Who: No. 2 Iowa State (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) vs. No. 9 Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12)
Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa
When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 – 6 p.m. CT
Watch/Listen: ESPN 2 / Cyclone Radio Network
Tipping Off: After a hard-fought, overtime triumph on the road against Texas Tech, Iowa State is preparing to return to Hilton Coliseum this Wednesday to challenge the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in a top-10 clash, aiming to extend their impressive nation-leading 11-game winning streak.
The Cyclones are currently tied for first place in the Big 12 standings alongside Houston and Arizona at 4-0. ISU aspires to enhance its conference record to 5-0—a remarkable achievement only reached once previously in school history (1944). A victory would propel Iowa State to 15-1, marking the best start through 16 games in program history.
Kansas recently secured a 54-40 victory at Cincinnati last Saturday. The 40 points conceded by KU were the fewest since they defeated Howard 89-34 on Dec. 29, 2011, and the least points they allowed in a road encounter since overcoming Nebraska 45-39 in Lincoln on Feb. 23, 1963.
Storylines:
- Keshon Gilbert has made significant strides in his second year as a Cyclone, leading the squad in minutes and assists. He has earned the Big 12 Player of the Week title twice this season and was included in the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List on Jan. 7.
- Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Jones, has excelled when coming off the bench for Iowa State. He leads the team in points, field goals, and 3-pointers made. He’s ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring and has one Big 12 Player of the Week honor this season.
- A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, Tamin Lipsey has been the cornerstone of Iowa State’s squad. Known for his defensive prowess, Lipsey tops the team in steals and ranks second in assists.
- Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has emerged as a crucial, versatile player this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has garnered four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week titles.
- Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic averages just over 10 points per game and boasts the highest shooting percentage from three-point range on the team at 44 percent.
- A transfer from Charlotte, big man Dishon Jackson has proven to be a dominant presence in the paint. He leads the team in blocks and contributes 9.5 points along with 5.1 rebounds.
- A versatile contributor off the bench, Nate Heise has truly developed his game. His defensive skills in shutting down opponents and his knack for creating space have been invaluable.
- Seattle transfer Brandton Chatfield has been a dominant force on the boards off the bench. The senior leads the team in offensive rebounds and consistently gives ISU additional possessions.
From the Notes:
- As a head coach, Otzelberger holds a record of 183-99 overall and has guided the Cyclones to an 84-36 record over the past four years.
- Under Otzelberger, ISU boasts a 54-8 record in games played at Hilton Coliseum.
- Iowa State has secured 27 consecutive home victories at Hilton Coliseum, representing the fourth-longest active home winning streak in the nation and the second-longest in school history.
- Coach Otzelberger is the sole Iowa State men’s basketball coach to lead multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He became the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice within his first three years as head coach.
- Otz aims to become the first coach in program history to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in his initial four seasons.
- Iowa State has maintained a position in the AP Top 10 for 18 successive weeks, the longest streak in the nation.
- Iowa State presently features the highest-scoring offense in the Big 12, averaging 86.2 points per game.
- The Cyclones rank No. 6 in the NET. Iowa State is positioned at No. 4 in the KenPom rankings and stands at No. 5 within ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
Switching Sides:
- Iowa State and Kansas are squaring off for the 259th time today. KU leads the series and has emerged victorious in eight of the last 10 encounters, with ISU prevailing in the most recent two contests at Hilton.
- The Jayhawks were favored to claim the top spot in the Big 12 Preseason Poll for the ninth instance in the last 11 years, receiving nine (out of a possible 15) first-place votes.
- Kansas has triumphed in its last five contests when both squads were ranked in the top 10 at tipoff, including one matchup this year.
- KU’s big man Hunter Dickinson is the NCAA’s active leader in career points, accumulating 2,445 so far. His 989 field goals are the highest among any active player.
- Dickinson spent his first three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Kansas last year. He was named an AP Preseason All-American and recognized as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
- Kansas leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.80. KU is positioned second in the league and 11th nationally in assists per game at 18.3.
- Kansas head coach Bill Self is in his 22nd year at the helm of the Jayhawk basketball program. Self has a 600-136 record with KU and an overall coaching record of 807-251 over his 32-year career.
- Self is the all-time winningest coach in Kansas program lore, having surpassed Phog Allen with a victory over Michigan State on Nov. 12. It took Self 14 fewer seasons to reach this milestone.
- Kansas is ranked No. 8 in the NET. The Jayhawks rank seventh in KenPom and also seventh in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.