Just three days after ascending to solo possession of first place within the Big 12, No. 5 Kansas State’s run because the lone staff atop the standings of the nation’s most cutthroat convention got here to an finish because the Wildcats fell 80-76 at No. 12 Iowa State. Jaren Holmes led the Cyclones with 23 factors, together with a pair of free throws within the last seconds that helped cement the result.
With the win, Iowa State (15-4, 6-2 Big 12) rose right into a three-way tie for first place within the Big 12 together with Ok-State and Texas after the Longhorns dealt with Oklahoma State at residence on Tuesday. Four gamers scored in double figures for the Cyclones, who remained unbeaten at residence and washed out the unhealthy style of a blown 16-point lead from Saturday’s loss at Oklahoma State.Â
Kansas State additionally had 4 gamers in double figures, however the Wildcats struggled defensively within the second half as Iowa State shot 62.5.% from the ground within the last half and made 15 of 19 free throws. The Wildcats (17-3, 6-2) received 23 factors from level guard Markquis Nowell, together with 18 within the second half, however merely could not provide you with sufficient stops.
Ok-State will drop off the projected No. 1 seed line in CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm’s projected NCAA Tournament subject due to the loss. The Wildcats stay top-of-the-line tales in faculty basketball after being picked to end final within the Big 12 beneath first-year coach Jerome Tang, however Tuesday was a reminder of simply how tough life is within the Big 12 this season.
Iowa State’s arrivalÂ
The win marks Iowa State’s first victory over a top-five opponent because the 2015-16 season when the Cyclones beat No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 4 Kansas in back-to-back weeks. Current head coach T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant for that that staff, which rose as excessive as No. 4 within the AP ballot and reached the Sweet 16 as a No. 4 seed within the NCAA Tournament.
Those heights appeared distant within the 2020-21 season because the Cyclones struggled to a 2-22 (0-18) report. But then ISU employed Otzelberger away from UNLV, and its fortunes instantly rotated. The Cyclones completed 22-13 final season of their first 12 months beneath Otzelberger and reached the Sweet 16 on the heels of the worst season in program historical past. The 2022-23 staff is proving that final season was no fluke.
In reality, this Iowa State staff seems even higher than final season’s squad, regardless of shedding main scorer Izaiah Brockington to commencement and second-leading scorer Tyrese Hunter, who transferred to Texas. The Cyclones are actually 6-4 in Quad 1 video games and are a mixed 2-0 towards Kansas State and Texas with whom they share first place within the convention.
Kansas State’s grind
Tuesday night time’s motion merely bolstered simply how brutal the Big 12 is that this season. Not far behind the trio of 6-2 groups are perennial powers Baylor and Kansas at 5-3. Also at 5-3 is No. 11 TCU. All six groups within the group of 6-2 and 5-3 squads seem to have a reputable likelihood of successful the convention. The league’s backside 4 of Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Texas Tech are additionally among the many prime 75 within the NET rankings.
The Big 12 is a grind, however the good factor for the Wildcats is that Tang is not any stranger to this actuality. After 19 seasons as an assistant at Baylor, Tang is aware of the Big 12 higher than most. After his staff’s first Big 12 loss at TCU on Jan. 14, Ok-State rebounded by successful towards Kansas in its subsequent outing.
There are loads of defensive points for the Wildcats to handle from the movie of Tuesday’s sport, however there isn’t a purpose for concern due to the Iowa State loss. Hilton Coliseum is a notoriously tough place for opponents, and Ok-State executed nicely sufficient offensively in that atmosphere to win. Ultimately, the Wildcats’ protection is what let the staff down.
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