All articles tagged with #iowa state
Friday's Sweet 16 delivered drama: Duke rallied to edge St. John’s 80-75 behind Caleb Foster’s emotional return; Michigan throttled Alabama 90-77 behind Yaxel Lendeborg to push its title bid forward; Iowa State fell 14 points to Tennessee, hampered by Joshua Jefferson’s injury; UConn extended its second-weekend win streak to 17, cementing its status as a title favorite as the Elite Eight slate is set.
Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson is listed questionable with an ankle injury for Friday's Sweet 16 game against Tennessee after missing the Round of 32; coach T.J. Otzelberger said a final decision will come closer to tip. Jefferson leads the Cyclones with 7.4 rebounds per game and 16.4 points per game, while adding 5.1 assists, making his availability crucial as Mason Williams is out; Tennessee will be without Cade Phillips. The game tips around 10:20 p.m. ET.
Live updates from the NCAA Sweet 16 show Tennessee leading Iowa State 34-33 at halftime in a physical, foul-filled game as Tennessee controls the offensive boards. Iowa State relies on Heise and Lipsey while Momcilovic is limited; Joshua Jefferson's injury status looms. Tip was moved to 9:25 p.m. CT at the United Center, with the winner advancing to face Michigan-Alabama in Chicago.
Tennessee's Sweet 16 matchup with Iowa State at the United Center was pushed back to 10:25 p.m. ET after an earlier Michigan-Alabama game delay, with the winner advancing to face the Michigan-Alabama winner for a Final Four berth. Tennessee has reached the Elite Eight in 2024 and 2025 under Rick Barnes, with Sweet 16 appearances in 2019 and 2023 and multiple top-5 seeds in recent NCAA tournaments.
Iowa State, 29-7 on the season under TJ Otzelberger, rides into the Sweet 16 in Chicago and is positioned for an Elite Eight bid as it faces Tennessee, with potential high-stakes matchups against Michigan or Alabama looming in the pursuit of a Final Four appearance.
Iowa State guard Nate Heise played 36 minutes in the second-round win over Kentucky, hitting the go-ahead 3 before halftime. Heise suggested Kentucky would “lie down” when faced with adversity, a point ISU backed up by forcing 20 turnovers and a 51-33 second half en route to an 82-63 victory. Coach TJ Otzelberger said adversity creates opportunity and highlighted the team’s habits as key to handling pressure.
Iowa State stunned Florida to reach the Sweet 16, with UConn and Alabama also advancing as Purdue, St Johns, Tennessee, Iowa and Arizona joined them in the next round.
Kentucky is bracing for a Round of 32 clash with Iowa State, a deeply balanced, physical team even if star guard Joshua Jefferson sits with an ankle injury; ISU relies on a mix of three-point shooting from Milan Momcilovic and a complete lineup led by Tamin Lipsey, making Kentucky's prep focus on matching physicality, protecting the ball, rebounding, and defending the three before the 2:45 p.m. ET tip in St. Louis on CBS.
Iowa State rode a dominant 51-33 second half to beat Kentucky 82-63 in the NCAA Tournament second round, forcing a Kentucky-record 20 turnovers. Tamin Lipsey (26) and Milan Momcilovic (20) led the Cyclones, with Lipsey adding 10 assists and 5 steals while All-American Joshua Jefferson was sidelined by injury. Iowa State advances to the Sweet 16 to meet the Virginia-Tennessee winner.
Kentucky’s season ends with an 82-63 NCAA Tournament second-round loss to No. 2 seed Iowa State in St. Louis, collapsing after an early 20-9 lead as the Wildcats’ 20 turnovers fueled 25 Cyclone points. Iowa State, despite missing star Joshua Jefferson, pulled away in the second half, outscoring UK by 18, with Lipsey posting 26 points and 10 assists and Momcilovic adding 20. Oweh contributed 18 and eight rebounds for UK, but the Wildcats were unable to overcome the turnovers and foul trouble, delivering Kentucky’s worst NCAA Tournament loss since 1972.
Kentucky, a 4.5-point underdog, survived Santa Clara and now faces a tough Iowa State team in the NCAA Round of 32 in St. Louis. ISU’s stout defense and deep shooting present a formidable test, while an ankle injury has Joshua Jefferson listed as questionable, potentially limiting his impact. Kentucky must elevate its shooting and tighten its play, especially if Jefferson sits, as Collin Chandler and the rest of the Cats attempt to extend their tournament run with a 2:45 p.m. ET tip on CBS and live KSR coverage.
Live March Madness updates: Iowa State will play Kentucky with star forward Joshua Jefferson out due to an ankle injury, a major setback for ISU, while Kentucky is riding momentum from an overtime win over Santa Clara. In the other marquee game, Purdue defeated Miami 79-69 to reach the Sweet 16, with Fletcher Loyer pouring in 24 points; CJ Cox left with a knee injury and is questionable to return as Purdue opened the second half on a 9-0 run. Miami’s physical, rebounding style provided a challenge, and a preview noted the Purdue–Miami matchup favoring Purdue’s size and shooting. Chip Patterson had Miami +7.5 as the pick, with Purdue leading 47-45 at 15:19 to go in the second half.
Kentucky’s NCAA tournament hopes hinge on a possible upset of No. 2 seed Iowa State in the second round, buoyed by Otega Oweh’s dramatic first‑round heroics and Joshua Jefferson’s status still uncertain. A panel of KSR writers expects a tight, defensively oriented game in St. Louis, with Kentucky’s offense needing to rise to the challenge and players like Collin Chandler and Milan Momcilovic footing prominent roles. Predictions vary but skew toward a close Kentucky win, with scores ranging in the mid‑70s to low‑80s, reflecting a grind-it-out matchup that could keep Kentucky’s dance alive.
Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson is listed as unlikely to play in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second-round game against Kentucky due to a left ankle injury, but he plans to test the ankle in hopes of suiting up. The Cyclones, who beat Tennessee State 108-74 without Jefferson, will rely on others like Tamin Lipsey, Killyan Toure and Nate Heise if he can’t go, while Kentucky brings a deep, talent-laden roster. ISU coach TJ Otzelberger emphasized they’ll prepare for either scenario and focus on starting fast and applying defensive pressure against Kentucky.
Iowa State rolled to a 108-74 victory over Tennessee State to reach the NCAA Round of 32, but All-American forward Joshua Jefferson left early with an ankle injury; x-rays were negative, his status for Sunday’s game vs. Kentucky remains day-to-day, and the Cyclones plan to play for him if he can’t go, with Killyan Toure scoring 25 to lead the win as teammates vow to step up.