After back-to-back losses to Big 12 opponents, tonight’s game between Iowa State and Colorado could be considered a must win for the Cyclones.

ISU Head Coach Tim Floyd knows that the matchup with the Buffaloes will be a hard fought one.

“It will be [a tough game],” Floyd said. “They have a lot of incentive to play this basketball game.”

With it being such a big game, the question on many people’s minds is the status of Cyclone center Kelvin Cato. Cato went down during overtime in Saturday’s game against Nebraska.

The Big 12’s leading shot blocker did not practice on Monday or Tuesday, and does not yet know if he will play tonight. “It’s not my [decision], it’s the trainer’s,” Cato said.

“I’m still having trouble lifting when I get above certain points,” Cato said. “[Tuesday] I was going to try and practice, and Coach told me if I can’t rebound then I shouldn’t be out there.”

Floyd called Cato’s presence in tonight’s game “doubtful”, and he recognizes that without Cato it puts pressure on the rest of the team. “We will just have to have somebody else step up,” Floyd said. “That’s why they call it a team.”

If Cato does not play against Colorado, the Cyclones will suffer most in rebounding and defense in the paint. ISU guard Dedric Willoughby recognizes the pressure on the inside if the team has to play without Cato.

“We won’t have that real big inside presence,” Willoughby said. “I think the [defensive] pressure would have to be much more intense.”

With Cato gone, ISU would have to depend on reserve forwards Klay Edwards and Stevie Johnson, and backup center Tony Rampton to pick up the slack on the boards and the defense down in the paint.

“Those guys will play increased minutes, and that’s if Stevie can go,” Floyd said.

Johnson suffered a deep thigh bruise and did not practice on Tuesday. “I’m not sure he’ll be able to go either,” Floyd said.

When these two teams first met this season, the Cyclones were without Willoughby, who is the leading scorer for ISU. Colorado won that first matchup easily 70-45.

“We’ve got to do a better job in a lot of different areas,” Floyd said. I think we are a different team than when we played them the first time, obviously because of Willoughby returning.”

The game will be the last home game for the starting five of Cato, Willoughby, Shawn Bankhead, Kenny Pratt, and Jacy Holloway. Tip- off will be at 7:00 p.m.