The ISU men’s basketball team’s faults have been well documented, yet in the team’s most recent three-game winning streak, nearly all of them have been addressed.

The Cyclones couldn’t defeat quality opponents outside of Hilton, losing four consecutive Big 12 road games before dropping a ranked Oklahoma State team and Texas in back-to-back contests away from home.

The team’s adjusted defensive rating was the second worst among nationally ranked squads only a week ago, as it surrendered 86 or more points three times during a five-game stretch. During its last three endeavors, however, the ISU defense has allowed only 67 points per contest.

The ISU bench was destitute until Jameel McKay transitioned to a starting spot in favor of guard Bryce Dejean-Jones, who located a new-found efficiency as the team’s sixth man. The pine was also supplemented by the return of Matt Thomas’ 3-point stroke as the bench has averaged more than 25 points per outing during its last three games.

When No. 12 Iowa State (20-6, 10-4 Big 12) takes the floor at Hilton against No. 19 Baylor (20-7, 8-6 Big 12) on Feb. 25, the Cyclones must address one final and potentially fatal flaw — their ability to handle rugged size, specifically on the glass.

In the first meeting between the teams on Jan. 14, Baylor out-rebounded Iowa State 44-32, including 19 offensive boards as the Bears bullied their way to a one-point victory. Forward Rico Gathers was ISU enemy number one, tallying 14 points and 15 rebounds. The big man has not slowed down since.

“He’s putting up double-doubles in halves right now,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg. “He’s such a load. He’s committed to going to the offensive glass every single time. He understands angles and when he makes the first hit, he’ll a lot of times knock you out of bounds.”

The arrival of McKay has helped Iowa State shore up some of its rebounding and interior defensive woes. Yet, Gathers and the rest of the Baylor front-line play a game highlighted more by consistent physicality, which the slender-framed McKay is unable to negate all on his own — a fact displayed by McKay’s struggles against the potent Oklahoma front-line on Feb. 9.

It will take a concerted effort that includes rebounding from the guard positions and interior help from the likes of Georges Niang and Dustin Hogue if Iowa State hopes to keep Baylor’s physicality from putting the game out of reach.

“Motley and Gathers are as difficult to prepare for as Austin and Jefferson were,” Hoiberg said. “[Baylor has] guys that just flat out rebound the ball and that’s what makes that zone so effective … the way they rebound out of it.”

The unique Baylor zone, which combines elements from multiple traditional zone schemes, has caused Iowa State fits in the last two matchups.

The Bears jumped out to a 17-point lead less than eight minutes into the regular season game at Baylor and also held a 10-point lead in last year’s Big 12 Tournament Final against the Cyclones before ultimately falling short.

“They find a way to make that zone look huge,” said junior Naz Long. “You have a guy like Rico Gathers down there, you’re not just going up there and just laying the ball up softly. You’ve got to finish right through him, so it’s a tough zone and they do a great job with extending the guards.”

Fellow junior Georges Niang said that the most important element to defeating a zone is finding its cracks, something even the potent Baylor defense can’t eliminate completely.

“We’re really going to have to work on getting to spots that make them uncomfortable, put a lot of pressure on their defense and get to places where they’re not used to guarding,” Niang said.

If the Cyclones are able to find their strokes against their 10th ranked opponent of the season, they won’t just have a shot to even the regular season score with the Bears. They will have an opportunity to tie the Jayhawks for the conference lead with only three games remaining.

Long said that the Cyclones’ desire to both prove they can win a physical game and exact vengeance on Baylor are equally powerful motivators, but the chance at a title is what is driving his team the most.

“That [loss to Baylor] hurt, especially because it was a game winner,” Long said. “So that’s definitely a game that we want to get back at home. We know we have to do it. We have to do something like win out in order to win this league and I feel like we’re right there, so this is a huge game.”

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.