A fresh group of Cyclone faces will get their first look at one of the most hallowed places in all of college basketball when Iowa State travels to Phog Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday to take on Kansas.

The true home of basketball – the game was invented there – may not be kind to the Cyclones, as the host Jayhawks are currently the sixth-ranked team in the country.

They also show no mercy – just ask Nebraska, who was embarrassed and sent on their way by Kansas one week ago by a final score of 92-39.

Still, the Cyclones are confident they have a puncher’s chance.

“We’re going to go in there hungry,” said ISU guard Mike Taylor. “We feel like we gave away one on our home court.”

The Cyclones have reason to believe they can have success against the Jayhawks.

On Jan. 13, Iowa State stuck with Kansas for 40 minutes, taking them to overtime in Hilton Coliseum before falling.

Taylor said if the Cyclones play their game, they can pull the upset.

“We’re going to stick to our game plan, stick to coach’s mastermind strategy,” he said.

Such a strategy could be easier said than done.

Kansas is 24-4 on the season and holds an 11-2 record in the Big 12. They are tied with Texas A&M for tops in the league.

The Jayhawks have won eight of their last nine games – the last five, consecutively. Their one loss was to Texas A&M.

Those are the only two Big 12 teams guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament and both are in the AP’s top 10.

“No team is going to go the entire conference season and just roll the entire time and do their best basketball,” said ISU coach Greg McDermott. “I think A&M went through a stretch where they were doing that and maybe Kansas was doing that a few times early and they seem to have hit their stride. So, I think either one of those teams on a given night can beat anyone in the country.”

Both teams have proven to be able to do just that.

Kansas owns a win over former No. 1 Florida. While Texas A&M’s only big win comes against the Jayhawks, they nearly upset then-No. 1 UCLA as well as then-No. 9 LSU.

The Aggies have won 16 of their last 18 games, ripping through their Big 12 schedule.

“Florida hasn’t lost many games this year and that’s one of them, on a neutral floor,” McDermott said. “Florida’s the defending national champion with everyone back, so it speaks volumes to what they’re capable of.

“Having said that, A&M went to UCLA, and UCLA was the national runner-up last year and played a very competitive game that was decided in the last few minutes.”

The better team is an ongoing debate that may have to wait until the Big 12 tournament next month to be completely settled.

All the Cyclones know right now is they will have their hands full with Kansas.

“What Kansas did to Nebraska in the second half Saturday was pretty impressive,” McDermott said, speaking of Kansas outscoring the Huskers 56-17 in the second half last Saturday. “When they’re clicking, when they’re shooting well from the perimeter to go with what they have going to the basket and to the block, they’re scary. We’ll find out just how scary they are on Saturday.”