No. 7 Iowa State assuredly clinched a top-eight seed within the NCAA match with a 69-41 win over No. 1 Houston to win the Large 12 match on Saturday night time.
The Cyclones sprinted away from the Cougars at the beginning of the second half after grabbing a 30-23 lead earlier than halftime. Keshon Gilbert buried two 3-pointers within the opening minutes of the second half as Iowa State stretched its result in 20 with an 18-5 run to start out the half.
After suffocating opponents all season lengthy with its protection, Houston felt what it was like for opponents to play in opposition to the Cougars all season lengthy. Houston shot simply 26% from the sector as Iowa State — the second-best defensive workforce within the Large 12 behind Houston — hounded Houston everywhere in the courtroom.
Iowa State must be no decrease than a No. 2 seed when the boys’s NCAA match subject is revealed on Sunday and will probably be a well-liked Ultimate 4 choose. The Cyclones enter the NCAA match as one of many hottest groups within the nation. After dropping by two factors at Baylor on Feb. 3, Iowa State has received 11 of its final 13 video games in what’s broadly thought-about to be the hardest convention within the nation.
Gilbert completed with 16 factors whereas Milan Momcilovic had 18 factors and made 4 3-pointers.
Concern for Houston?
The Cougars entered the Large 12 match deserving of their No. 1 rating within the AP Prime 25. Houston received the Large 12 by two video games and had received 11 straight video games earlier than dropping to the Cyclones. Saturday’s loss was the most important of the season for the Cougars and got here in Kansas Metropolis, the identical place the place Houston’s NCAA match run ended in opposition to Miami within the Candy 16 a season in the past.
Even when Houston isn’t the No. 1 general seed on Sunday, the Cougars are safely on the No. 1 line and can enter the match as one of many favorites to win all of it. Nevertheless, there’s a little bit of concern for Houston forward of the match.
The Cougars are with out Joseph Tugler for the remainder of the season after he had foot surgical procedure and J’Wan Roberts missed the second half of Saturday’s sport due to a shin contusion he suffered in Friday night time’s win over Texas Tech. With out Tugler and Roberts, Houston is fairly small. Ja’Vier Francis is the one different ahead who will get vital enjoying time.
If Roberts’ absence Saturday night was greater than precautionary, Houston might be in a precarious spot if it comes up in opposition to a considerably greater opponent in its area. Particularly if it has one other off night time taking pictures the ball.
The Large 12 ought to have 9 groups within the match
The Large 12 will probably be properly represented on Choice Sunday. The convention ought to get 9 of its 14 groups into the NCAA match and will have turn out to be the primary convention for the reason that Large East in 2011 to get 10 or extra groups within the convention had Cincinnati or Kansas State superior to the semifinals of the convention match.
Along with Houston and Iowa State, Baylor and Kansas might be top-four seeds of their respective areas and BYU and Texas Tech must also get excessive seeds.