AMES — There is no time to celebrate.
Iowa State’s 79-71 win over Baylor on Saturday night was both critical (had to have it) and impressive (when you consider that the Cyclones went 4-for-24 from 3-point range) but come Super Bowl Sunday, this team will be busy preparing for the Oklahoma Sooners.
For the first time during league play, Iowa State will play on Monday (6 p.m. on ESPNU) following a Saturday game. Oklahoma and Iowa State are currently part of a four-way tied for third place in the Big 12 Conference (listed below).
“It will be a lot of film tomorrow (Sunday),” said head coach Fred Hoiberg. “A lot of film and a lot of walk-through. We will guard their actions a little bit live but it is mostly going to be a mental day and we will watch film again on Monday.”
“The most important thing right now is to get those guys off of their legs and get them some rest and at the same time, try to prepare them as much as we can in 24 hours.”
Oklahoma lost a 52-50 bout to Kansas State in Norman on Saturday after defeating Baylor by three in Waco on Wednesday.
Big 12 standings after Saturday…
Kansas, 7-1
Kansas State, 6-2
Oklahoma State, 5-3
Iowa State, 5-3
Oklahoma, 5-3
Baylor, 5-3
West Virginia, 3-5
Texas, 2-6
Texas Tech, 2-6
TCU, 0-8
JOTTINGS
*** Iowa State put forth one of its worst shooting nights of the season on Saturday but Baylor head coach Scott Drew still came away impressed.
“Not really easy to guard,” said Drew in regards to Iowa State’s lineup full of shooters. “It’s not fun.”
*** Hilton Coliseum’s atmosphere was electric on Saturday night and Hoiberg thanked Iowa State’s fans after the game.
“I think is the most underrated arena in college basketball,” said Hoiberg. “Our fans continue to come out on a nightly basis – not an empty seat in the house tonight. Even though our shots weren’t falling, they continued to lift us up. Are fans are a huge reason why we continue to win in this building.”
Iowa State extended its home winning streak to 19 games on Saturday night with 11 of those coming in league play. That’s the seventh-longest active streak in D-1 basketball.
*** Iowa State is now 11-0 at home all-time vs. Baylor.
***Melvin Ejim’s eight rebounds moves him to No. 18 on Iowa State’s career chart (638).
*** Leading up to tip time in Hilton on Saturday night, home teams in the Big 12 were 0-3 on the deal. West Virginia won at Texas Tech. Kansas State won at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State shocked Kansas by an 85-80 final. Home teams took care of business in the nightcaps though, as Iowa State and Texas were victorious over Baylor and TCU.
