Only four days after besting the Big 12’s top-defense, Kansas State, Iowa State again finds itself up against another ferocious defense as the team prepares to host No. 10 Texas A&M.

Although Kansas State and Texas A&M boast the Big 12’s No. 1 and No. 2 scoring defenses, holding teams to an average of 49.8 and 53.6 points per game respectively, their styles vary dramatically.

Kansas State runs a smart, methodical defense that coach Bill Fennelly said works for the Wildcats. They are “very smart about how they do things, taking away your plays, being in the right place all the time.”

When they faced the Wildcats last Saturday, the Cyclones, who own the league’s third best scoring defense, combatted Kansas State’s defensive front by trying to keep their offense running at an up-tempo pace. The strategy worked out. Iowa State kept the Wildcats from developing a rhythm offensively, eventually holding out for a 60-50 victory.

While Kansas State allows teams to run their offenses, the Aggies, however, try to prevent opponents from getting the chance to.

“A&M is full court press the whole game. They try to take you out of your offense. They try to deny the ball,” junior guard Alison Lacey said.

Throughout the conference season, the Aggies have made teams pay for missing opportunities to score. Over the last three games, they have averaged 22 points off turnovers.

“I think we can we can guard them enough to stay in the game to stay in the game. We can’t guard breakaway lay-ups and turnovers and things like that,” Fennelly said. ‘You’re offense has to be good and efficient and certainly can’t help them. They don’t need the help.”

This defensive style caused headaches for the Cyclones last season, who lost both games last season by an average of 13 points.

“They beat us twice last year and really we weren’t in either game,” Fennelly said “The Big 12 tournament [game] we were at least competitive, but I don’t think anyone ever thought we had a chance to win that game. They came out and got us early.”

The Aggies hit a bit of a hiccup after winning their first 12 games when they reached Big 12 play, losing two straight to No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 8 Baylor. They have gotten back on track however, as they have won three in a row by at least 10 points, including a win over in-state rival No. 16 Texas.

Along with his team’s lock-down defense, Fennelly is also hoping for a little bit of luck in order to out-last coach Gary Blair’s team.

“I’m praying for a lot of cold weather, and some snow, and I might leave a few doors open so I don’t have to listen to Gary complain about the weather,” he replied, slyly.