Iowa State cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) looks for pass as IU Indianapolis Jaguars forward DeSean Goode (2) defends during the second 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 — It’s not a matter of feel, it’s a matter of sight.
Or maybe both.
Either way, Iowa State’s forward Milan Momcilovic knows pretty quickly whether it’s going to be his night in terms of shooting success.
“I (see) the first couple go in and then obviously my confidence is sky high,” said Momcilovic, who shot 9-for-16 from 3-point range while his No. 6 Cyclones went 2-1 last week in the loaded Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawai’i. “And my mindset (improves) and we’ve got coaches running plays for me, so I see the first couple go in, and from there, I take off.”
The 6-8 sophomore from Pewaukee, Wis., enters Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Big 12-Big East Battle game against fifth-ranked Marquette (8-0) shooting an impressive 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. That’s an 11 percent hike from his freshman season, which, along with a handful of other factors, has helped ISU (5-1) climb to the fourth-best offensive rating by KenPom early this season.
“Everything comes down to activity level,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, whose team will face a top-five ranked team for the second time this season. “When he’s really active offensively, on the move, sprinting the floor, cutting, screening, moving, then shots come his way. I think at times last year, teams would focus on him, key on him, and there would be times that he’d me more stationary — not on the move as much. We want him on the move constantly, and that same activity level offensively, we want to carry over defensively, hand activity, guarding the basketball, fishing plays on the glass, all those things.”
The Golden Eagles rank sixth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom, so ISU will face a similar challenge it encountered against No. 2 Auburn when it saw an 18-point first-half lead slip in an 83-81 setback on Maui. Marquette also is tied for seventh nationally in turnovers forced per game at 18, which will make efficient offense extra important for a Cyclone team that’s also adept at taking the basketball away from opposing teams.
“Auburn and Dayton (teams ISU played in Hawai’i) really try to pressure the basketball (and) Marquette’s really good at that — one of the best in the country at pressuring the ball and disrupting offenses and turning that into points,” Otzelberger said. “So I think playing against that pressure, even though there (are) only a few thousand people in the gym at the Lahaina Civic Center, it’s a very hostile environment. There’s a lot of energy in that building and when things aren’t going well, it can feel like a road game. So I think playing against that pressure and being tough with the ball will help.”
So will key contributions from the Cyclones’ three new front court players. Dishon Jackson, Joshua Jefferson and reserve forward Brandton Chatfield each bring a unique skill set to each game. Jackson’s a rim protector with soft hands who can both rebound and score. Jefferson’s a jack of all trades, an eager passer with extended range. Chatfield’s an accomplished offensive rebounder and hustle play specialist, so when he’s on the floor ISU’s experienced guards can enjoy a few extra looks at the basket.
“I think we all have something that we’re really good at, and when you put us all together, it really shines on the floor,” Jefferson said.
His less burly fellow forward Momcilovic is putting it all together on both ends of the floor, as well — and the best may be yet to come.
“It feels good because 47 percent is pretty good,” he said. “But going back to last year, I started out hot, too, so I’ve just gotta keep that going throughout the whole year.”
