Perhaps a matchup with struggling DePaul will help Iowa State get back on track.
Looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat, the visiting Cyclones will aim to extend the Blue Demons’ losing streak to four games on Friday night in Chicago as part of the Big East/Big 12 Battle.
Iowa State (5-2) won its first four games amid a highly favorable schedule by an average margin of 45.5 points. Then the Cyclones took part in the ESPN Events Invitational, where it opened with a 68-64 win over VCU but totaled 131 points in losing to Virginia Tech and then-No. 12 Texas A&M by a combined 13.
They shot just 38.8 percent overall, and 23.5 percent from 3-point range, during the three-day event.
“The biggest thing is knowing how to stay consistent and put a whole 40 minutes together,” Cyclones starter Tre King said.
“(Last week), we experienced every type of adversity and challenge we could possibly face.”
Iowa State hopes to put those lessons learned to good use in its first true road game of 2023-24. It comes against a DePaul squad that’s averaging just 70 points and allowing the opposition to 44.7 percent — and 34.2 percent from beyond the arc.
The Blue Demons (1-5) are 1-3 at home, with losses coming to Purdue Fort Wayne, Long Beach State and Northern Illinois. DePaul allowed NIU to shoot 10-of-22 from distance during Saturday’s 89-79 loss.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us,” DePaul coach Tony Stubblefield said. “We’ve got to get back to getting better. That’s the goal right now.”
Despite DePaul’s early struggles, 6-foot-8 Da’Sean Nelson has scored 38 points on 14-of-26 shooting in the last two games after totaling 26 and making 11 of 32 shots in the first four.
Meanwhile, the Blue Demons must contain Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, who leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (6.0 per game), assists (5.7) and steals (2.9). Teammate Milan Momcilovic is averaging 14.1 points while going 19-of-42 (45.2 percent) from 3-point range.
–Field Level Media
