KANSAS CITY, Mo. — T.J. Otzelberger practically let the Huge 12 Match trophy slip by his palms earlier than adjusting his grip and elevating it above his head, that polo shirt so many individuals discover so comically tight on Iowa State’s coach stretching just a bit bit extra.
There was nothing humorous about the best way the Cyclones performed Saturday night time.
Led by Keshon Gilbert, the tourney’s most excellent participant, and a balanced roster wherein everybody has a job, the nation’s seventh-ranked group effectively dismantled No. 1 Houston within the championship sport. Gilbert completed with 16 factors because the Cyclones rolled to the 69-41 victory, giving them their sixth Huge 12 trophy of their sixth title sport look.
The margin was the most important over a No. 1 group since UCLA beat the Cougars by 32 within the 1968 Ultimate 4.
“I give our guys all of the credit score,” Otzelberger mentioned after reducing down the nets. “You hear it on a regular basis: You wish to be enjoying your finest this time of yr. I do not assume there’s any query that is what we’re doing.”
Milan Momcilovic had 18 factors, and Hason Ward scored 13 for the Cyclones (27-7), who’ve crushed 5 totally different applications to boost the trophy, together with Oklahoma, which on the time was led by present Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.
Sampson most likely felt even worse on Saturday night time than he did in 2000. Iowa State used an 18-3 run to show a 30-23 halftime lead into the type of blowout Sampson has hardly ever skilled. And that in flip gave 1000’s of Cyclones followers who paint Kansas Metropolis crimson and yellow each March loads of cause to face on their toes and roar their approval.
“Very seldom do you play a street sport within the championship of a event, however you recognize what? Hats off to Iowa State’s followers,” Sampson mentioned. “I’ve recognized Iowa State’s followers for an extended, very long time. That is not the primary time I’ve misplaced to them within the championship. However do not lose sight of how good it’s important to be to get right here.”
It does not appear to matter who’s teaching Iowa State on the Huge 12 Match, both. Otzelberger grew to become the fourth to take that trophy again to Ames, Iowa, and the third to do it up to now 10 accomplished occasions.
“You beat a group or program nearly as good as Houston is,” Otzelberger mentioned, “your guys know they’ve completed one thing.”
Jamal Shead had 10 factors on 3-for-17 capturing for Houston (30-4), which was outscored 39-18 within the second half. L.J. Cryer was held to seven factors and Emanuel Sharp to 5 because the Cougars shot 4 of twenty-two from the 3-point arc and 15 of 56 from the sector.
“We’ll decide ourselves up. We have had a fantastic yr,” Sampson mentioned. “Forty minutes is just not going to outline three months.”
Iowa State constructed its halftime lead by enjoying the function of Houston higher than Houston.
The preternaturally poised Cyclones by no means wavered after they fell behind early. They exhibited some beautiful ball motion for straightforward layups when the Cougars’ guards tried to lock down the perimeter. And when the Cyclones bought these buckets to go, it freed up Momcilovic and the remainder of the Iowa State sharpshooters to start draining 3-pointers.
On the opposite finish, the Cyclones pressured Shead into off-balance runners and lengthy 3s on the finish of the shot clock; the Huge 12 participant of the yr — and defensive participant of the yr — was 2-for-11 within the first half, and it did not get any higher within the second.
Cougars huge man J’Wan Roberts additionally was largely ineffective after hurting his proper leg and enjoying sparingly of their semifinal rout of Texas Tech. He began the sport and performed 13 first-half minutes earlier than sitting out the second half.
“This sport’s not close to as essential as his well being,” Sampson mentioned.
Roberts most likely would not have made a distinction the best way the Cyclones have been rolling. They scored the primary 10 factors as a part of their run to begin the second half, and Momcilovic’s 3 from in entrance of his bench pushed their result in 48-23 with 12:40 to go.
Resorting to desperation photographs, the Cougars went 9½ minutes with no subject purpose as the sport bought away from them.
It was one final blowout in a event the place the common margin was practically 15 factors.
“We do not actually care what the surface world thinks of us,” Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey mentioned. “That is why we’re such an in depth group. We simply put our head down and go to work. That is why I do not assume there’s anybody extra deserving than our group to be on this place and rejoice this second.”
Iowa State will doubtless be a No. 2 seed within the NCAA event and will get a good touchdown spot in Omaha, Nebraska, for the opening weekend. It’s only a few 2½-hour drive from its campus in Ames.
Houston virtually definitely had locked up a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tourney. The query now could be whether or not the choice committee would put the Cougars in the identical area as Iowa State to arrange a possible rematch.