Men’s Basketball Update: Keep Calm and Check-In

Following Iowa State’s consecutive losses at the Orlando ESPN Who Gives A Damn Tournament, fans were abuzz on social media, with the intensity of reactions akin to the Batsignal lighting up a cold night in Gotham City. The sentiment was that the season was already a lost cause after falling to two Power 5 teams in November. But fear not, Cyclone faithful, because I’m here to tell you that the season can still be turned around.

Iowa State’s first loss over the weekend to Virginia Tech by 9 points led to concerns about their 3-point defense, with Tech’s 11 made 3s at a close to 40% clip. This, combined with ISU’s low 24% from behind the line, appeared to be a key reason for the loss. However, in the game prior against VCU, the Cyclones managed to eke out a 4-point victory despite making only two 3s. So, what changed?

For one, Iowa State outperformed VCU on the glass with an 11-board advantage, took 15 more shots, and forced 16 turnovers. They created more scoring opportunities and did so efficiently, with a 43% offensive rebound percentage. However, these advantages appeared to vanish in the subsequent games against Virginia Tech and Texas A&M, resulting in a minus 5 margin.

Furthermore, Iowa State’s struggles at the free-throw line were glaring, missing a total of 34 free throws during the tournament and dropping their season percentage to 67.7%. With the team making strides in drawing fouls and getting to the line, the inability to convert became a significant concern.

Despite the offensive woes, coach T.J. Otzelberger remained focused on addressing the issue, highlighting the need for mental fortitude at the foul line. With the season still young, there’s room for growth and improvement as the team gains experience and learns from close games and competition.

Read more