Iowa State cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes for a layup between IU Indianapolis Jaguars guard Alec Millender (1) and guard Paul Zilinskas (0) during the first half in the NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Tamin Lipsey’s eager to be surprised.
Iowa State’s star point guard will likely loll on the beach a bit. A traditional luau could be on the team’s agenda. But Lipsey’s unsure of the No. 5 Cyclones’ off-the-court plans this week during the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawai’i — but is well aware that he and his teammates will face stern challenges on the court, beginning with Monday’s 8 p.m. matchup (ESPNU) with fourth-ranked Auburn (4-0).
“I guess we’ll have to see, but I’m looking forward to being there and hanging with my teammates,” said Lipsey, whose stripped away at least one steal in 69 of his 72 career games. “Enjoying the time, while still having that business mentality.”
ISU (3-0) could face two other top-10 teams in tenth-ranked North Carolina (3-1) and No. 2 Connecticut (4-0) while playing three games in three days. Other potential foes include Dayton, Michigan State, Colorado, and Memphis.
“I haven’t looked at the bracket as much, it’s just knowing, man, there (are) a lot of good teams there,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who’s led his team to two Sweet 16 appearances in his three seasons at the helm. “Auburn is the only game that matters right now, and having tremendous focus on our preparation — what we need to do in practice and film, (mental things) that need to be on our mind to go be successful in that game.”
The Bruce Pearl-led Tigers feature five players averaging double figures in scoring — and 6-7 forward Chaney Johnson is averaging 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds off the bench. Auburn already owns a top-10 win over Houston and boasts the nation’s second-most efficient offense, according to KenPom.
“They play fast they’re physical, they’re a great matchup for us,” said ISU guard Keshon Gilbert, who’s averaging a team-high seven assists per game. “I’m just looking forward to playing against them.”
Both the Tigers and the Cyclones rank among the top-five nationally in defensive efficiency. Auburn sits fourth nationally in opponents’ two-point shooting percentage at 39.1, and ISU leads the national in defensive turnover percentage (28.0).
“At this point, they’re probably playing as well or better than anyone in the country,” Otzelberger said of the Tigers. “So we’ve got respect for that and respect for the program, and yet at the same time, there (are) things we can do to impose our will and come out and be our best to put ourself in position to win the game.”
That, as always, starts with stringent on-ball defense. The Cyclones’ ongoing bedrock identity is based on making opposing offense’s miserable — and that won’t change in Maui or elsewhere.
“I’m excited to see us hit that head-on,” Otzelberger said. “I’m excited to see us welcome that and be better as a result.”
Losing two of three games in last season’s Thanksgiving tournament — the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla. — serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go south when playing high-caliber teams in November. The Cyclones opened that event with a comeback win over VCU, then lost to Virginia Tech before blowing a 21-point lead to Texas A&M in another setback.
“(It’s about) staying true to what we do as a team defensively,” said Lipsey, who leads ISU in scoring as 13.7 points per game. “Playing together is something that’s gonna be really important in these early-season tournament games. Teams are still trying to figure things out.”
Same goes for the beach-based itinerary, which will bring the Cyclones closer together however it shakes out.
“We’ll be able to learn a lot, come close together, and hopefully get a lot of wins,” Lipsey said.
