![]() 64 and 65 schools, as announced March 11, will play an "opening-round" game on March 13 in Dayton, Ohio. The NCAA is contracted to keep the at-large selection pool at 34. Why? The split of the Western Athletic Conference - eight schools breaking off to form the Mountain West - has raised the number of automatic bids to 31. This much is fact: There will be 65 teams in this year's NCAA tournament. It's not a "play-in," game, the NCAA says, but an "opening-round" game. "There is no doubt in my mind that mentally they are the toughest team in the conference." "They have a toughness," said Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton, whose Cowboys handed Iowa State one of its two losses. They lead the Big 12 in three-point shooting (44.1 percent) and are No. Overall, the Cyclones entered the week with all five starters averaging in double figures, from a high of 14.1 points per game to a low of 10.6 points per game. Tinsley can break down any defense with dribble penetration and Horton, a 42.5 percent three-point shooter, has uncanny range.įreshman guard Jake Sullivan (47 percent from three-point range) and freshman forward Shane Power (48.6 percent from three-point range) are strong outside shooters. Tinsley and Horton get less time on "SportsCenter" than Duke sophomore Jason Williams and freshman Chris Duhon, but they are just as explosive and more seasoned. He also has selfless post players Martin Rancik and Paul Shirley, both of whom are making more than 52 percent of their field goal attempts, as well as several first-year players who routinely display the poise of seniors. Not only are the Cyclones the best team in the Big 12, they just might be the best team in the nation.Īlthough Eustachy lost all-American forward Marcus Fizer, who turned pro after his junior season, he still has perhaps the best starting guard tandem in the country in seniors Jamaal Tinsley and Kantrail Horton. They have won 25 of their past 29 regular season conference games, with all the losses coming in overtime and on the road. They are alone in first place in the Big 12 at 11-2 and 23-3 overall, with a 10-game winning streak entering Saturday's game at Texas. ![]() ![]() No one - not even the most rabid Kansas fan - can debate that Iowa State has become the dominant team in the Big 12 Conference.ĭriven by the tenacious Larry Eustachy, the Cyclones have beaten Kansas five consecutive times, including twice this season.
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