BERKELEY, Calif. – Iowa State’s second-round win over Ball State did more than give the Cyclones their first Sweet 16 berth since 2001.

It also earned the team a trip to Berkeley, Calif., where the Cyclones will face the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Iowa State spent its first full day in the Bay Area on Friday immersing itself in the swell of media coverage surrounding the tournament. Coach Bill Fennelly couldn’t stop smiling during his Friday press conference.

“It’s phenomenal, the way we’re being treated,” Fennelly said. “This is really cool, and we’re going to enjoy every minute of it.”

During the day, the Cyclones answered numerous questions from reporters before hitting the court for an hour of practice. After the workout the team was ready to put its game preparation to rest and focus on enjoying the atmosphere surrounding the tournament.

“We take our hour and that’s it. We don’t do another practice,” Fennelly said. “I don’t think that’s right. I think – so much – you can get consumed by ‘let’s meet, let’s do this, let’s do this,’ and they don’t get to enjoy it.”

Although the Cyclones have a daunting matchup awaiting them in the Spartans, Fennelly said the philosophy of allowing his team to revel in the experience of reaching this stage of the tournament is beneficial to the team in the long run.

“Memories are an important part of college basketball, but sometimes, as coaches, we forget to live in the moment, and I want them to enjoy this,” Fennelly said. “The challenges on the court are great, but if you’re not enthused and not excited about it, you’re not going to play well.”