No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Kansas Primer

On By Littum

WHO: No. 2 Iowa State (14-1, 4-0 Big 12) vs. No. 9 Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12)

Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa

When: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – 6:00 PM CT

Watch/Listen: ESPN 2 / Cyclone Radio Network

Tip: After a tough overtime win on the road against Texas Tech, Iowa State is set to return to Hilton Coliseum this Wednesday to face the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in a top 10 matchup with hopes of extending their current nation-best 11- match winning streak.

The Cyclones sit tied atop the Big 12 standings with Houston and Arizona at 4-0. ISU will try to improve its conference record to 5-0 – a feat accomplished only the second time in school history (1944). A win would also move Iowa State to 15-1, which would be the best 16-game start in school history.

Kansas is coming off a 54-40 win in Cincinnati last Saturday. KU’s 40 points allowed were the fewest since the Jayhawks beat Howard 89-34 on Dec. 29, 2011, and the fewest points allowed in a road game since they beat Nebraska 45-39 in Lincoln on Feb. 23, 1963.

Story Lines:

  • Keshon Gilbert has taken a leap in his second season as a Cyclone, leading the team in minutes and assists. He has been named Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season and was added to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List on Jan. 7.

  • Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Joneshas been elite coming off the bench for Iowa State. He leads the team in points, field goals and 3-pointers made. He is second in the Big 12 in scoring and has a Big 12 Player of the Week award this season.

  • A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, Tamin Lipsey has been the glue on Iowa State’s team. A noted defensive threat, Lipsey leads the team in steals and is second on the team in assists.

  • Saint Mary’s Transfer Joshua Jefferson has been an important, versatile player this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has won four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards.

  • Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic an average of just over 10 points per game and shoots the 3-ball at the highest clip on the team at 44 percent.

  • A transfer from Charlotte, big man Dishon Jackson has been a force in the paint. He leads the team in blocks and averages 9.5 points with 5.1 rebounds.

  • A swiss army knife from the bench, Nate Heise has really come into its own. His defensive ability to lock down opposing players and ability to cut to space has been tremendous.

  • Seattle transfer Brandon Chatfield has been a glass eater from the bench. The senior leads the team in offensive rebounds and consistently earns ISU more possessions.

From the notes:

  • As a head coach, Otz is 183-99 overall and has led the Cyclones to an 84-36 record over the last four years.

    • ISU is 54-8 in games at Hilton Coliseum under Otzelberger.

  • Iowa State has won 27 straight home games at Hilton Coliseum, which is the fourth-longest active home winning streak in the country and the second-longest in school history.

  • Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men’s basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.

    • He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.

    • Otz will try to become the first coach in program history to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in his first four years as coach.

  • Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 for 18 straight weeks, the longest streak in the country.

  • Iowa State currently boasts the highest scoring offense in the Big 12, averaging 86.2 points per game.

  • The Cyclones are ranked No. 6 in NET. Iowa State ranks No. 4 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 5 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

Change page:

  • Iowa State and Kansas meet for the 259th time today. KU has the series advantage and has won eight of the last 10 meetings, with ISU winning the last two in the Hilton.

  • The Jayhawks were picked to finish first in the Big 12 Preseason Poll for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons, receiving nine (of a possible 15) first-place votes.

  • Kansas has won its last five matchups when both teams have been ranked in the top 10 at tipoff, including one this year.

  • KU big man Hunter Dickinson is the NCAA’s active leader in career points, with 2,445 to date. His 989 field goals are also the most of any active player.

    • Dickinson played his first three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Kansas last year. He was an AP Preseason All-American and was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

  • Kansas leads the Big 12 and is eighth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.80. KU is second in the league and 11th nationally in assists per game 18.3.

  • Kansas head coach Bill Self is in his 22nd season at the helm of the Jayhawk basketball program. Self is 600-136 with KU and is 807-251 in his 32-year coaching career.

    • Self is the winningest coach in Kansas program history, passing Phog Allen with a Nov. 12 win over Michigan State. It took Self 14 fewer seasons to accomplish.

  • Kansas is ranked No. 8 in NET. The Jayhawks are No. 7 in KenPom and no. 7 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.