Big 12 Second Round Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. Arizona State

Who: [5] Iowa State (25-6, 12-6 Big 12) vs. [12] Arizona State (17-15, 7-11 Big 12)

Where: T-Mobile Center (18,000) – Kansas City, Mo.

When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 – 11:30 a.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Dan Shulman (PxP), Jay Bilas (Analyst) & Kris Budden (Reporter)

Listen: Cyclone Radio Network // John Walters (PxP) & Eric Heft (Analyst)

Tipping Off: The Cyclones will get their second look at Arizona State in as many games, as ISU will face the Sun Devils in a Big 12 Tournament Second Round matchup following a first-round bye.

Iowa State closed the regular season on Saturday against ASU, downing the Sun Devils by 21 points on Senior Day. ISU has won at least one game in Kansas City in each of the last three seasons.

Arizona State is 1-1 all-time in the Big 12 Tournament, entering Wednesday's game having defeated Baylor in the opening round. The Sun Devils will aim for their third ranked win of the season and to continue their season.

Storylines:

Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 50 straight weeks, the fourth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 124, which is the longest streak in the country.
- The Cyclones and Cougars are the only two Big 12 schools to have streaks of at least 30 weeks.
In five seasons under Coach Otzelberger, the Cyclones have been known for their defense, as they have ranked as a top-15 unit in the country each year, and 2025-26 is no different (according to KenPom defensive rating).
The Cyclones had three players honored in the Big 12 postseason awards. Joshua Jefferson was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Milan Momcilovic to the Second Team, and Tamin Lipsey earned All-Defensive, Second Team and Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.
Joshua Jefferson has recorded two triple-doubles this season, tied for the most in the country.
- Jefferson became the first player in program history to have multiple triple-doubles in a career.
- He is just the third Big 12 player with multiple triple-doubles, but is the first to accomplish both in conference games.
Milan Momcilovic has been the nation's best marksman this season, as the junior leads the country in 3-point percentage.
- Momcilovic has six 25-plus point games so far this season for ISU.
Tamin Lipsey holds the most steals in program history and is in the top three in Big 12 history for career steals.
- He holds the most wins against Big 12 opponents by any active player.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 219-114 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 120-51 record over the last four years.
- He earned his 100th win at Iowa State against HOF coach Rick Pitino and No. 14 St. John's in the Players Era Championship opener on Nov. 24.
  - He was the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
- He then earned his 200th win over his mentor and former head coach Greg McDermott on Nov. 25.
- His 118 wins are the most in the first five years in ISU history.
- Otz is the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
With its home win over No. 2 Houston, Iowa State now has 29 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is the fifth-most in the nation during that stretch.
Otz has led Iowa State to four 20-plus win seasons, joining Orr (5) and Hoiberg (4) as the only ISU coaches to do so four-plus times.
Iowa State has won 25 or more games for just the seventh time in program history.
Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men's basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- In four postseason appearances, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
As of Tuesday, the Cyclones are ranked No. 8 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 7 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Arizona State and Iowa State and the second as Big 12 foes. ISU is 4-1 against ASU and will be meeting the Sun Devils at a neutral site for the first time.
ASU is 54-6 when it shoots 50 percent from the field in a game under Coach Hurley. The Sun Devils are also hard to beat when holding their opponents under 70 points, as the team is 10-0 this season when doing so.
Arizona State big man Massamba Diop is one of the premier defenders in the conference. He has 46 blocks in conference play, averaging 2.7 per game - the second-most of any Big 12 player.
The Sun Devils were picked to finish 16th in the preseason conference poll, a year after finishing 15th with a 4-16 record.
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley is in his 11th year at the helm of the Sun Devil program. Hurley is 185-166 with ASU and is 227-186 overall in his 13-year head coaching career, which began at Buffalo.
- Hurley, the 1992 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, was named the school's 14th head coach in program history in 2015.
As of Tuesday, the Sun Devils are ranked No. 67 in the NET. Arizona State is No. 61 in KenPom and No. 83 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Big 12 Second Round Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. Arizona State

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Big 12 Second Round Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. Arizona State

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