Brett Twelmeyer, Sports Editor
No. 3 seed Iowa State 81, No. 6 seed Ole Miss 73
No. 3 seed Iowa State made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament in one of its more dominant wins of the season. Granted, No. 14 seed Lipscomb was probably not too big of a challenge, but the Cyclones looked good and played exactly how it needed to.
Now, Iowa State matches up with an Ole Miss squad out of the SEC, the conference that has grabbed a lot of media attention this season. But I won’t fall for it.
Yes, No. 6 seed Ole Miss is a good team and is in the tournament for a strong reason, but I don’t think it matches up all that well with Iowa State.
For starters, the Rebels get outrebounded by 4.4 boards per game, while the Cyclones outrebound their opponents by 3.9 per game. That stark contrast is what I think the difference will ultimately come down to.
Iowa State will give itself second chance opportunities, and even then, Ole Miss allows its opponents to shoot 43.1% from the floor. The Cyclones are the stronger team on both sides of shooting percentage from all spots on the floor.
The Rebels’ defense could give Iowa State some fits early with how it switches, but I think after a few minutes, the Cyclones will adjust to it, much like their adjustment against Lipscomb when they trailed and then went on that 14-0 run.
I won’t say that Ole Miss stands no chance because it absolutely does, especially if Sean Pedulla has a strong game, which he probably will. But overall, Iowa State on paper is the better team and I don’t see the Cyclones’ stay in the NCAA Tournament ending after the first weekend.
Pavle Markovic, Assistant Sports Editor
No. 3 seed Iowa State 78, No. 6 seed Ole Miss 68
I was honestly surprised to see the final result of Friday’s game between Iowa State and Lipscomb.
The Bisons didn’t put up much of a fight after the under-12 timeout, but I’m glad the Cyclones are the ones moving on in a matchup now with sixth-seeded Ole Miss.
In order to meet Iowa State in the round of 32, the Rebels had to hold off a potential comeback attempt against No. 11 seed North Carolina, as they pulled out a 71-64 victory Friday.
There will be some familiarity in this matchup, as Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger will be facing Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard for the first time since Beard was fired from Texas when the Longhorns were in the Big 12.
In his second year with the Rebels, Beard has taken a program that has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and has them in a position to potentially take Ole Miss to its first Sweet Sixteen since 2001.
When looking at these two teams, statistically speaking, they’re very similar, with Iowa State holding a slight edge in every major category.
Then again, this does take into account senior guard Keshon Gilbert’s contributions on the season, so the numbers aren’t exactly how they seem, but I still do think that these teams match up well with or without him.
The Rebels have six scorers that average double figures, with senior guard Pedulla leading the way, averaging 15 points per game.
However, just like Lipscomb, Ole Miss doesn’t turn the ball over at a high rate, as it currently just sits under the double-digit mark in that category.
If the Cyclones want to take down the Rebels, they’ll have to force Ole Miss into some unwanted scenarios, which is exactly what I see happening as I predict Iowa State to make the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in the Otzelberger era.
Cayden Storm, Sports Reporter
No. 3 seed Iowa State 69, No. 6 seed Ole Miss 63
No. 3 seed Iowa State got through its first-round matchup against No. 14 seed Lipscomb with ease, but waiting in the round of 32 is No. 6 seed Ole Miss, who will certainly provide a much more competitive matchup.
The greatest differentiator between Lipscomb and Ole Miss is probably the teams’ size and physicality.
Lipscomb had a very small lineup, with three of its starters standing at 6 feet 3 inches or shorter. That made it very easy for the Cyclones to impose their will inside offensively, as they scored 50 points in the paint.
Iowa State’s size and physicality advantage also forced Lipscomb into settling for outside shots more often than not, with Lipscomb taking 28 of its 51 shots from behind the arc. Even though the Bisons’ outside shots weren’t falling, they had to continue to take them because they just couldn’t find any way inside.
That will not be the case on Sunday, as Ole Miss is a much bigger and much more physical team in comparison to Lipscomb. Iowa State will have to work much harder than it did on Friday to get the quality looks.
The Cyclones will also have to work much harder on the defensive end. The Rebels have six players who score in double-figures, with senior guard Pedulla leading the way at 15 points per game.
After Pedulla, Ole Miss has five players who score between 10.9 and 10.5 points per game. This offensive flexibility has been a strength for Ole Miss all season, and will likely be difficult for Iowa State to contain.
All of that being said, Ole Miss is a very inconsistent team. The Rebels have looked like an elite team at some points in the season with wins over teams like Alabama and Tennessee, but they have also gone through rough patches, including losing five out of their last eight games heading into the NCAA Tournament.
I think Ole Miss gives Iowa State a run for its money, but I believe Iowa State will prove to be the more trustworthy team and will advance to its third Sweet Sixteen in four years.
Elizabeth Lane, Visuals Editor
No. 3 seed Iowa State 77, No. 6 seed Ole Miss 63
After the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State and Ole Miss took very different paths to the second round. The Cyclones cruised to a dominant victory over Lipscomb, while the Rebels had to withstand a comeback from North Carolina to survive. Despite these contrasting openers, this matchup promises to be an exciting battle.
Both teams bring capable offenses, though they operate in slightly different ways. Ole Miss can get hot from beyond the arc and thrives with an inside-out approach, using its post presence to create open perimeter looks. Iowa State, on the other hand, relies on a balanced attack, mixing inside scoring with perimeter shooting to keep defenses guessing.
Defensively, the Rebels have been solid but inconsistent, though they do rebound well, which could be key in this matchup. Meanwhile, Iowa State boasts one of the best defenses in the country, thriving on ball pressure and forcing turnovers to generate transition opportunities. If the Cyclones can dictate the tempo with their defensive intensity, they’ll put Ole Miss in a tough spot.
There is something to be said about the absence of Gilbert, one of Iowa State’s top scorers. While his presence can be seen at times, sophomore guard Cade Kelderman has stepped up to round out the eight-man rotation that Otzelberger prefers. The Cyclones have the depth to manage without Gilbert, but his absence could still be felt in crucial moments.
For Iowa State, success comes down to controlling the pace, staying physical on defense and forcing turnovers – all things they’ve excelled at this season. If they stick to this, they’ll be in prime position for a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
