Who: No. 10 Iowa State (19-5, 9-4 Big 12) vs. Cincinnati (15-9, 5-8 Big 12)
Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa
When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 – 3 p.m. CT
Watch/Listen: ESPN2 / Cyclone Radio Network
Tipping Off: Iowa State will look to win its third-straight this weekend, when it welcomes the surging Cincinnati Bearcats to Hilton Coliseum. UC will make its second appearance in Hilton Coliseum this weekend, a building they are undefeated in, winning the previous matchup by one in overtime back in 2016.
The Cyclones have won two straight by an average of 21 points. With Milan Momcilovic coming back from injury, order has been restored to the Cyclone rotation, as the bench unit has had a major increase in production. ISU will aim to continue its offensive momentum against a stingy Cincinnati defense that ranks third best in the league.
The Bearcats are riding their longest winning streak since late December and are aiming for their second ranked win of the season. UC has won two road Big 12 games already, downing both Colorado and UCF on their own courts. With Selection Sunday just five weeks out, Cincinnati will look to add another marque win to its resume.
Game Note: We ask those attending Saturday afternoon’s game to please wear cardinal, as it is our COLOR IT CARDINAL game.
Storylines:
- Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Jones, became an actual starter for seven games but has returned to the bench with the return of Milan Momcilovic. Jones has earned a Big 12 Player of the Week award, was named to the Jerry West Award Top 10 List and was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List along with teammate Keshon Gilbert.
- Speaking of Gilbert, he has been the team’s “engine,” has taken a leap in his second season as a Cyclone, leading the team in minutes and assists. He has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season, was named to the Bob Cousy Award Top 10 and was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List with teammate Curtis Jones.
- A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, Tamin Lipsey has been the glue of Iowa State’s team. A known defensive menace, Lipsey leads the team in steals and is close to becoming the school’s all-time steals leader.
- Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has been a revelation for the Cyclones this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding, has nine double-doubles and has earned five Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards.
- Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic averages just over 10 points per game and shoots the 3-ball at the highest clip on the team at 43.9 percent. After missing just about a month of game action due to injury, he returned to the starting lineup on Feb. 8 against TCU.
From the Notes:
- As a head coach, Otz is 188-103 overall and has guided the Cyclones to an 89-40 record over the last four years.
- ISU is 57-9 in games at Hilton Coliseum under Otz. His 57 home wins during that time are tied for the tenth-most nationally.
- Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men’s basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- Otz will attempt to become the first coach in program history to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in his first four years as coach.
- Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 for 22 straight weeks, the longest streak in the country.
- The Cyclones are ranked No. 7 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 7 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
Switching Sides:
- Iowa State and Cincinnati are meeting for the eighth time this weekend and the first time this season, with UC holding a 4-3 series lead.
- This will be Coach Otz’s second meeting against Cincinnati at ISU, as the Cyclones won in Cincinnati last year.
- Cincinnati was picked to finish sixth out of 16 teams in the Big 12 Preseason Poll.
- They currently sit tied for 11th.
- Cincinnati returned just under 70 percent of its scoring production from last season including six out of their top eight scorers, good for second best in the Big 12.
- Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller is in his fourth season at the helm of the Bearcat basketball program. Miller is 78-52 with Cincinnati and is 263-187 in his head coaching career, that includes a 185-135 record from his time as head coach at UNC-Greensboro.
- Under Miller, the Bearcats have set a new standard for playstyle, holding the top three spots in single season 3-point attempts and makes all-time in Cincinnati history. His 2022-23 squad has the most, as they attempted 894.
- Cincinnati is ranked No. 46 in the NET. The Bearcats are No. 55 in KenPom and No. 36 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
