Kevin Jairaj-USA Today Sports
Record: 22-11
RPI: 45
BPI: 36
Conference: Big 12 Conference
How They Qualified: At-Large Berth
Head coach Fred Hoiberg is at it again. The Iowa State Cyclones are headed to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament under Hoiberg’s guidance and this comes after the program had not been to a Big Dance since 2005. Yes, Hoiberg has electrified basketball in Ames, but it’s a testament to the play of a number of notable transfers and newcomers over the course of the past two seasons. A season ago, the Cyclones were eliminated in the Round of 32, but did manage to win a game within the field, that can be flipped into an experience factor heading into this year’s tournament.
Now, with that being case, Iowa State appears to be playing their best basketball of the season heading at this point in the season. That could potentially make this team dangerous within the field given their match-up(s).
What You Need to Know:
Leading Scorer: Will Clyburn (15.3 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Melvin Ejim (9.4 rpg)
Leading Passer: Korie Lucious (5.7 apg)
Bad Losses: Texas Tech
Good Wins: Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Will Clyburn and Tyrus McGee give the Cyclones a pretty legit one-two scoring punch and even despite losing do-it-all forward Royce White off last season’s squad, Iowa State has molded themselves into a more balanced and efficient squad here in 2013.
Iowa State really doesn’t have any bad losses this season, so you know that they have the capability to be competitive against whomever they draw in the tournament’s field.
The Iowa State Cyclones are dancing!
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
