Did Saturday’s battle in Ames, Iowa, show a changing of the guard at the top of the Big 12?
The answer is not necessarily, but after the Kansas dynasty has claimed 10 straight conference crowns, Iowa State made a statement with its victory over the Jayhawks on Saturday.
The past three years, Iowa State is 46-2 at home at Hilton Coliseum. The two losses: Kansas. In addition, the Jayhawks had won nine of their last 10 trips to Ames. Talk about a dominant run. That very run came to an end.
Iowa State showed off the dynamic and diverse offense that led the Big 12 by averaging 79.9 points per game. However, Georges Niang, one of the most versatile big men in the nation, had been going through some struggles lately. Coming into the Kansas battle, Niang had hit just 13-of-37 shots from the field in conference play. In this game, Niang knocked down 6-of-14 from the floor and ripped down five rebounds, while taking two huge charges as well.
Between Niang and transfer Jameel McKay, the Cyclones possess one of the most diverse frontcourts in the country. Since becoming active seven games ago, McKay has provided the rim protection Iowa State needed, to go along with his ability to run the floor. McKay fueled a Cyclone second-half run after Kansas closed within two points at 55-53 with 9:30 left. McKay produced a rebound dunk and a pair of fast break scores on three straight trips.
McKay and Niang are a perfect fit for the fast pace at which Iowa State plays. They also give so many different looks and matchups to opposing defenses. Niang has the ability to step out, showing just that on Saturday with his three 3-pointers. All of the guards on the Cyclones have size as well, which allows Fred Hoiberg to play a reverse in and out, giving defenses even more to have to deal with.
After this victory with ESPN Gameday on campus, Iowa State’s confidence has to be soaring. While momentum is going in the right direction, the challenge will be to stay level and not get too high.
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After getting completely destroyed by Kentucky, the Jayhawks have been playing strong basketball. Much of this work has been done on the defensive end, while Kansas had been averaging just over 70 points per game on the offensive end. During the five-game winning streak coming into Saturday, Kansas gave up 57.8 points per game on 36.1 percent shooting allowed. In the process of allowing 86 points to the Cyclones, much of Kansas’s defensive struggles came in the inability to slow the Iowa State pace, chiefly seen in the team’s inability to run the floor. The Jayhawks were constantly beat in transition by ISU’s offense, which attacked before KU could settle into its halfcourt defense.
KU’s recent winning run was fueled in part by the play of freshman Kelly Oubre, who had a hard time working his way out of Bill Self’s doghouse early in the season. Over his last seven games coming into Saturday, Oubre scored 13.6 points per game. He had grabbed 6.9 rebounds per game since cracking the starting lineup.
While Oubre finished with 10 points and eight rebounds against Iowa State, he did not score at all until the 9:52 mark in the second half. Additionally, he spend a majority of the first 10 minutes of the second half on the bench due to being ineffective. While it appears that he is not back in the Self doghouse, the point was still proven that he has a lot of room for improvement.
While Oubre and the defense did not come through for Kansas, Perry Ellis played a strong game after being in foul trouble in the first half. Coming in, Ellis was struggling immensely — he was averaging just 8.7 points per game on 34.8 percent shooting. Ellis finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Kansas also had issues getting anything going toward the rim as well. More proof of this is the 10 free throws KU shot for the entire contest – none in the first half.
The good news for Kansas is that it will not oppose Iowa State and the Cyclones’ tough matchups every night. To fall by only five points with struggles most of the night, and getting Ellis rolling, there are plenty of positive takeaways for the Jayhawks. Plus, Kansas doesn’t have to wait long for the February 2 rematch in Lawrence.
While the conference was far from decided on Saturday night, Iowa State has to be feeling supremely confident, solely based on the ability to do something that has not been accomplished in years: allow the fans to leave happy after a Kansas game in Ames.
