Well, the Iowa State Cyclones stayed behind in the valley of the sun to take on the Arizona Wildcats and Monday’s game did not disappoint.
The No. 3 Cyclones sought to sweep their trip to the state of Arizona against the Wildcats, who like the Cyclones had just one conference loss. The result was dramatic, as the Wildcats beat the Cyclones, 86-75 in overtime at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona (14-6, 8-1 in Big 12) went on an 11-0 run to finish off overtime and got there in the most incredible way possible. Four different Wildcats were in double figures.
The same went for the Cyclones (17-3, 7-2 Big 12), who shot nearly the same percentage as the Wildcats and had control of the game in the final 30 seconds.
Oh, and there’s going to be a rematch in March in Ames? Oh, yeah, that’s going to be nuts.
Here are three thoughts on the game.
Love in OT
If you weren’t keeping track, I was. Arizona didn’t make a field goal for the final 3:40 of the game. Or, actually the final 3:39. Then Caleb Love did this at the buzzer.
But, before that field goal the Wildcats’ tepid shooting down the stretch nearly cost them. Iowa State wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire offensively. But the Cyclones were doing enough. They got 13 second-half points out of Keshon Gilbert as his 3-pointer and layup gave Iowa State a lead they seemed destined to keep.
But that’s the funny thing about Big 12 basketball. Destiny changes fast.
Oh, and Love’s halfcourt shot was just his second 3-pointer of the game against 11 attempts. He was awful from there on Monday — until it mattered.
Love finished with 22 points. After he made that halfcourt shot to force overtime, he made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Wildcats an 81-75 lead with 1:38 left.
Turnover at the Top
This wasn’t just Iowa State’s second loss in conference play. It was an implosion in overtime when it mattered most.
Remember Love’s back-to-back 3-pointers? Well, that was followed by another 3-pointer by his teammate, Carter Bryant. What set those up? Three straight Iowa State turnovers. All three times the Cyclones looked to drive the ball inside, got stuck and turned the ball over. The Wildcats stifled whatever action the Cyclones tried to create late in the game.
Iowa State committed 18 turnovers for the game and Arizona turned those into 22 points. The Cyclones are used to the ratio being the opposite way. And that made a difference in the outcome.
For those who will say, “What about all the fouling on the drives?” This is Big 12 basketball. That’s what happens in the paint.
Rank the Wildcats, Already
I feel like Arizona is at least a week overdue to be ranked in the AP Top 25. Yes, the Wildcats were not good in non-conference. They played five power conference teams and lost all five games. Arizona absolutely deserved to fall from their preseason Top 25 perch.
But since that loss to UCLA, the Wildcats are 10-1. The only loss was at Texas Tech, which is now ranked. Along the way the Wildcats have defeated four ranked teams in Big 12 play — Cincinnati, West Virginia (in Morgantown), Baylor and now Iowa State.
Coach Tommy Lloyd and his team have figured it out. I really don’t care if the Wildcats win or lose to Arizona State this weekend. It’s time to rank the Wildcats.
