)
The Foe: Cowboys Ride for Free
TV/Webcast: ESPN2/WatchESPN (Bob Wischusen, Fran Fraschilla, Holly Rowe)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/TuneIn Radio App (John Walters, Eric Heft)
Cyclones.com Game Notes: Available here