In the final leg of the mythical state tournament, Iowa State (6-2) heads to Iowa City to take on Iowa (8-2) on Friday night.

On paper, the teams are shockingly similar. Both Greg McDermott’s and Todd Lickliter’s teams have been scoring in the upper 60s, and both teams play gritty defense.

“It’s about not turning the basketball over, it’s about shooting good shots and then trying to make your opponent shoot the shot that you want them to take versus the shot that they want to take — and I think, in that regard, we’re very similar,” McDermott said.

Both teams also rely heavily from freshmen and sophomores to pick up the scoring. The Hawkeyes’ four leading scorers are freshmen and sophomores.

Freshman Matt Gatens is starting off his collegiate career where he left off in high school. Gatens was named Iowa’s “Mr. Basketball” and Gatorade Player of the Year while at Iowa City High School. He’s averaging 11.1 points per game and shooting over 60 percent from beyond the arc as a true freshman.

“I’ve always been a big Matt Gatens fan. I think he’s a winner; I think he’s tough. He plays within himself and now he seems to have made himself into a better three-point shooter than he was in high school,” McDermott said.

Iowa’s leading scorer is also a true freshman. Anthony Tucker is averaging 13.1 points per game and scored a career-high 24 points against West Virginia.

Sophomore guards Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson also average around 10 points per game. Kelly scored 13 points in last year’s Cy-Hawk showdown in Ames.

“He’s got some talented young players. I feel like we have some talented young players and how quickly those young guys can come along is really going to be key, I think, to both of our seasons,” McDermott said.

Thompson returns to Iowa City

For the first time since he donned the black and gold, starting ISU center Alex Thompson will return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena — as a Cyclone. Even though Thompson played at Ames High School, he originally decided to sign with in-state rival Iowa.

Thompson averaged about two points per game in his two seasons at Iowa before he decided to come back to Ames and suit up for the home team.

While he played for the Hawkeyes he drained a late three-pointer that sealed Iowa’s victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Thompson scored one point and picked up four rebounds in his first game against his old team last season.

Tucker still suspended

Anthony Tucker, Iowa’s leading scorer, was suspended indefinitely from the team following Sunday’s public intoxication charge. The freshman guard has been averaging 13.1 points per game.

According to an Iowa City police report, Tucker was discovered lying on his back in an alley behind the Union Bar in Iowa City at 1:10 a.m. Sunday.

Tucker was suspended for Tuesday’s game against Northern Iowa and is still doubtful for Friday’s game against Iowa State.

Before he is re-instated by coach Lickliter, Tucker must go through the proper eligibility procedures within the university’s athletic department.