Introduction
Iowa State has blossomed into one of the elite schools in College Basketball over the course of the season. They have entered the top ten in the rankings behind an elite defense and a strong offense. They were actually unranked earlier in the season, but it was only going to be a matter of time before their potential showed.
Strengths
Quality Wins
Iowa State has been able to beat almost any team in the Big 12 this season. They beat Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech, and even Houston this season. They even held their own against Oklahoma on the road and Texas A&M. Iowa State has a decent schedule by Big-12 standards and the fact that they are on top of the Big 12 standings further cements their dominance in College Basketball’s premier conference.
Forcing Turnovers
Very few teams can force turnovers like the Cyclones, which is a key reason why their defense is one of the best in college basketball. They are top five in D-1 in forcing turnovers with over eighteen a game and top three in D-1 in steals averaging over ten and a half steals a night.
Interior Shooting and Defending
Iowa State can hang with the best in inside shooting and defending. Iowa State is shooting over forty-seven and a half percent from the floor, fifth best in the Big 12 and top fifty in Division I. They are even better on defense, allowing under forty and a half percent, fourth in the Big 12 and top thirty in Division I. They are also the only Big 12 team who is within top five both offensively and defensively in shooting percentage and also top fifty in all of Division I on both ends in field goal shooting.
Weaknesses
Rebounding
Iowa State has the worst rebounding team in the Big 12. They are dead last in rebounding in the conference with thirty four and a half a game and in defensive rebounding with under twenty-three and a half boards a night. Even worse they are in the bottom fifty in Division I in defensive rebounding.
This could even up be their downfall either against an elite school or an underdog team who is elite on the offensive boards.
Perimeter Defense
Iowa State has allowed just under thirty-four percent for three point land, the fourth highest in the Big 12. This does not seem too bad on the surface. There are teams like Samford, Greensboro, and McNeese who are elite three point shooting schools on the mid-major level who could can give the Cyclones an early exit if they get hot from beyond the arc.
Blocking
Iowa State are a below average team in blocking averaging just over three deflections a game, fourth lowest in the Big 12. This is not the end of the world for Iowa State, but there are teams that can exploit this weakness like Samford and McNeese.
Iowa State’s Ceiling
Iowa State has a ton of upside that will take them far in the tournament, but they also have some weaknesses that will end their dreams early. That being said, Iowa State has a real opportunity to make a run at the National Championship this year if they play their card right.
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