It’s becoming difficult to keep thinking up superlatives to describe Iowa State basketball this season.

But let’s try a few: Superb. Magnificent. Shocking. Tough. Talented.

But one above all can do the job after this triumphant weekend:

Sweet.

For the first time in school history, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

The men got there by defeating Central Connecticut State 78-68 and Auburn 79-60 in the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

“This team is good. Figure it out. It’s good. I’m not saying we’re going to win another game, but it’s a good team and there is a lot to it and there is a lot more than one person,” said men’s head coach Larry Eustachy.

That one person he speaks of is Marcus Fizer, a junior forward who was named first team All-American following the regular season.

The women struggled against Illinois, but the Cyclones, buoyed by the crowd, came back from as many as 11 points down in the second half to secure a 79-68 win.

“It obviously feels great to win,” said junior forward Megan Taylor. “We saw the men win yesterday, and that was a big motivater for us. We wanted to join them in the Sweet Sixteen.”

The men will now face UCLA Thursday night at 8:55 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.

This season has been a record-breaking one in many respects. The Cyclones (31-4) have long since broken the record for most ISU wins in a season. The previous mark was 24, set in 1995-96.

They won the Big 12 conference for the first time since 1945 and captured the Big 12 tournament title for the first time in school history.

Interestingly, the last time the Cyclones made the Sweet Sixteen in 1997, they took on the Bruins in San Antonio. UCLA came up with a 74-73 win in that game when Cameron Dollar made a shot with 1.9 seconds left in overtime.

The Bruins, the No. 6 seed, beat Ball State in the first round before obliterating Maryland 105-70 in the second round of the tourney.

If Iowa State advances, the Cyclones will play the winner of the Michigan State-Syracuse game, which precedes the ISU contest.

The women will take on Penn State (28-4), who defeated Auburn in a close contest played at State College, Pa.

The Nittany Lions, seeded second in the Midwest region, will have to take on the Cyclones in what will no doubt be a hostile environment at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Iowa State fans nearly filled the place when the Cyclones defeated Texas to win the Big 12 tournament.

The crowd of 9,103 was a record for the tournament.

“Our fans follow us wherever we go, and I’m sure they’re going to be down there in full force this weekend,” women’s coach Bill Fennelly said.

The women’s season, too, has been one to remember. They won their first conference title ever, sharing the crown with Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

They also won the Big 12 tournament, marking the first time they had achieved that accomplishment.

Stacy Frese became the first Cyclone ever to be named All-American, achieving second-team honors.

And now the Cyclones will look to make real history as both teams continue their respective runs to the Final Four.