Iowa State vs. Virginia Tech Primer

Who: Iowa State (5-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Virginia Tech (4-1, 0-0 ACC)

Where: State Farm Field House (5,000) – Kissimmee, Fla.

When: Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 – 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2

Tipping Off: Now 5-0 for the third-straight season under T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State will compete in the semifinals of the ESPN Events Invitational against Virginia Tech with a chance to advance to the finals. The Cyclones defeated VCU in the opening round of the Thanksgiving MTE, coming back from down 15 to earn a 68-64 win to remain perfect.

It'll be a double dose of Virginia basketball squads in Florida for the Cyclones, as Virginia Tech defeated Boise State in the opening round of the tournament, 82-75.

Storylines:

After outscoring its first four opponents by an average of 45.8 points, Iowa State was tested in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational by VCU, winning by just four points, 68-64.
- Opposing teams are shooting just 34.2% from the field against ISU.
- For comparison, ISU has shot 51.1 percent from the field this season.
Keshon Gilbert leads the Cyclones in scoring, averaging 16 points per game.
- Gilbert is the lone Cyclone to have scored in double figures in all five contests.
- Gilbert leads the team in free throws attempted/made (29/35) and is second on the team in rebounding with 26 total.
- Gilbert earned his first career double-double against VCU, dropping 22 points and pulling in 10 boards.
Tamin Lipsey has made a sophomore leap for ISU, as the kid from Ames is averaging 15.6 points per game – the second most on the team.
- Lipsey set a new personal best on Thursday against VCU, scoring 22 points. Lipsey put the Cyclones ahead in the final minutes and then drew a critical foul on the Rams to swing the momentum.
- Lipsey averages a team-high 6.4 assists per contest.
Iowa State freshman Milan Momcilovic has had a hot start to his collegiate career, scoring in double figures in all four of five games.
- Momcilovic averages 12.6 points per game and has a team-high 12 3-pointers.
- He scored 18 points in the season-opener, the fourth-most by any ISU freshmen in their first game out.
As a head coach, Otz is 145-90 overall and has led the Cyclones to a 46-27 record over the last three seasons.

From the Notes:

Iowa State is 29-5 in non-conference contests under Otzelberger.
After scoring 85-plus in the first four contests, Iowa State was held to just 68 against VCU.
The Cyclones are 1-1 all-time against Virginia Tech and will meet for the third time on Friday afternoon.
- Both previous meetings were neutral tournament settings, with the last matchup coming in 2015 in the Emerald Coast Classic.
  - ISU downed Va Tech 99-77 as it went on to win the tournament.
The last nine Big 12 schools to play in the ESPN Events Invitational all won their opening game. Five schools have played for the title with three winning it all.
Iowa State is ranked 18thin KenPom and 12th in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.
Iowa State has appeared in 10 events since 2011-12 on Feast Week, advancing to the championship game in seven of those and winning the title in four. Overall, ISU has a 17-8 record on Feast Week.
Under T.J. Otzelberger, ISU won the 2021 NIT Tip-Off. Last season, ISU advanced to the PKI Championship game before falling to the eventual National Champion UConn.

Switching Sides:

Virginia Tech was selected to finish eighth out of 15 in the ACC Preseason Poll.
Va Tech owns wins over Coppin State, Campbell, Wofford and Boise State.
- The Hokies' lone loss came in a neutral site game against South Carolina, 77-79.
Virginia Tech guard Sean Pedulla recorded his first career double-double against Coppin State in the first game of the season.
Hokie guard Hunter Cattoor just broke the Virginia Tech program record for 3-pointers in a career against Boise State, burying five on his way to the record.
- He now sits at 270 for his career.
Virginia Tech leads the ACC in free throws made per game and assists per game.
Va Tech coach Mike Young is ninth all-time in program history in wins in just his fifth season in Blacksburg.
- Young is 77-52 during his time with the Hokes and is 376-296 all-time as a DI head coach.
- Young has coached college basketball for 22 years, spending the first 17 at Wofford, where he accumulated a 299-244 record.
Va Tech has made the postseason in seven consecutive seasons, with last year's efforts culminating in an NIT trip. Previously it had made five straight NCAA tournaments.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Keshon Gilbert

Tamin Lipsey

Milan Momcilovic

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics