Following a week-long break from competition, Iowa State prepares to begin its NCAA Tournament run with a matchup against Lipscomb in Milwaukee at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
After finding out on Selection Sunday that they’d be a three-seed, the Cyclones look to begin their quest for a national championship against a Bisons team that is primed to play upset.
While Iowa State will be without senior guard Keshon Gilbert for the tournament, the Cyclones are ready and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead of them.
“We’re all feeling really good going into this, really excited,” senior guard Nate Heise said. “Even if our bodies are a little tired, a little banged up, we’re obviously gonna play through it.”
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger is also looking forward to the opportunities that await his team and that starts against Lipscomb who provides a challenge both offensively and defensively.
“They’re a terrific team,” Otzelberger said. “They really space the floor well and are a highly skilled team. They’re a team that, when you watch them play, have a very clear identity. They play with a lot of purpose and they’ve won their league, tied for first and won the tournament, so it speaks to that consistency they’ve had this season.”
On the season, Lipscomb finished tied for first in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) conference with a 25-9 overall record and 14-4 conference record, which was tied with the North Alabama Lions.
The Bisons also found a way to push past North Alabama in the conference tournament, as Lipscomb earned a 76-65 win to officially punch its ticket to the big dance.
While finishing atop the conference, the Bisons did it while leading in nearly every offensive and defensive category, as they’ll be a team that the Cyclones won’t want to overlook.
Leading Lipscomb this season has been senior forward Jacob Ognacevic, who averages a conference-high 20.1 points per game on 57.3% field goal shooting and 40.2% 3-point shooting. Ognacevic also holds a third-best 8.1 rebounds per game in the ASUN.
Just like Otzelberger and sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic, Ognacevic will also be getting to play in his home state of Wisconsin, as the senior forward hails from Sheboygan.
Along with Ognacevic, the Bisons have four other scorers in double figures, with three out of the four coming from their guard play of seniors Will Pruitt (13.2), Joe Anderson (12.5) and Gyasi Powell (11.6), but Powell hasn’t played since Jan. 11.
Lipscomb’s veteran experience can be something that could doom Iowa State in this tournament, so keeping its best scorers in check will be a top priority for the Cyclones.
“Ognacevic is a tremendous player, great in terms of getting into the mid-range, getting his shot and shoots it well from 3. Great mismatch player and he really gets their offense going,” Otzelberger said. “Pruitt plays extremely hard and is one of those guys that makes their team go and is their tough guy. Anderson, their point guard, commands their team.”
However, this tournament will be the first for some Iowa State players, as they look forward to the opportunity to play in the biggest tournament of their collegiate careers.
“Very excited,” senior forward Brandton Chatfield said. “This is my first tournament. We’ve been working real hard this week.”
The Cyclones will take on the Bisons at 12:30 p.m. Friday from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The game will also be televised on TNT.
