If the Cyclones did indeed look past Big 12 also-ran Colorado in preparation for the week ahead, who could really blame them?

Iowa State’s men’s basketball team faces its biggest regular-season week in recent memory as they face off against Big 12 co-leaders Texas and Oklahoma State this week at Hilton Coliseum.

The first battle will take place tonight, and there are still seats available for the contest, which pits No. 14 Texas against No. 17 Iowa State.

The Cyclones are 16-0 at home this season and have won 17 in a row overall at Hilton Coliseum. This week, they are going to need all the Hilton Magic the crowd can muster.

Texas comes into play with an identical 10-2 mark in conference play, while boasting an overall record of 19-6. The Cyclones are 21-4 overall, and are in contention for their first conference title since 1945.

That year, Iowa State went to the Final Four.

Texas is led by Chris Mihm, the 7-1 junior center who is averaging 18 points and 10.7 rebounds. ISU Coach Larry Eustachy says an obvious key for victory is handling the All-American candidate.

“He’s just a monster. He seems to score so easily, and he’s got a great touch around the basket. If he has a career against us like Jaquay Walls did, then we can still play extremely well and lose,” Eustachy said.

Mihm also averages three blocks and shoots well from the field and the foul line.

But Mihm isn’t the only man the Cyclones will have to worry about. Gabe Muoneke, a 6-7, 250 pound forward, was a member of the Big 12 first team all-conference squad a year ago.

This year his numbers are down, but he still is a big factor, scoring 13.4 points and grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game. There are seven Longhorns that average at least 19 minutes per game, and a couple more who see regular action.

Junior College transfer Darren Kelly is the team’s best three-point shooter at 46 percent.

Eustachy says even the tremendous home court advantage at Hilton Coliseum will not make them the favorites.

“Obviously, we have to be the underdog in this game,” Eustachy said. “They’re that good. But we’re anxious to take on that role. We’re just, awe is not the word, but excited to have the opportunity to be where we’re at at this time of year.”

Eustachy also feels that the two teams have a lot in common.

“I’d like to think we play a similar style to them. We are patient on offense, we run when we need to, play good solid defense and don’t foul a lot,” Eustachy said.

Texas is a force defensively, as they have given up an average of only 55 points in their last five games, all wins.

They allowed just 38 to Baylor on Saturday.

“They have one thing they can rely on and that’s guarding the basketball, guarding the rim and rebounding the ball,” Eustachy said. “When you do that, it can make up for a lot of days when you don’t make baskets.”

Iowa State is coming off a game in which they gave up 102 points to Colorado in a heartbreaking overtime loss.

It was the first time since 1995 that an Iowa State team had given up more than 100 points, and Eustachy was very displeased with the way the Cyclones played.

“We just got outworked. They outhustled us, and that hasn’t happened very often here. I don’t think I’ve ever given up 102 points,” Eustachy said.

Tuesday night’s game doesn’t figure to reach triple digits, and Eustachy said that Iowa State must tighten the screws on the defensive end.

“If we play the way we did against Colorado, this game isn’t even going to be close. We’re going to have to come out there with our ‘A’ game,” Eustachy said.

The Cyclones’ schedule appears to be a favorable one, as they have the two home games this week, then close the season with two road games at Texas Tech and Baylor, two winnable games.

But first things first, the Cyclones must win tonight if they are to have a legitimate shot at their first conference title in over 60 years.