Four games into the 2023-24 college basketball season the Iowa State Cyclones were not only 4-0, they had posted margins of victory of 41 points, 55 points, 31 points, and 55 points.
Sure the opponents weren’t exactly college basketball blue bloods – Green Bay, Lindenwood, Idaho State, and Grambling – but computer services like Torvik and KenPom who factor in the margin of victory were giving a lot of love to coach T.J. Otzelberger’s squad.
A four-point win over VCU was then followed by a pair of losses to Virginia Tech and then No. 12 Texas A&M, and even though they rattled off six straight victories after that – including blowouts over DePaul and Iowa – the Cyclones didn’t sniff the Top 25 and were generally cast aside as another good but not great team in a Big 12 conference full of them.
But now, after beating the only undefeated team left in college basketball on Tuesday, the Houston Cougars, this Iowa State team is finally stepping up when needed to truly demand respect across the country.
The Cyclones held Houston to 53 points on just 38% shooting from the field, and while the team’s offense wasn’t much better they converted at the free throw line (18-22) and did enough to withstand a comeback attempt and take down the Coogs – who were playing just their second ever conference game in the Big 12.
Iowa State is now up to No. 11 in the NET rankings, boasting a 12-3 overall record. They are a combined 3-3 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games and 9-0 in Quad 4 contests, which doesn’t do them a ton of favors, but plenty of opportunities remain to pick up quality victories in conference play like they did on Tuesday evening.
“We’re a young team, we’re learning every game,” star sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey said after the game. “But we’re going to come out and fight every game no matter who we’re playing, no matter where we’re playing. Just don’t doubt us.”
The computers have loved Iowa State all season long, and after Tuesday’s big win – it might be time college basketball fans and analysts take notice.