From 2 wins to Sweet 16: Iowa St turnaround built on defense

KIFI

Published March 21, 2022 3:28 PM

By ERIC OLSON
AP Sports Writer

No one saw this Iowa State men’s basketball team coming. The Cyclones won just two games and went 0-18 in the Big 12 last year. The team’s 20-win improvement is one of the great NCAA Sweet 16 storylines this week. The 11th-seeded Cyclones will play 10th-seeded Miami in the Midwest Region semifinal in Chicago on Friday. Seven of the nine top players in minutes played weren’t on the roster last season. First-year coach T.J. Otzelberger implemented a system that relies on a commitment to strong defense. The Cyclones have given up a total of 103 points in two tournament games.

Article Topic Follows: AP National Sports

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