OMAHA, Neb. – When Milan Momcilovic has his step-back jumper going like he did Thursday night time, I’m undecided anybody can cease him.
He did it from the free-throw lane. He did it from each corners. He did it from the highest of the free-throw circle.
When the tremendous freshman is making pictures like that, and when his teammates maintain taking part in excellent protection, man, this season will be one thing very particular.
Thursday’s 82-65 victory in opposition to South Dakota State within the No. 2 seed vs. the No. 15 seed recreation at Omaha within the East’s NCAA Match regional was a traditional instance.
The 6-foot-8 Momcilovic regarded like he’d performed in quite a lot of NCAA Tournaments. That’s how a lot poise and unstoppable shot-making he displayed. To say he was superior whereas scoring 19 factors, whereas swishing pictures all around the flooring – effectively, that may not be worthy sufficient.
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“That Dirk (Nowitzki) shot is type of unguardable,” South Dakota State coach Eric Henderson stated after the sport. “It’s important to double-team him, get (the ball) out of his palms, and simply not let him shoot, as a result of it felt like all of them went in.
“I imply, they’d 23 assists. Tamin (Lipsey) is the top of that snake, and the way he makes that group go is fairly particular.”
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Sure, fourth-ranked Iowa State had 23 assists, a mixed 12 from Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert. That general whole is essentially the most for the Cyclones in an NCAA Match recreation.
Nowitzki, one of many NBA’s all-time greats, had a step-back shot that was subsequent to unguardable. When Momcilovic has it going, he’s fairly robust to protect, too.
He’s a mismatch nightmare, particularly when opponents attempt to defend him with smaller wing gamers. And when an enormous steps out to defend him? He takes it to the ring.
In his previous three video games – the latest two throughout the Cyclones’ run to the Massive 12 tourney title and Thursday night time in opposition to South Dakota State – Momcilovic is on a 10-of-22 three-point taking pictures roll.
“Man, he’s a 6-9 scorer. He can rating in any respect ranges,” teammate Rob Jones stated. “At 6-9, it’s simple for him to get that shot off. You’ll be able to’t defend it.”
By no means as soon as did I even remotely suppose the No. 2 vs. No. 15 recreation would soar up and chunk Iowa State on the bottom once more. This T.J. Otzelberger-coached group is best that the 2001 second-seeded Cyclones that misplaced in opposition to Hampton within the NCAA Match’s first recreation.
This group can win in so many various methods. It might have taken a colossal mess-up to lose Thursday’s recreation.
The Cyclones’ twenty eighth victory, in entrance of a boisterous crowd on the CHI Well being Middle that included 1000’s of Iowa State followers, was a continuation of the place Otzelberger’s group left off throughout the Massive 12 Match.
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At instances, the Cyclones performed brilliantly Thursday night time – like whereas making their first 9 pictures and main 22-7.
Lob Metropolis? After which some. I counted 5. It in all probability appeared like extra.
At instances, Iowa State additionally had lulls, like main solely 42-38 early within the second half. However by no means as soon as did I really feel Otzelberger’s group was in jeopardy of shedding.
I didn’t have that very same feeling again in 2001, whereas masking the two vs. 15 in Boise, Idaho. That’s why I waited till the 7-minute mark to even begin penning this. The 2001 group misplaced a 9-point lead with 7 minutes to go. With 7 minutes to play this time, Iowa State led by 20.
“We begin quick, we come out and stress the ball,” Otzelberger stated. “That’s who we’re, and that’s who we are going to proceed to be.”
Iowa State had issues so effectively underneath management late within the second half that the gamers peeked on the overhead videoboard. They had been glancing up at what would change into 14th-seeded Oakland’s upset of 3-seed Kentucky.
Shocker? You betcha.
“I attempted to not get distracted, however once you’ve bought an upset like that, you’re fairly glad,” Jones stated. “I used to be glad to see upsets.”
Provided that Iowa State will not be concerned, like final season, when 11-seeded Pittsburgh beat the 6-seed Cyclones 59-41.
That’s proper. The Cyclones scored simply 41 factors throughout its one and solely NCAA recreation final season.
Thursday in opposition to South Dakota State, Iowa State was one level shy of that at halftime.
“One factor I’ve discovered over time, is when it comes match time,” Jones stated, “is it’s the group that comes out aggressive and retains it up all through the sport.”
It additionally helps to have one of the best defensive group within the nation, to not point out having a beautiful freshman like Momcilovic making pictures from in all places.
“He was calm, cool and picked up,” Lipsey stated. “He knocked down big-time pictures in huge time moments. That’s what he lives for.”
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 52nd yr writing sports activities for the Des Moines Register. Attain him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, on X @RandyPete, and at DesMoinesRegister.com/CyclonesTexts