It feels like only yesterday that BYU basketball traveled to Ames and won in the most dramatic battle of the entire season in the Hilton Coliseum. My therapist would certainly agree with that sentiment.
The 17th-ranked BYU Cougars, led by first-year head coach Kevin Young, boast one of basketball's most dynamic offensive units, with First Team All-Big 12 player Richie Saunders leading the way for this squad (and not for nothing, but yours truly predicted that award during the non-conference schedule).
First-round NBA draft prospect, Egor Demin, orchestrates the offense with elite court vision and a passing touch unlike anything you'll see on a collegiate basketball court. Keba Keita is a rebounding menace and explosive athlete capable of erasing offensive mistakes. Mawot Mag is a defense-first ace up head coach Kevin Young's sleeve. This is a team with very few weaknesses and virtually no drop in production as they dip into the bench.
But Iowa State knows all of this. Only last week, the Cougars escaped Ames with an 88-85 victory over the Cyclones, and the result of this game could truly go either way.
ISU, led by TJ Otzelberger and veteran point guard Tamin Lipsey, are ranked 12th in the country for a reason, and were only a few plays away from taking down the Cougars in their last meeting. After BYU jumped out to a 21-point lead in the middle of the second half, the Cyclone defense became the Tasmanian Devil. Spinning, swarming, attacking, this side took BYU's offense out of the equation for much of the second half. It wouldn't be long before their scoring attack caught back up.
Questionable officiating during that stretch? Yeah, welcome to Big 12 basketball. During the conference tournament, we're likely to see some more disagreeable foul calls (or absence thereof), but the winner of this game will go to one of two highly deserving teams.
BYU claimed the higher seed in the Big 12 standings thanks to their recent win and eight-game win streak. With the double-bye to prepare for an elite Iowa State side, Kevin Young no doubt placed his emphasis on preparing for this team, with all due respect to Cincinnati and Oklahoma State.
We could see one of two BYU teams return in this game, the squad that took over in the first half to lift themselves to a massive lead, or the team whose offense stagnated allowing for Iowa State to make a run. Now on a neutral floor, both sides see this quarterfinal round and the opportunity to prove a point and get one step closer to the conference title.
Iowa State are the reigning champions and know how to win in this league. A win for BYU would confirm everything that's been said about their chances in March.
A grudge match between two of college hoops' best teams. BYU and Iowa State square off once again.
How to watch BYU vs Iowa State:
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. MT
Location: Kansas City, MO
Channel: ESPN2