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Rise and Shine: Iowa State is the team to beat in the Big 12

By Sam Federman

Charlie Neibergall - Associated Press
Charlie Neibergall - Associated Press

On January 27, 2024, the Iowa State Cyclones defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in Ames, 79-75, and the ISU students rushed the floor.


It moved Iowa State to 16-4, and dropped Kansas to that exact same record. It was the second straight year that the Cyclones had defeated the Jayhawks at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State eventually finished the year 13-5 in the Big 12, won the Big 12 Tournament, and earned a 2 seed. A third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a second Sweet 16 in three years, and the third straight year of improvement as a program.


Meanwhile, Kansas finished the Big 12 season 10-8, losing in its first game of the Big 12 Tournament, and barely defeated Samford in the round of 64.


On Wednesday, TJ Otzelberger defeated Kansas at Hilton for the third straight year, but this time, there was no court storm after the 74-57 win.


Iowa State is up to 15-1, the only loss coming by two points to Auburn in Maui. The Cyclones are ranked as the No. 2 team in the AP poll, and have somehow, taken another step forward as a program in year four under Otzelberger.


On the flip side, Kansas dropped to 3-2 in the in the Big 12, and has very clear problems finding scoring consistency, and putting the right lineups on the floor. Its big money transfers - AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen - have been flops. Two of its returning contributors - Dajuan Harris and KJ Adams - have taken steps back. And the Jayhawks have lost three times on the road in the last month and a half.


The Cyclones' transfers - Joshua Jefferson, Dishon Jackson, Nate Heise, and Brandton Chatfield - were not as highly regarded as KU's, but they have all fit the team like a glove. Jefferson might be the most underrated player in the country, doing more of the "little things" than anybody else. He had 10 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block on Wednesday.


Additionally, its returning players have taken steps forward. Entering the season, Tamin Lipsey was the presumed All-American candidate for Iowa State, but Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert have evolved into legitimate All-American contenders in the backcourt.


It's the best backcourt trio in the sport - all three can take over any game in a completely different way.


On Wednesday, it was Jones, scoring 20 points in the first half, and racking up his third straight KenPom Game MVP.


The lack of a court storm shows where the two programs are right now. Iowa State is the team to beat in the Big 12 - not Kansas.

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