Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Washington State Cougars guard Myles Rice (2) controls the ball against Drake Bulldogs guard Conor Enright (4) in the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. — I admittedly went into the NCAA Tournament knowing next to nothing about Washington State basketball. However over the last 12 hours – as any Iowa State basketball sicko would do – I have been enamored with learning more about the Cougars, who the Cyclones will go toe-to-toe with in the Round of 32 on Saturday at 5:10 p.m. local time (on TNT).
Here is my deep-dive on the matchup with analysis in quick hit form.
THREE MASSIVE STATS: Before I dig into Washington State, I crunched some Iowa State numbers and wanted to point a few things out.
The below statistics are all since the postseason began:
— Tamin Lipsey has recorded 23 assists to three turnovers.
— Hason Ward is 17-for-18 from the field.
— Milan Momcilovic is averaging 13.5 points per game (up from 10.9 in the regular season), while Keshon Gilbert’s number is 15.75 (up from 13.5).
There is a lot that has gone into Iowa State’s surge here in March, but the above numbers tell a pretty good story as to why.
OTZ: Brent Blum gave me this stat earlier today and it blew my mind … No coach in the history of Iowa State basketball has led the program to two Sweet 16’s in his tenure. With a win on Saturday, T.J. Otzelberger would be the first. Wild, isn’t it?
LENGTH: According to KenPom.com, Washington State is the second tallest team in all of college basketball (No. 1 is Florida State). For the sake of comparison, Kansas and Baylor are the tallest teams in the Big 12. Washington State averages 4.8 blocks per game, which puts them just inside the top-40 of that category nationally.
KYLE SMITH & WAZZU: Washington State’s leader was recently tabbed as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. What’s most impressive about the job Smith did this year is how he did it … Washington State was forced to replace four starters from last season – all players who entered the transfer portal. That squad lost in the first round of the NIT. Washington State’s 14 Pac-12 wins tied a school record for league wins. Notably, Washington State beat another NCAA Tournament 2-seed – Arizona twice this season. Iowa State and Washington State have NEVER met in the sport of basketball. Saturday will be the first time.
TWO STUDS: A freshman by the name of Myles Rice is the catalyst to all things Washington State. He’s the Pac-12’s freshman of the Year and has been incredible all season long, setting freshmen single-game and single-season scoring records. Rice averaged 15.1 points per game this season while fifth-year senior Issac Jones – an Idaho transfer – averaged 15.4. However, the Cougars are not a good 3-point shooting team. Expect Iowa State to pack it in defensively and force this squad to hit shots at a high rate.
IOWA STATE’S OPENING: It feels like there is a real opening for Iowa State’s defense to wreak havoc on Saturday night. The Cougars don’t force many turnovers and they turn it over a decent amount. Washington State’s turnover margin on the year is in the negative numbers and that’s where Iowa State will have to feast in this game.
MATCHUP PROBLEMS: If Iowa State doesn’t get into transition, I have real worries about the Cyclones’ ability to have a ton of success in the half court against this team. As far as a comparison goes to a team Iowa State has played this year, I’d have to go with VCU at the Orlando Tournament. Iowa State shot 15 percent from three and went on a 10 minute field goal draught in that game. The good thing is that this is a vastly different Cyclone squad compared to the one that took the floor in November.
