ST. LOUIS - The Iowa State Cyclones touched down in Ames in the early hours of March 8, carrying the weight of a tough 73-57 loss to Arizona. Ranked in the top 10, the Cyclones faced their third defeat in four games, prompting a need for swift change with the NCAA Tournament looming.
Following the setback against Arizona, a pivotal conversation unfolded between Cyclone players and assistant coaches Erik Crawford and Nate Schmidt. The team recognized the pressing need to revitalize an offense that had slipped from averaging 83 points in their first 10 Big 12 games to just 67 in the next seven.
This offensive prowess had set this Cyclone squad apart from previous seasons under T.J. Otzelberger, and rediscovering that form was crucial.
Senior guard Tamin Lipsey shared insights from a key meeting, saying, "We had a little player meeting with Crawford and Schmidty. Talked about what we like to run and things like that on offense."
This dialogue sparked a turnaround. In the four games following their loss in Tucson, the Cyclones roared back to life, once again hitting that 83-point mark per game.
Since their regular season finale against Arizona State at Hilton Coliseum, they’ve boasted the nation’s top offensive efficiency, racking up 129.8 points per 100 possessions. As they prepare to face No. 15 seed Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64, Iowa State looks poised and ready to make their mark as the Midwest Region's No. 2 seed.