While most students will be spending the weekend preparing for their final exams, the Iowa State men’s basketball team will face their first serious challenge of the season.

The sixth-ranked Cyclones will travel to Iowa City to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday night. Despite the high ranking of the Cyclones and the slow start the Hawkeyes have experienced, Head Coach Tim Floyd is not taking the game lightly.

“This will be a very challenging game,” Floyd said. “Iowa has improved their shot selection and there are fewer guys on the court for them that we don’t have to worry about guarding.”

Not to mention the fact that the game is taking place on the floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where the Cyclones have tasted victory only three times in the series.

“I’ve only been there one time,” Floyd said about Iowa’s home court, “but it must be a tough place to play. History speaks for itself there.

“This is our first road test, which is a task in itself,” Floyd said.

The Cyclones did defeat Iowa in Iowa City two years ago, 86-79.

ISU received a note of encouragement Wednesday night from center Kelvin Cato, who poured in 21 points and grabbed 13 points in a 74-50 victory over Drake.

Cato, who had missed the first three games on the schedule due to a suspension, was dominant despite limited time on the court.

“He played well,” Floyd said about his center. “He rebounded and defended … when a person is getting rebounds, he’s more likely to score points, which he did.”

Floyd was not all that surprised to see Cato break out with his standout game. “I know he is capable of playing like that,” Floyd said.

Under Floyd, the Cyclones have been a team that strives to play a solid defensive game. Is Floyd going to try to slow down the pace against Iowa?

“Not necessarily,” Floyd said. “We will take whatever the defense gives us. If they are giving us transition baskets, we’ll take them.”

Floyd said that the Hawkeyes played the ball-control game last year in their 56-50 victory over the Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum. “They slowed down the tempo more than we did,” Floyd said. “They were effective in running the shot clock down to 10 seconds.”

Iowa will also have an extra boost provided by the return of Jess Settles, who has missed six of the Hawkeyes’ eight contests this season.

Iowa has won five of these games, but having the all-Big 10 forward back can’t hurt.

The Cyclones bring their perfect record into the game, which has helped earn them the No. 6 rank in the nation.

“Being No. 6 is great for the fans,” Floyd said. “It helps players’ confidence. I don’t know if it is realistic, because I haven’t seen the other teams play this season.”

But generally, Floyd and his players don’t put that much concern in the polls.

“We really don’t pay a lot of attention,” Floyd said.