The Cyclones are looking to finish their first week of the basketball season on a high note as they shoot for improvement in the final two games of the week.
Iowa State is coming off a dominant 85-44 win to open the season against Green Bay. Now, the Cyclones play host to Lindenwood on Thursday and Idaho State on Sunday.
Of course, a 41-point win to open the season was a good confidence boost, but the team knows there are areas that can be cleaned up. Last season had many ups and downs, so Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger is not ready to take things easy to start. He wants the team to come out every game with the mindset to improve.
If the entire team plays at its best, the 2023-24 season could be special. That starts with being a balanced team.
“It was really good,” Otzelberger said. “Really pleased with the first half offense and defense. Now, it’s our job to make sure that everybody is playing to their strengths. Playing to the best of their ability.”
The depth of the team has improved from years in the past, as the Cyclones boast a talented young roster. Otzelberger knows how good the team can be and the versatility on offense.
Some of that talent showed through against Green Bay, and as the season rolls on, the team’s talent will continue to be showcased.
“I think the other night was just a game where some of those things didn’t come out as much based on some of the schemes,” Otzelberger said. “They’ll continue to come out more. And I know they will [Thursday].”
The biggest area of improvement from last season to this season’s opener against Green Bay was the free throw shooting. Last season it felt as though the Cyclones were allergic to getting to the line.
That was something that the Cyclones wanted to change.
“The other night we were able to attempt more free throws or make more than our opponent attempted,” Otzelberger said. “That’s a really great trait if you can continue to do that. That wasn’t always the case last year because of the fouls and on the other end, we just didn’t get there enough.”
The Cyclones finished the game making 15 of their 22 free-throw attempts. Green Bay only attempted 14 while making just 10.
However, there were still issues once the Cyclones got to the line, despite the increased attempts. Shooting 68% from the line is something that the team knows they need to work on.
When asked about the biggest area of improvement from game one to game two, Robert Jones made it simple.
“Free throws,” Jones said.
Jones has had some rough trips to the charity stripe in the past, and the game against Green Bay was similar. He had three attempts at and-ones but missed all three.
“[Zero] for three isn’t good enough,” Jones said. “Gotta make one at least.”
Jones was not the only player with less than ideal days at the line. Four other players missed free throws throughout the contest.
Getting to the line is one thing, but the team knows it needs to gain confidence once they are at the line.
“We’re trying to get to a point where we’re super confident at the line,” Jones said. “We work on free throws everyday. I mean, I left the gym today and made sure I made five in a row before I left the gym.”
Other than the free throw shooting, the rest of the game went smoothly for the Cyclones. The offense flowed while the defense locked down Green Bay all night.
Going into the next two games of the week, the Cyclones are looking to come out with the same dominance and confidence.
“Just continue what we been doing,” Hason Ward said. “Being dictators. Just trying to dictate the game and make plays.”
Dictating a game, especially on the offensive side, was something that was not consistent in the first two seasons of the Otzelberger era. The Cyclones had strong offensive outings, but there were times throughout the 2022-23 season when they could not get the gears turning.
The win over Green Bay was the first time in a while that the Cyclones felt like they had it all figured out on offense. Everything ran smoothly and points came with ease.
“I feel like what we showed [Monday] night is we have a very good offensive presence as well, which is something we’ve been lacking,” Jones said.
As the season rolls on, the Cyclones will continue to work on that offensive presence. Especially when Big 12 play comes around, the offense must work in sync if it wants the best results.
For now, the Cyclones are just focused on the near future and the next games at hand.
“I just wanna go out there and play my hardest,” Ward said. “Have my teammates’ backs and… just have fun. Try to win.”
Iowa State is set to play Lindenwood at 7 p.m. Thursday in Ames. The Cyclones will then take on Idaho State at noon Sunday at home to finish out the week. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
