Rarely do the Cyclones match up with an opponent that is just as strong defensively as they are.

Michigan State, however, is as close as any team in the NCAA tournament will get.

The two teams are about as close statistically as teams can get, on both sides of the ball. The Spartans (22-10) give up 54.9 points per game while the No. 17/19 Cyclones (26-8) hold opponents to an average of 53.8 per game. On the offensive end, Michigan State scores 63.4, compared to Iowa State’s average of 64.4 each game.

The Spartans had a close first-round victory over Middle Tennessee State, sliding past the Blue Raiders by one point. Michigan State enters the Sweet 16 after knocking off No. 1 seed Duke on the Spartans’ home court.

“I think they’re playing with an amazing amount of confidence,” coach Bill Fennelly said. “They have two big wins in very emotion ways.”

The Spartans may come into the game with loads of confidence, but the Cyclones will simply be ready to focus on the next 40 minutes.

“We can’t play for the weekend,” Fennelly said. “We are playing for Saturday night.”

The Spartans rank 7th nationally in three-point field goal defense, containing opponents to shooting 26.5 percent from behind the arc. This will serve as a challenge to the Cyclones, who have relied on treys all year and scored 26 three-pointers in the first two games combined.

It won’t be any easier under the basket for the Cyclones, either as 6’9” junior Alyssa DeHaan will be a threat on both ends of the court for the Spartans. DeHaan is the top rebounder for the Spartans, pulling down 8.3 rpg, and ranks fifth in the nation in blocking with 3.2 bpg.

“She’s a kid that can do a lot of things to change the game, and there aren’t many players in the women’s games that can change games like that,” Fennelly said.

With senior post Nicky Wieben recovering from an ankle injury, Iowa State will have to find a way to battle against DeHaan in the post offensively and defensively in order to come up with a win if Wieben is unable to play.

“We’re going to have to stay aggressive and not shy away from them,” said junior guard Alison Lacey, who tallied 31 points total for the Cyclones in the first and second rounds.

The Cyclones will need to focus on out-rebounding the Spartans, who average 41.3 rebounds per game, and being able to score against their defensive pressure.

“I think our kids understand they can play at a high level,” Fennelly said. “We played in the best conference this year and played the best schedule since I have been here. They understand what it takes to keep playing.”

For the first time ever, the Cyclones will travel to the Sweet 16 after playing their first two games on the road. In every other Sweet 16 appearance, Iowa State had won the first and second round games at Hilton Coliseum.

For the Cyclone players, this game is more than a chance to go onto the Elite Eight — it is something they have wanted for years.

“It’s definitely a dream come true,” said senior Heather Ezell. “This is something we have wanted since we stepped on campus.”

This will be Iowa State’s first trip to the Sweet 16 in eight years, and the Cyclones fourth advancement in school history.