Two teams that endured off-season turmoil will meet Saturday when the ISU men’s basketball team travels to Waco, Texas, to face the Baylor Bears in a Big 12 Conference match-up.

Over the summer, Baylor first dealt with the death of player Patrick Dennehy. Dennehy’s roommate and teammate, Carlton Dotson, has since been charged with the murder. Head coach Dave Bliss also resigned after a tape was released of him admitting he tried to cover up major NCAA violations his team had committed.

Former ISU head coach Larry Eustachy resigned in May after the Des Moines Register published pictures of him fraternizing with students in Columbia, Mo., after a Cyclone loss to the Tigers.

Despite the turbulence, Iowa State boasts a 10-0 record at home, including two conference wins over Nebraska and Missouri. The Cyclones’ road game is another story — the team is looking for its first Big 12 Conference road win in 19 tries.

Senior Jake Sullivan said not winning on the road in conference play has been a monkey on the team’s back.

“Hopefully we can get it off our back this weekend,” Sullivan said. “That’s our goal and that’s my focus right now.”

The Cyclones’ (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) last game was an emotional 84-76 win over in-state rival Iowa. It was close most of the game, but the Cyclones pulled away in the end with the help of John Neal, who came off the bench to score two late threes.

Junior Damion Staple has also been a key player off the bench for the Cyclones. Staple scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds in 18 minutes against Iowa.

“Damion’s been playing extremely well,” Sullivan said. “He’s working hard in practice, and that always transfers over to a game.”

Baylor (5-11, 0-3 Big 12) is coming off a 76-47 loss at Nebraska. Nebraska kept Baylor from scoring a field goal for nearly 13 minutes in the first half. The Huskers also outrebounded the Bears, 39-25.

Sullivan said Baylor coming off that loss to Nebraska scares him.

“[Baylor] is going to be ready to go, and they are very good athletes,” Sullivan said. “They play well at their place, so we’re going to have to be ready to go. They’re a Big 12 team with very good players, even though their record doesn’t always show it.”

Despite Baylor’s record, head coach Wayne Morgan said he prepares for all the games equally.

“I’ve got to attack Baylor the same way we attack Kansas, the same way we attack Xavier, the same way we attacked Iowa and hope for good results,” Morgan said. “I don’t change our preparation.

“It’s a conference game, so it’s going to be a war, especially given the fact that we’re 2-1 and just had some success; that’s going to pump them up even more.”

Iowa State will most likely be without the services of junior center Jared Homan who suffered an ankle sprain late in the second half against Iowa. Morgan said that Homan’s status is day to day.

“[Jared] has been playing good this year, he’s a big body,” Sullivan said. “Other guys are just going to have to step up. It’s just an opportunity for other guys.”