Mar 10, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach TJ Otzelberger yells from the sideline in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
It is official, the Iowa State Men’s basketball team has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed.
This puts an exclamation point on one of the program’s all-time great turnaround seasons.
The Cyclones have received, in my opinion, a favorable draw. However, when we begin to analyze this game, the first team to look at should not be LSU.
Iowa State has been a team that when locked into executing its plan has found success.
In this game, that plan will begin with having their best game of the year rebounding the basketball. The Cyclones do not possess many above the rim rebounders, LSU does.
What does it take to overcome this?
Rebounding is often a measure of how well you defend the basketball from getting into the paint.
When the integrity of your defense is broken down, rebounding becomes an issue.
This game will be won and lost in the trenches on both ends of the floor and for Iowa State to rebound toe to toe with LSU, they must keep the ball out of the lane defensively.
This allows every player on the court to maintain leverage on their block-outs and negates the length and leaping advantage LSU possesses.
Additionally, the Cyclones must be the more aggressive and physical team when pursuing the basketball.
This team has been at its best when it has dominated the 50/50 loose balls and I see that as being an area they must win. If the Cyclones are the hungrier, more physical team pursuing rebounds and loose balls, I love their chances in this game.
Offensively, this is a team that has struggled against long, athletic teams.
LSU is long, athletic, and a great defensive team.
If we remember back to early in this season when the Cyclones got off to a hot start, they were able to overcome their offensive limitations by manufacturing points outside of the half-court.
I see the Cyclones’ success offensively coming down to points off turnovers, free throws, and points in the paint.
When they are running their half-court offense, look for them to place an emphasis on staying committed to spacing, attacking their cuts to score, and dribble penetration.
LSU is a good defensive team; however, they will not scout the Cyclones offense to the degree teams in the Big 12 have for the past two months.
If Iowa State comes into this game refreshed mentally on the offensive end and locked into executing the details of their scheme, they can have success to the tune of 65 points, a number I think they can win on.
The last piece of this game, and in my view the most important element of this game, I will touch on is this team’s belief in itself.
At times the Cyclones have looked like a team who believes they can win a four-team tournament in March.
For other stretches, they have seemed to lack an identity.
What happens to this group mentally between last Thursday night’s embarrassing loss to Texas Tech and this Friday’s matchup with LSU will likely decide the game.
The primary reason I love their draw is that this group has flourished when they sense they are doubted.
Several players commented after the announcement of their seeding on feeling counted out entering this season.
Heading into this weekend, they will play the role of the doubted underdog once again.
I expect that to galvanize this group and that is why I am picking them to win.
