Iowa State Cyclones
Big 12 (18-12, 9-9)
Iowa State had a very good season in a very tough Big 12. There is not a really bad loss on their schedule. The Cyclones have the offensive firepower to knock off just about anybody. Coach Bill Fennelly has been around the block a few times and knows how to win big games. March will be no different and this is a team that could make some noise.
Big Wins: 1/25 at Kansas State (66-57), 2/15 Kansas (66-47), 2/18 Oklahoma (77-71), 2/29 Kansas State (57-33)
Bad Losses: 1/11 at Kansas (67-74), 2/12 at Texas Tech (41-51), 2/25 at Oklahoma State (63-71)
Coach: Bill Fennelly (17 seasons at Iowa State)
Why They Can Surprise:
Iowa State has a great interior presence. Chelsea Poppens, a 6-2 junior, is a double-double machine. She is a great interior scorer and one of the best rebounders in the nation. Hallie Christofferson is Poppens’ frontcourt mate. Christofferson is a more dynamic scorer who can stretch the defense with her outside shooting ability. With the interior presence that the Cyclones have, it opens up room for ISU’s other great asset…three-point shooting. Christofferson will knock down some long balls, but the backcourt is full of shooters. Nikki Moody and Lauren Mansfield are good ball handlers, but they will also knock down some shots. Brynn Williamson will provide the offensive spark off of the bench. Iowa State, as a whole, does not have the most consistent shooters, but they will hoist up a lot of long balls. When they are going in, Iowa State can beat anybody.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Despite their size, which does include 6-7 center Anna Prins, Iowa State is not a great shot blocking team. Iowa State plays tough straight up defense. They do not go for steals, so they do not get many easy buckets on the other end of the floor. A strong offensive team can outscore the Cyclones and that is usually what happens when this team ends up with a loss. The Cyclones lack of a shot blocker makes it relatively easy for the opposition to get in the paint and score. That also opens up the opposition to knock down some three-pointers. Iowa State may not stop too many teams from scoring on them, but they can outscore anybody when Poppens and Christofferson are scoring inside and the backcourt is knocking down three-pointers.
Probable Starters:
Nikki Moody, Freshman, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 4.4 apg
Lauren Mansfield, Senior, Guard, 8.1 ppg, 3.3 apg
Chassidy Cole, Senior, Guard, 1.9 ppg, 2.6 apg
Chelsea Poppens, Junior, Forward, 14.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg
Hallie Christofferson, Sophomore, Forward, 10.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Kelsey Harris, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Anna Prins, Junior, Center, 8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Brynn Williamson, Freshman, Guard, 5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Amanda Zimmerman, Junior, Forward, 1.8 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 63.3 (148th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 55.7 (49, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.2 (154, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.5 (60, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.3 (17, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.8 (100, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.2 (66, 2)
Rebound Margin: 6.6 (25, 2)
Assists Per Game: 14.7 (47, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.8 (75, 6)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Iowa State 2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Marist
Iowa State 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Leigh
Iowa State 2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Green Bay
Iowa State 2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Connecticut
Iowa State 2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over East Tennessee State
Iowa State 2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Ball State
Iowa State 2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Michigan State
Iowa State 2009 NCAA Regional Final loss to Stanford
Iowa State 2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Georgia Tech
Iowa State 2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Rutgers
Iowa State 2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Washington
Iowa State 2007 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Georgia
*all team stats through 3/1
