Iowa State Men’s Basketball 2019 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 10, 2019 · CSM Staff
 

Iowa State Cyclones

Big 12 (23-11, 9-9)

 
Iowa State did not enter the 2018-2019 campaign with particularly high expectations. But Coach Steve Prohm’s team emerged as one of many teams capable to compete for a Big 12 title and but finished with a 9-9 record in conference play. That and the conference tournament victory was more than enough for the Cyclones to get back to the NCAA Tournament after a brief one-year hiatus.
 
Big Wins: 1/5 Kansas (77-60), 1/16 at Texas Tech (68-64), 2/16 at Kansas State (78-64)
Bad Losses: 11/19 vs Arizona (66-71), 3/2 at Texas (69-86), 3/6 at West Virginia (75-90)
Coach: Steve Prohm
 
Why They Can Surprise:
Thanks to the strong play of a couple freshmen, Iowa State has a surprisingly deep and talented backcourt. Tyrese Haliburton and Talen Horton-Tucker were supposed to make an impact as freshmen, but those two have become staples of Coach Steve Prohm’s lineup. Haliburton is not the most prolific scorer at this point in his collegiate career, but the 6-5 Oshkosh, Wisconsin native is a quality outside shooter, a very good passer and will even block a shot or two. Horton-Tucker and Lindell Wigginton are double digit scorers, but it is Virginia transfer Marial Shayok who has turned into the star in Ames. The 6-6 senior leads the Cyclones with 18.6 points per game and is a major threat to score from anywhere on the floor.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
Injuries have hampered the frontcourt depth, but Iowa State has gotten plenty of production from Nebraska transfer Michael Jacobson. On the year the 6-8 junior is averaging 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. This is not a particularly intimidating frontcourt, but with the size on the perimeter, they are a very good rebounding group and will always play tough defense. The potential concern is with foul trouble, which could hamper Jacobson or one of the bigger guards who is defending a power forward.
 
Probable Starters:
Tyrese Haliburton, Freshman, Guard, 6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg
Nick Weiler-Babb, Senior, Guard, 9.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
Talen Horton-Tucker, Freshman, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Marial Shayok, Senior, Guard, 18.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Michael Jacobson, Junior, Forward, 11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg
 
Key Role Players:
Cameron Lard, Sophomore, Forward, 5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Lindell Wigginton, Sophomore, Guard, 13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.7 (59th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.8 (110, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.7 (31, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.2 (84, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.5 (100, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.2 (93, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.8 (97, 1)
Rebound Margin: 0.5 (176, 8)
Assists Per Game: 15.5 (39, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.0 (32, 1)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2017 NCAA Round of 64 win over Nevada
2017 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Purdue
2016 NCAA Round of 64 win over Iona
2016 NCAA Round of 32 win over Arkansas-Little Rock
2016 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Virginia
2015 NCAA Round of 64 loss to UAB
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over North Carolina Central
2014 NCAA Round of 32 win over North Carolina
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Connecticut
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Notre Dame
2013 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Ohio State
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Connecticut
2012 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kentucky
2005 NCAA Round of 64 win over Minnesota
2005 NCAA Round of 32 loss to North Carolina
2004 NIT First Round win over Georgia
2004 NIT Second Round win over Florida State
2004 NIT Quarterfinal win over Marquette
2004 NIT Semifinal loss to Rutgers
2003 NIT First Round win over Wichita State
2003 NIT Second Round loss to Iowa
2001 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Hampton
2000 NCAA Round of 64 win over Central Connecticut State
2000 NCAA Round of 32 win over Auburn
2000 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over UCLA
2000 NCAA Regional Final loss to Michigan State
 
*all team stats through 3/10