The Saturday after the Iowa State Women played for the Big 12 Championship, the Men did the same thing. The played the #1 team in the country, the Houston Cougars. The two teams had split the regular season games. Each team winning on their home floor. Both schools went undefeated at home this year. The only two schools to do that. I was expecting a very tight and hotly contested game, but the rubber match ended up being not much of a game. Iowa State blasted the #1 team in the country by 28 points. The first victory for Iowa State since all the way back in 2022. It was one of the largest margins of victory over the #1 team in history.

It was a completely unexpected result. A conference championship was a little unexpected for the Cyclones at the beginning of the season. They didn’t get a single vote in the AP Preseason Poll. However, they were expected to be at least decent. That lost some pieces from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, but they brought back almost all the key pieces. Plus they brought in some scoring punch for the backcourt in the transfer portal ad they brought in 2 freshman that are expected to play in the NBA. But, Iowa State ended up being much better than expected, thanks mostly to the vast improvement of Tamin Lipsey from his freshman year to his sophomore year.

Here are some pictures from the trip I made to the game with Jesse:

Missouri Rest Area

Garth Brooks played the Boone County Fair, we didn’t hang a banner for it.

Pretty much every Houston fan at the game in one picture.

The best point guard in the country, hope he is healthy next year.

This guy made his hat.

MVP!

Best coach in Iowa State history?

BRE!

This picture was for a project I’ve already decided to abandon.

Charlie Hustle had a pop up store. All the clothing in there was super cool!

It was a great day! But it wasn’t the last road trip I took to watch Iowa State play in the postseason!