KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State left Kansas State on Saturday understanding it performed considered one of its poorer video games of the season.
Simply over 100 miles away and towards the identical crew, the Cyclones seemed markedly higher.
No. 8 Iowa State males’s basketball superior to the semifinals of the Massive 12 Event with a 76-57 victory over Kansas State on Thursday on the T-Cell Middle.
The win avenged Saturday’s 65-58 loss to the Wildcats (19-14) through which the Cyclones (25-7) coughed up an early lead and noticed lingering offensive points attain a nadir.
It was a a lot totally different story Thursday because the Cyclones shot 46.3 p.c from the sphere and dedicated simply six turnovers.
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“Tonight we got here out somewhat hungrier,” guard Keshon Gilbert mentioned after posting 12 factors and 5 assists. “We had one thing to show.
“We nonetheless received two extra.”
Robert Jones had 18 factors and Tamin Lipsey added 16 for the Cyclones. Gilbert tied an Iowa State convention event report with six steals. Tre King had 16 factors and 9 boards.
The efficiency definitely will put apart some nervousness of a late-season swoon for the Cyclones, who, regardless of successful 5 of its final six, confirmed indicators of wear and tear down the stretch. It wasn’t a cure-all (Iowa State was 1-of-14 from 3-point vary), definitely, however a step in the correct course.
The Cyclones will now attempt to attain their first Massive 12 Event championship recreation since 2019, after they gained the occasion for the fourth time in six seasons.
Offense strikes in the correct course
It has been a troublesome couple of weeks for the Iowa State offense, which had been on a gentle decline with factors changing into more durable and more durable to search out.
That development reversed towards the Wildcats.
Iowa State averaged 1.15 factors per possession, their highest mark in a recreation in over a month. It was additionally the primary time within the final 4 video games through which the Cyclones eclipsed 1.00 PPP, the edge usually used to indicate common offense.
“Offensively, we have to get again to all people being concerned,” coach T.J. Otzelberger mentioned, “and what we noticed as we speak was much more screening, quite a bit higher off-ball motion, attacking the paint, attending to the foul line.
“Clearly we didn’t have an amazing (evening) taking pictures from three. I’m not as nervous about that. If we do the bodily issues swell, we imagine the sport will go our method.”
Iowa State highlighted needing improved screening from its bigs forward of the Kansas State recreation, and the development provided rapid outcomes. Jones’ 18 factors was a season-high whereas King’s 16 matched his greatest scoring output in over a month.
“It takes the eye away from guys like Tamin and Keshon after they’re having all people load up their protection for them,” Otzelberger. “Rob and Tre did an amazing job screening, persevering with to create a number of screening actions, bringing physicality to our offense, which allowed us to proceed to get within the paint, proceed to get offensive boards.
“It’s one thing we’ve been engaged on and working towards quite a bit. Credit score to Rob and Tre for instantly setting the tone that method.”
The Cyclones additionally moved the ball higher within the halfcourt. Iowa State assisted on 13 of its 25 baskets.
“That’s one thing we labored on each observe main as much as this recreation,” Lipsey mentioned. “That was our predominant focus – attending to motion fast, transferring the ball, not holding it.
“We did that at a excessive stage and that’s why we had been in a position to win.”
Whereas not a blistering offensive efficiency, the evening did reverse Iowa State’s development of declining offense. With now a minimum of yet another recreation earlier than the NCAA Event, the Cyclones have one thing to construct upon.
“We’ve actually tried to dial in to what’s nice offense for us,” Otzelberger mentioned. “It’s scoring off turnovers, and if we’re not ready to do this it’s being actually bodily, transferring the ball and all people being concerned.
“It’s an amazing signal for our guys that they put their focus in that space. It was an excellent offensive efficiency, and I say that and we had been 1-for-14 from three. So to run nice offense and be efficient offensively whereas not taking pictures the three nicely can be a credit score to our guys.”
Demarion Watson out with damage
Iowa State was with out key reserve Demarion Watson, who missed the sport whereas in concussion protocol.
Watson didn’t play through the second half of Saturday’s recreation at Kansas State after taking a blow to the pinnacle. He was in uniform Thursday evening, however was not obtainable to play.
Otzelberger mentioned Watson stays day-to-day.
In Watson’s absence, not often used McDonald’s All-American Omaha Biliew performed for the primary time since Jan. 24. The Waukee product had two factors and a rebound in seven minutes.
Kansas State’s Jerome Tang calls Tamin Lipsey ‘No. 1 flopper’ in Massive 12
The win gave Iowa State the season collection win towards Kansas State after the 2 groups break up their two regular-season video games. There could also be an additional dose of sweetness within the victory for the Cyclones after Kansas State made controversial spying accusations of their January loss at Hilton Coliseum.
Wildcats coach Jerome Tang in all probability did not win over any Cyclone followers Thursday evening along with his remark about Lipsey, an Ames native.
“(Kansas State’s Tylor Perry) may be the second-biggest flopper in our league, proper?” Tang mentioned after the sport. “The primary flopper performs for Iowa State, and he is actually good, Tamin Lipsey. Proper?”
Tang went on to say that he has been encouraging Perry to not flop whereas taking part in protection and “be robust.”
Lipsey was a first-team all-Massive 12 and all-defensive crew choice by the league’s coaches and is a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Participant of the Yr nationwide award.
Up subsequent
The Cyclones will play within the Massive 12 Event semifinals for the second straight yr, and they’re going to face Baylor.
Iowa State misplaced its lone matchup with 3-seeded Baylor 70-68 in Waco, Texas. The Cyclones almost gained that recreation, with Milan Momcilovic’s half-court shot being waved off after he banked it in. Video evaluate confirmed he didn’t launch the shot earlier than the clock expired.
Tip-off for the semifinals Friday will come at roughly 8:30 for Iowa State after Houston and Texas Tech play within the first semifinal matchup at 6 p.m.
Travis Hines covers Iowa State College sports activities for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.