To open the week, the Big 12 got another high-major matchup as Iowa State faced Mississippi State at a neutral site.
It was an abbreviated slate when it came to Monday basketball on both sides. Along with Iowa State, TCU faced Lamar and Utah faced Holy Cross. The only women’s game on the slate was Kansas State hosting Lamar, which the Wildcats won, 89-61.
Another high-major matchup is coming on Tuesday, a Top 25 showdown as No. 11 Texas Tech faces No. 14 Illinois in Champaign, Ill.
Here is what we learned about Big 12 basketball on Nov. 10
AN IOWA STATE BLOWOUT
Iowa State’s first test this season was against Mississippi State, which was a non-conference, neutral site game at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. It’s become a popular spot for non-conference games in recent years.
The Cyclones played two non-high major teams last week, so facing the Bulldogs from the SEC was their first chance to test themselves against a high-major team. Well, Iowa State (3-0) aced the test, winning 96-80.
What was interesting about this game is that both teams shot about the same from the floor. ISU was 51.4% and MSU was 50%. The Bulldogs were better from the 3-point line — 40.7% and made 11 3-pointers to Iowa State’s five. Mississippi State also outrebounded Iowa State, 37-31. So how did Iowa State win? Defense, of course.
The Bulldogs committed a mind-boggling 26 turnovers to Iowa State’s nine. The Cyclones scored 29 points off those turnovers. Ball game. That’s what Iowa State does to teams — turn them over and score. Rinse. Repeat.
Tamin Lipsey is back — and not just physically. He led the Cyclones with 25 points, a career high, as he dished out six assists and stole three passes. So, the lingering issues from the offseason appear to be behind him. Joshua Jefferson had 18 points, Blake Buchanan had 13 points and Dominick Nelson added 11 points.
This was a rock-solid win for Iowa State. The Bulldogs won 21 games a year ago and reached the NCAA Tournament, losing to Baylor in the first round. So, note for MSU — avoid the Big 12 in the NCAA Tournament.
RAINING THREES IN STILLWATER
The Oklahoma State Cowgirls have already played four games this season and are preparing for a fifth game on Tuesday against Prairie View A&M. But, this is still impressive, per On3’s Talia Goodman.
OSU has had good 3-point shooters under coach Jacie Hoyt. But, in her fourth season in Stillwater, she appears to have a trio that could be a differentiator come tournament time.
Hoyt spoke to the media on Monday and acknowledged that the Cowgirls haven’t played high-major opponents yet, per Scott Wright at The Oklahoman. In talking to women’s coaches over the years, getting those high major games isn’t easy.
OSU has scored 100 or more points in three of their four games, and PVA&M presents a chance to make it four out of five. The Cowgirls get a high-major game with St. John’s on Nov. 19 in Queens, N.Y., but the Red Storm were 16-15 last year.
There’s a good chance OSU could be undefeated going into their Bedlam game with Oklahoma in OKC on Dec. 13. I’m starting to think I need to cover that game.
TCU VS. THE SOUTHLAND
For the second time in eight days, the TCU Horned Frogs hosted a Southland Conference school. At least this time the Horned Frogs won.
TCU beat Lamar, 78-65, but the Cardinals didn’t make it easy. The game was tight going into the final several minutes before the Horned Frogs pulled away. Lamar was a 20-win team last year in the Southland, so the Cardinals know how to play teams like Lamar. But, after falling to New Orleans last Monday, one of the conference’s worst teams a year ago, TCU showed enough fight to win.
Jayden Pierre led TCU with 18 points, while four other players were in double figures. The balanced scoring was helpful for the Horned Frogs as they shot 50% from the field.
This is a much different team than a year ago for TCU and it’s going to take time for coach Jamie Dixon to figure this out. I had TCU at the bottom of my power rankings on Monday and, for now, I feel like it was the right choice.
