It was a memorable day for Iowa State men’s basketball on Feb. 4, 2017.

That was the day the Cyclones traveled to Allen Fieldhouse, home of the Kansas Jayhawks, and defeated the Jayhawks 92-89 in overtime.

This year, Iowa State has an entirely different team, but the same mindset as last year. The biggest focus that coach Steve Prohm preached to the media on Monday was the pace and winning the pace battle against a top 15 team in the country.

“The one thing you’ve got to do when you go to Allen Fieldhouse, you got to compete like crazy,” Prohm said. “Then it’s pace of play.”

In last year’s game at Kansas, the Cyclones won in fast break points and points off of turnovers. Iowa State scored 22 points off turnovers and 10 fast break points, while Kansas scored half of those numbers with 11 points off turnovers and six fast break points.

Prohm will be looking at those two categories throughout the game because he wants to make sure the Jayhawks aren’t comfortable and are playing more of Iowa State’s game.

Iowa State isn’t the only team on Tuesday night that will be focused on a fast-paced tempo. Even though the Cyclones are ranked 68th in the country for an average possession length of 16.1 seconds, Kansas is ranked higher at 43rd, according to KenPom.

Prohm thinks the biggest key for the Cyclones is to create points before the Jayhawks can create a half-court defense.

“When you coach good point guards, and I’ve been fortunate enough to coach some of the great ones, … the ball has one dribble and then pop and it’s flying up that sideline,” Prohm said. “It may come back to them, but that first look is up the sideline.”

That philosophy has allowed senior guard Donovan Jackson to have big games like he did against Texas and Oklahoma State. He scored 24 points against the Longhorns and 30 against the Cowboys with a combined 16-for-31 from the field and 12-for-20 behind the arc.

The majority of those 3-pointers came from the fast break and passing the ball up the sideline quickly because it gives Jackson an opportunity to pull the trigger before the opponent creates a half-court defense.

Another advantage Iowa State has this season is the ability for its guards to grab rebounds and start the fast break quickly. Redshirt junior guard Nick Weiler-Babb and freshman guard Lindell Wigginton are two of the leading rebounders on the team.

Weiler-Babb is averaging 7.7 rebounds per game, while Wigginton is flying for 4.9 rebounds per game. These two guards make it easier for Iowa State to push it down the court if one of them is handling the ball the second it comes off the rim.

“It definitely is a big factor,” Weiler-Babb said on the rebounding ability. “We have been the two leading rebounders on our team. Whenever he gets the ball we push it. Whenever I get the ball we push it.

“Guard rebounding is always a big thing in transition and it’s always been big for us.”

Even with all these factors to give Iowa State some advantages, the Cyclones will be playing against a Jayhawks team that’s ranked No. 12 in the newest AP Top 25 poll. Kansas also holds a 92-16 record over Iowa State in Allen Fieldhouse.

It’s not impossible to beat the Jayhawks at home, but it’s definitely a hard task.

It’s hard because of not only the Kansas fans, but the talent on the team. It starts with its 3-point shooting.

Senior guard Devonte’ Graham is shooting 44.1 percent from behind the arc, while senior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is shooting 46.4 percent and junior guard Lagerald Vick at 46 percent. All three of those guards are averaging between 15.7 and 18.6 points per game.

If Iowa State can stop the damage from behind the arc, Kansas still has a dominant post presence with Udoka Azubuike. The 7-foot center is shooting 76.5 percent from the field with 117 rebounds and 20 blocks on the season.

“I know Kansas is a great team,” Wigginton said. “[Kansas] is always one of the best teams in the country. I’ve been watching them for a long time too, ever since I was in high school.

“I’m excited to play [at Kansas].”

For Iowa State, there will be six players playing at Kansas for the first time in their careers. The Cyclones carry inexperience regarding the atmosphere coming from Allen Fieldhouse, but Prohm and the players are looking forward to Tuesday night’s game.

“I think we’re dialed in,” Prohm said. “I know I’m dialed in. I know I’m ready. I think these guys are ready and I think they’ll be ready to go.”