Iowa State rides momentum into a Big 12 Tournament rematch with Texas Tech, aiming for revenge and a crucial win that could boost its NCAA Tournament seeding.
The Iowa State Cyclones are rolling into the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals with serious momentum after dismantling Arizona State 91-42, but the real test arrives next.
Waiting on the other side is Texas Tech, the same team that handed Iowa State its only home loss of the season less than two weeks ago.
That earlier meeting in Ames didn’t go the Cyclones’ way. Texas Tech shot a blistering 31-of-53 from the field and knocked down 14 3-pointers, controlling the pace from start to finish in an 82-73 victory. For Iowa State, Thursday’s rematch presents an opportunity for payback - and potentially a critical boost for NCAA Tournament seeding.
If the Cyclones are going to flip the script, defense will be the starting point.
Iowa State showed exactly what it’s capable of on that end in its tournament opener, holding Arizona State to 15-of-47 shooting and an ice-cold 1-of-19 from beyond the arc.
Replicating that defensive pressure against Texas Tech won’t be easy, especially against a talented Red Raiders backcourt led by Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell, and Jaylen Petty.
But limiting their efficiency from 3-point range could be the difference in this rematch.
Another key storyline will be the bounce-back performance of Killyan Toure. The freshman guard struggled badly in the first matchup, missing all seven shot attempts, including four from three-point range, in just 18 minutes.
Iowa State will need a more confident version of Toure this time around, especially if Texas Tech again dares him to shoot from the perimeter.
Inside the paint, the Cyclones may also have the advantage. Blake Buchanan and Joshua Jefferson both looked sharp against Arizona State, while Dominykas Pleta adds size and rebounding strength to Iowa State’s frontcourt.
Texas Tech dominated the glass in the first meeting, but if the Cyclones can control rebounds and limit second chances, they could shift the balance of the game.
With revenge on their minds and a potential No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament still within reach, Iowa State enters the matchup determined to rewrite the script.