AMES — The No. 7 Cyclones look to build off of two comfortable victories in one last tune-up game before competition ramps up in Maui, Hawaii.
Iowa State is 2-0 and has cruised through its first two opponents, but there is still work to do ahead of the match up with what looks to be an outmatched IU Indianapolis team.
“I think there is a standard that we want to play to on both ends,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I feel like there was maybe possessions that it was great. But not over the course of the 40 minutes.”
Despite not playing at their best, the Cyclones rolled past Kansas City 82-56, backed by strong performances from sophomore Milan Momcilovic and senior Curtis Jones.
Coincidentally, Momcilovic replaced Jones in the starting lineup against Kansas City after Jones got the starting nod and Momcilovic came off the bench in the season opener against Mississippi Valley State.
“Certainly, the other night things went well,” Otzelberger said.
There has been no indication of whether it will be the same lineup or not when Iowa State takes the court against IU Indianapolis, but Jones is willing to play in either role.
“I got the same role whether I start or come off the bench,” Jones said. “It’s not really about that, it’s about the productivity you put out when you’re on the court.”
“He’s found a way to understand he’s a sixth starter for us,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a starter, he’s going to play starter’s minutes. But that energy, that spark that he is able to provide, he’s very unique. A lot of guys aren’t able to do that to the extent that he is.”
No matter what the starting lineup is, the Cyclones’ matchup against the Jaguars doesn’t seem like it should be coming down to the wire.
Iowa State’s only previous matchup against IU Indianapolis came in the 2022-23 season. The Cyclones defeated the Jaguars 88-39 in Hilton Coliseum. That 49-point victory is the fourth-largest margin of victory under Otzelberger.
IU Indianapolis went 6-26 last season, winning just two conference games and had its third-straight season of winning just six games or less.
The Jaguars are 2-2 to start this season, defeating IU Columbus and Goshen College, and losing to Xavier and Eastern Michigan.
One odd wrinkle going into Monday night’s matchup is that it will be the third consecutive week with only one game on tap for Iowa State, with all the games slated for Mondays.
“I don’t think any of us like it. I think we’re ready to start playing games a little quicker,” junior guard Tamin Lipsey said. “When you gotta play and then wait a whole week to play again you’re kinda just antsy and waiting for it.”
The Cyclones are hoping that the third consecutive Monday night game results in a third consecutive win when they take on the Jaguars.
“As odd as it is to play four Mondays in a row, we try to establish a practice cycle that really feels like we are playing two games in a week,” Otzelberger said. “On our Thursdays, we’ve had more of a live game setting. So, it feels like the second game of the week.”
Iowa State will host IU Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Monday in Hilton Coliseum. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
