Iowa State 2/15 4:00 pm ESPN2

[GoBearcats31]

Iowa State (19-5) - #10 in the AP Top 25, #7 in the NET and on KenPom.com, 12-1 at home

Last 5:
- 11 point OT loss at Arizona
- 19 point loss at home to Kansas State
- 17 point loss at Kansas
- 30 point win versus TCU
- 12 point win at UCF on Tuesday

Top players:
- Curtis Jones (6'4 senior guard): 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals
- Keshon Gilbert (6'4 senior guard): 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals
- Joshua Jefferson (6'9 junior forward via Saint Mary's): 12.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals
- Tampin Lipsey (6'1 junior guard): 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 steals
- Milan Momcilovic (6'8 sophomore forward): 10.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists. 0.5 steals

Momcilovic missed nearly a month of action, including the four Big 12 losses, but is back from his injury and the Cyclones have gone 2-0 since.


Last year lost 68-59 at home to ISU. UC led 24-23, got down as much as 16, before trimming it late. Lipsey and Jones had 15 each + Gilbert had 12. UC, more notably, had 25 turnovers.

[D.A.H.]

the 'cats need effort, hustle, desire and 40 minutes of **** - do they have it in 'em? they have a ways to go, to win back a lot of the fan base. here's a chance to man up and take a crack at it.

[bearcatbret]

Just some pre-game write up:
Iowa State vs. Cincinnati men’s basketball tickets for February 15

[red_n_black_attack]

IT is frustrating that we play a top ten team on the road in a nearly must win situation; however, the recent philosophical shift puts this game at least in reach to stay close or win. While we have been scoring in bunches, we've also given up more than average points per game since we went uptempo. We will have to be efficient with the ball, both keep the turnovers low and make good shot selections. We cannot go uptempo and miss shots. We have been smart with shot selection, taking almost ten fewer three point attempts per game in uptempo, but have also been shooting very well. I think we can win this game if Simas/CJ combine to make 6 threes, and Skillings scores in double digits. I'm just not sure we will get that production from that trio, and we will need it even with the high scoring from Day Day, Jizzle, and Reed. I hope we pull it out, and give us a 50/50 shot to pull out a close win, or close loss. We will not beat ISU by ten points, even though KSU recently did the same.

[Rufus]

This is the game for everyone put on their big boy pants. The funk that we've been in before this three game stretch could very well be the fatigue factor from traveling but everyone has to do it. To get back in the conversation for post season play. It's past time for Simas to find his groove and Skillings need to be aggressive but take care of the ball.

[GoBearcats31]

TV = Roxy Bernstein, Chris Spatola

[GoBearcats31]

12.5 point underdogs

[Gmann]

12.5 point underdogs

Damn! That's some disrespect and hopefully fires the guys up.

[D.A.H.]

If you don't want the media /,bookies dumping on you, you gotta stand up and shut 'em up. do the 'cats have the intestinal fortitude to do it?

[sedz]

Iowa St doesn't have any major weaknesses. They are top 81 in each of the four factors on both sides of the ball. They are especially good around the rim, where they convert at the fourth highest rate in the country (67.8%) and give up the 13th fewest attempts (30.4% share). In fact, Iowa St is one of only a handful of teams that gives up more midrange shots than rim looks. We've been hot from midrange recently, and that might be the how we have to win this game. But if we revert to our midrange season average under 37%, it's going to be tough to score.

6'8 Joshua Jefferson is the best all around player in the Big12, sporting an 11.6 BPM in conference play - 5.7 on offense and 5.9 on defense. 6'4 Curtis Jones is also an elite player and he leads the team in usage rate. 6'4 Keshon Gilbert leads the team in assist rate, though he can also be turnover prone. 6'1 Lipsey is the nominal PG, but he's a low usage defensive specialist. A trio of defensive specialists rotate at the 5 spot. This team runs its offense through the wings.

[swilsonsp4]

I've seen the Cyclones a few times this year and I'm concerned about Jefferson. He's a load at the 4. Aggressive at both ends. I imagine Dillon Mitchell will draw that assignment most of the time. Aziz will be tied up with their other bigs. That leaves Simas/Skillings/Reed on Momcilovic, with Jizzle and Day Day on the other guards.

This is a tough assignment, but the Cats have a puncher's chance. They can't turn the ball over, as they did in 2024, while containing the ISU scorers to the best of their abilities. Oh ... hit some shots.

[sedz]

In the blowout loss to Kansas St, the Cyclones went 2 of 22 from midrange and only got to the rim 12 times. They had a terrible offensive game despite shooting 44% from three. The defensive gameplan should always be to keep teams away from the rim and encourage midrange shots. Kansas St showed that it can be executed against good teams.

[leeraymond]

It is difficult to tell how good Iowa State is in the conference, in terms of statistics, because it does not publish its conference stats like UC does. What is published are the season stats. Once conference play starts, I never look at season stats. Anyway, Iowa State's last game (UCF) was a lot closer than the score indicates. Both teams hit 27 shots, Iowa State hit one more three than UCF, and UCF only had 9 turnovers. However, Iowa State outrebounded UCF 41 to 32. The big difference in the game was at the free throw line. Iowa State went 16-21 and UCF went 5-10.

If UC can keep Iowa State off the free throw line, slow down Jones and Gilbert, and keep the turnovers under 11, UC may have a chance. Also, more importantly, UC needs four guys to score in double figures (at least three). This is going to sound crazy, nevertheless I like UC's chances in this game. It is a long shot, I know. If UC can control the tempo, hit their shots, and not turn the ball over, they will have a chance.

[leo from jersey]

CWM just announcedHickman might get operated on and is done. he is 30 minutes over for a medical red shirt but they will see. He was in pain for many games and that explains a lot.

[BearKatz]

No answer for Iowa St Bigs in the paint!