Who: No. 3 Iowa State (13-1, 3-0 Big 12) at Texas Tech (11-3, 2-1 Big 12)
Where: United Supermarkets Arena (15,000) – Lubbock, Texas
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 – 1 p.m. CT
Watch/Listen: ESPN / Cyclone Radio Network
Tipping Off: As holders of the nation’s second-longest winning streak (10), Iowa State travels to Lubbock for their second conference road match this season. ISU seeks to commence Big 12 action with a 4-0 record, aiming for the third time since 2014, having last achieved this in 2023.
The Cyclones dominated Utah in their previous game, overpowering the Utes for a 23-point triumph. Texas Tech signifies the onset of a challenging phase for the Cyclones, with four of their upcoming six games on the road – a sequence concluding at the end of the month with a two-game trip in the desert against the Arizona teams.
Texas Tech has triumphed in four of their last five encounters, with the solitary defeat occurring at home to UCF during the Big 12 opener. Similar to ISU, Texas Tech overwhelmed Utah, conquering the Utes by more than 20 points on the road. The Red Raiders return home after their visit to the Beehive State, concluding with a five-point victory at BYU.
Storylines:
- Keshon Gilbert has been ISU’s driving force thus far, topping the team in both minutes and assists. He has received the Big 12 Player of the Week honor twice this season.
- Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Jones, has excelled as a bench player for Iowa State. He leads the team in scoring, field goals, and 3-pointers made.
- A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Tamin Lipsey has served as the backbone of Iowa State’s team. Known for his defensive prowess, Lipsey leads the squad in steals and ranks second in assists.
- Transfer from Saint Mary’s, Joshua Jefferson has been an essential, adaptable player this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has claimed three Big 12 Newcomer of the Week accolades.
- Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic averages nearly 11 points per game and boasts the highest 3-point shooting percentage on the team at 44 percent.
- A transfer from Charlotte, big man Dishon Jackson has made an impact in the paint. He leads the team in blocked shots and contributes 9.6 points along with 5.4 rebounds per game.
- A versatile option off the bench, Nate Heise has truly blossomed. His defensive skills to shut down opponents and ability to create space have been invaluable.
- Transfer from Seattle, Brandton Chatfield has excelled on the boards while coming off the bench. The senior leads the team in offensive rebounds and consistently helps ISU secure additional possessions.
From the Notes:
- As head coach, Otz has an overall record of 182-99 and has led the Cyclones to an 83-36 record over the past four years.
- Under Otzelberger, ISU holds a 54-8 record in games played at Hilton Coliseum.
- Iowa State has achieved 27 consecutive home victories at Hilton Coliseum, which stands as the third-longest active home winning streak in the nation and the second-longest in the program’s history.
- Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men’s basketball coach to guide multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He became the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to lead a team to the Sweet 16 twice within his first three years at the helm.
- Otz will strive to become the first coach in the program’s history to guide a team to the NCAA Tournament in his first four years coaching.
- Iowa State has been listed in the AP Top 10 for 17 consecutive weeks, marking the longest streak in the nation.
- Iowa State boasts the top-scoring offense in the Big 12, averaging 86.3 points per game. The Cyclones also rank fifth in defense within the league, limiting opponents to an average of 64.6 points.
- The Cyclones are positioned at No. 7 in the NET. Iowa State is No. 4 in the KenPom rankings and sits at No. 5 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
Switching Sides:
- This encounter will mark the 46th all-time meeting between Iowa State and Texas Tech.
- Both teams are even at three wins apiece under Otzelberger.
- Texas Tech holds a 14-6 record at home against ISU.
- The Red Raiders were predicted to finish seventh in the Big 12 Preseason Poll after concluding last season tied for third – their first under Grant McCasland.
- Entering the fourth match of their Big 12 schedule, Tech leads the conference by shooting 51.2 percent from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 59.1 and a free throw percentage of 77.6.
- The Red Raiders currently rank third nationally in effective field goal percentage, fifth in field goal percentage, and 26th overall in free throw shooting.
- Texas Tech has secured 14 victories against top 5 opponents in its history.
- TTU aims to defeat a top-ten team in ISU for the 11th consecutive season.
- Head coach Grant McCasland is in his second season leading the Red Raider program.
- McCasland has an impressive record of 34-14 at TTU and boasts an overall coaching record of 245-103 over his 11-year career, which began at Midwestern State in 2009.
- After five seasons as an assistant on Scott Drew’s Baylor staff, McCasland pursued the head position at Arkansas State. Following one season in Jonesboro, he spent six years at North Texas before joining TTU.
- Last season, McCasland guided Tech to six victories against ranked opponents and his record against AP Top 25 teams as Tech’s head coach now stands at 6-6.
- Texas Tech is currently rated No. 17 in the NET. The Utes are positioned at No. 15 in KenPom and No. 17 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.