Clash of Titans: Iowa State’s Showdown with Kansas!

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

Starting Off: After a tough, overtime triumph on the road against Texas Tech, Iowa State is scheduled to return to Hilton Coliseum this Wednesday to confront the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in a top-10 clash, aiming to extend their unparalleled nation-leading 11-game winning streak.

The Cyclones are currently tied at the summit of the Big 12 standings with Houston and Arizona at 4-0. ISU seeks to elevate its conference record to 5-0 – a milestone achieved only once before in the program’s history (1944). A victory would also push Iowa State to 15-1, marking the top 16-game start in school history.

Kansas is fresh off a 54-40 win at Cincinnati last Saturday. The 40 points allowed by KU were the fewest since the Jayhawks defeated Howard 89-34 on Dec. 29, 2011, and the least points permitted in a road contest since they beat Nebraska 45-39 in Lincoln on Feb. 23, 1963.

Narratives:

• Keshon Gilbert has made significant progress in his second year as a Cyclone, leading the squad in playing time and assists. He has been recognized as the Big 12 Player of the Week on two occasions this season and was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List on Jan. 7.
• Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Jones, has excelled off the bench for Iowa State. He tops the team in scoring, field goals, and three-pointers made. He’s ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring and holds one Big 12 Player of the Week accolade this season.
• A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team choice, Tamin Lipsey has been the cornerstone of Iowa State’s roster. Renowned as a defensive threat, Lipsey leads the team in steals and ranks second in assists.
• Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has proven to be an essential, adaptable player this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has received four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.
• Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic averages just over 10 points each game and has the highest three-point shooting percentage on the team at 44 percent.
• A transfer from Charlotte, big man Dishon Jackson has been a dominant force in the paint. He leads the squad in blocks and averages 9.5 points along with 5.1 rebounds.
• A versatile player off the bench, Nate Heise has truly found his form. His defensive prowess to neutralize opponents and his ability to create space for himself have been invaluable.
• Seattle transfer Brandton Chatfield has been a strong rebounder off the bench. The senior leads the team in offensive boards, consistently providing ISU with extra possessions.

From the Notes:

• As a head coach, Otz holds a record of 183-99 overall and has guided the Cyclones to an 84-36 record over the past four years.

  • ISU stands at 54-8 in home games at Hilton Coliseum under Otzelberger.

• Iowa State has claimed victory in 27 consecutive home games at Hilton Coliseum, making it the fourth-longest current home winning streak in the nation and the second-longest in school history.
• Coach Otzelberger is the only 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 lead a team to the Sweet 16 twice within his first three years.
  • Otz aims to become the first coach in the program’s history to guide a team to the NCAA Tournament in his initial four years.

• Iowa State has been present in the AP Top 10 for 18 consecutive weeks, the longest continuous streak in the nation.
• Iowa State currently possesses the top 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 No. 5 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

Changing Sides:

• Iowa State and Kansas are clashing for the 259th time today. KU leads the series and has triumphed in eight of the last ten matchups, with ISU winning the last two at Hilton.
• The Jayhawks were projected to place first in the Big 12 Preseason Poll for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons, receiving nine (out of a possible 15) first-place votes.
• Kansas has emerged victorious in its last five contests when both teams were ranked in the top 10 at tipoff, including one this season.
• KU big man Hunter Dickinson is the NCAA’s active leader in career points, amassing 2,445 so far. His 989 field goals are also the highest among active players.

  • Dickinson spent his first three years at Michigan before transferring to Kansas last year. He was an AP Preseason All-American and claimed the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.

• Kansas tops the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.80. KU is second in the league and 11th nationally in assists per game at 18.3.
• Kansas head coach Bill Self is in his 22nd season leading the Jayhawk basketball program. Self holds a record of 600-136 with KU and 807-251 in his 32-year coaching journey.

  • Self is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the Kansas program, surpassing Phog Allen with a win over Michigan State on Nov. 12. It took him 14 fewer seasons to achieve this milestone.

• Kansas is positioned at No. 8 in the NET. The Jayhawks stand at No. 7 in KenPom and No. 7 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.