After two games as a taste of Big Ten action, Iowa returns to non-conference play for a few more weeks – and faces its toughest test of the season so far: #3 Iowa State, 7-1 on the season and seeing everything good bit of a top 5 team. The game is of course also the annual CyHawk duel, which hasn’t had many close games recently.

Not since an 84-78 Iowa State win in 2018 has a CyHawk game been decided by fewer than 14 points (a 98-84 Iowa win in 2019). Last year was one of the most lopsided, with Iowa State beating Iowa 90-65 in Ames. The Hawkeyes have won four straight games against the Cyclones in Iowa City, averaging 18.8 points per game.

G Brock Harding (6’0″, 165 lbs; 9.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 6.0 apg; 49.3 FG%; 45.5 3FG%)

G Josh Dix (6’6″, 210 lbs; 13.4 ppg; 3.9 rpg; 2.9 apg; 51.3 FG%; 38.5 3FG%)

F Payton Sandfort (6’8″, 215 lbs; 16.4 ppg; 5.8 rpg; 4.0 apg; 38.6 FG%; 31.5 3FG%)

F Ladji Dembele (6’8″, 255 lbs; 3.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg; 0.9 apg; 36.8 FG%; 30.8 3FG%)

C Owen Freeman (6’10”, 245 lbs; 16.8 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 1.3 apg; 64.4 FG%; 37.5 3FG%)

Iowa appears to be at its healthiest state in several weeks; Fran McCaffery stated that Seydou Traore should be available for this game and Cooper Koch could “potentially” also be available for the game.

G Keshon Gibert (6’4″, 200; 17.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.5 apg, 54.3% FG, 78.9% FT, 31.6 3FG%)

G Tamin Lipsey (6’1″, 200; 8.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.9 apg; 43.1% FG, 72.4% FT, %25.0 3FG%)

F Milan Momcilovic (6’8″, 225; 12.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 apg, 51.4% FG, 77.8 FT%, 50.0 3FG%)

F Joshua Jefferson (6’9″, 240; 10.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 57.9 FG%, 93.8 FT%, 16.7 3FG%)

C Dishon Jackson (6’11, 274; 11.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 67.4 FG%, 73.3 FT%, 0.0 3FG%)

Curtis Jones, who started ISU’s first game and is averaging 16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.8 apg this season, could also start tonight despite appearing off the bench in the Cyclones’ last seven games came.

Iowa State is 7-1 this season and is ranked third in the AP Top 25 and sixth in the KenPom rankings. The Cyclones’ only loss this season was a two-point loss to Auburn – currently No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and No. 1 in the KenPom rankings. Aside from the loss to Auburn, Iowa State has largely dominated its opponents – ISU has five wins by more than 28 points and just one win that was decided by fewer than 10 points – an 89-84 win over Dayton.

The Cyclones have steamrolled teams with tremendous balance on both sides of the ball. The Cyclones are one of only two teams (Tennessee is the other) that rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season, according to KenPom. ISU is scoring 87.8 ppg and allowing 64.8 ppg this season.

Iowa State’s potent offense was fueled by a few key factors: an effective FG rate of 57.2% (24th), a very low turnover rate (12.9%, sixth best nationally) and a propensity to get to the free throw line (36th). . in free throw rate). The key factor in this strong effective FG rate is easy shooting around the rim and inside the arc – ISU is making 59.9% (15th) of its 2-point attempts this season. They are also a solid three-point shooting team, shooting 35.1% (112) from behind the arc.

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery was impressed with what he saw from the Cyclones this year. “I think it’s a really strong team, they have a lot of weapons,” he said. “They have a lot of guys who can score in different ways – three point shooters (guys who can do it) and who rebound very well. I think they’re playing really well together at the moment.”

On defense, ISU was excellent at forcing turnovers and keeping opponents away from the offensive line and free throw line. The Cyclones are forcing turnovers on 23.8% (8th nationally) of opponent possessions and steals on 14.1% (12th nationally) of opponent possessions this season. Iowa has generally been good at protecting the ball on offense this season (31st in offensive turnover rate), but ISU will be the biggest threat to Iowa’s possession yet.

The Cyclones only allow opponents to rebound 25.6% of their missed shots (43rd), which denies teams many second-shot opportunities. ISU also ranks 70th in opponent free throw percentage, preventing teams from getting many chances at the free throw line. They’re not bad at blocking shots either – opponents are making 47.5% of 2-point attempts (85th) and 31.9% of 3-point attempts (129th) this season.

“They compete, they play hard, they play together defensively,” McCaffery said of the Cyclones’ defense. “They attack the ball, they fight you in the post, they fight you on the glass.”

Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State’s leading guard, has been a key contributor for the Cyclones this season. The former UNLV transfer leads the team in points (17.4 ppg) and assists (5.5 ppg) and is ranked 7th in KenPom’s National Player of the Year rankings. Gilbert scores most of his shots from inside the arc and at the rim – he shoots 61.3% from inside the 3-point line – and also at the free throw line, where he made 78.9% of his attempts on 57 attempts this year. Gilbert isn’t great from outside, having made just 6 of 19 shots (31.6%) this season.

Jones has been a big sparkplug off the bench, ranking second on the team in scoring at 16.4 ppg. He and winger Milan Momcilovic (third on the team with 12.5 ppg) were ISU’s best outside shooters this year, with Jones shooting 40.4% (23 of 57) from deep and Momcilovic shooting 50% (21 of 42). from a long distance.

St. Mary’s Transfer Joshua Jefferson and Charlotte Transfer Dishon Jackson were strong additions to ISU’s front court this year. Jefferson leads the Cyclones in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and has scored in double figures with 10.4 ppg and 57.9% shooting from the floor. He also excelled at the free throw line, making 15 of 16 attempts this year. Jackson was also an excellent rebounder (5.8 rpg) and another solid scorer (11.4 ppg on 67.4% shooting) for ISU’s very balanced offense.

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