Mar 6, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger talks to Iowa State Cyclones forward Tre King (0) and Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) during their game with the Brigham Young Cougars in the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — Tre King simply hopes to impact the result. Fellow Iowa State forward Robert Jones seeks to alter it.
Both King and Jones were on the Cyclones’ roster when the team reached the Sweet 16 two years ago before falling, 70-56, to Miami, but Jones is the only returner who actually played. King had to sit on the bench that entire season after coming in from Eastern Kentucky — and also missed roughly half of last season because of NCAA transfer rules.
“That was the first thing I said to our equipment guy,” said King, who will start alongside Jones in Thursday’s 9:10 p.m. NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against Illinois at the TD Garden. “We were joking around and I said, ‘It’s even better now because I get to play.’ Being able to see it and not being able to play was one the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through as a player. So just knowing that I get to be there and be a part of it with no restrictions, it’s just an amazing feeling. I’m excited to keep winning and take this as far as we can.”
ISU’s starting guards — Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert — along with the Illini’s top guards — Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. — take center stage nationally for this matchup between the nation’s top defense and offense, but big men such as King and Jones will have a major impact on the outcome, as well.
“This is my second one and I’m not planning on stopping there,” Jones said after last weekend’s second-round win over Washington State. “We got popped by Miami my first year at Iowa State and now we know the formula to beat teams and get out in front, so we’re gonna bring that sort of tenacity we’ve brought the last four games into the next games we play.”
King shares that mentality — and not just because he, like, Jones, is in win-or-go-home territory in terms of his college basketball career.
“Our goal isn’t just to make it there,” King said “It’s to win and keep winning. Our plan is to get to Phoenix and I think if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll be there.”
LIPSEY’S MISSION
The Cyclones’ standout sophomore guard will likely draw primary guard duty on Shannon, who’s averaging 30.1 points during the Illini’s current six-game winning streak. So how does Lipsey plan to curtail his prodigious production?
“Just knowing how good they are offensively — you’ve got to give that respect and really see how they work through things,” said Lipsey, who’s averaging 16 points per game in the NCAA tournament. “Defensively, we’re always trying to be the top defensive team in the country, so just going out there like they’re (any) other team, really, but understanding that they have a lot of power.”
A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP SHOT
It’s become a pregame ritual of sorts for freshman forward Milan Momcilovic and fellow freshman guard Cade Kelderman to stream out of the tunnel by swinging their arms, pumping their fists and shouting joyfully as smiles cross their faces.
Don’t expect that to change for Thursday’s late game, either.
“We’ll come out skipping with a lot of energy,” Momcilovic said, grinning.
