The Cyclones had been waiting.

A long bus ride from the city to practice, another bus ride to get to the arena from the team hotel. Oklahoma City has become a travel destination in the Southwest, but when your concern is the Big 12 Tournament, scenery doesn’t matter.

Iowa State is focused on competing for the championship, and preparing for a second round match-up without knowing the opponent isn’t as difficult as it sounds.

“[At practice] we just focused on ourselves, and in the end, if we’re not ready to go, it doesn’t matter who we’re gonna play,” senior guard Alison Lacey said.

The team just wanted to find out their match up, and with just over 24 hours left to spare, Iowa State got its answer: Texas.

“I’m not going to sleep a whole lot tonight, Iowa State’s just an incredible team. They’re very well coached, they spread the floor out on you, they can all shoot threes — it’s a different style,” Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said.

With Texas’ win over Missouri on Thursday evening, the Longhorns claimed the blank spot on the bracket to play the Cyclones for the chance to advance to the Big 12 semifinals.

The Cyclones battled Texas on Feb. 15, but couldn’t hold on to victory, falling 55-52 in Ames.

Revenge will be on the minds of an experienced Iowa State club, and scoring will be a focal point.

The Cyclones sit tied for seventh place in scoring offense in the Big 12, but are 21-0 this season when scoring more than 58 points.

“Iowa State has so many weapons from outside the arc, we were fortunate, I thought, to come away with a win in Ames,” Goestenkors said.

Adjustments are sure to be made since the loss against the athletic Longhorns.

Iowa State must defend against the long UT starters, including bench players like guard Erika Arriaran, who scored 16 points in the first game as a sub.

Iowa State and Texas have taken different routes since the February match-up, with the Cyclones winners of their last four.

The Longhorns are losers of five in a row to teams not named Missouri, but Iowa State feels the natural pressure to succeed.

“I think no matter what game you play you go in a little bit nervous, but as the season goes along, I think every game means a lot more. Everyone will be nervous, but we will be prepared,” Lacey said.

The Longhorns experienced a bit of turmoil when 24 hours before the Missouri game, the team’s forward Earnesia Williams was in a rolling car accident outside of Austin.

“Not many people make it out of something like that, so I’m just glad to be here,” Williams said.

Williams will be playing with something more than basketball on her mind, but the Longhorns are hoping she can replicate her effort in the Missouri game, chalking up her first career double double.