Iowa State Cyclones vs Kansas State Wildcats Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

No. 3 Iowa State Looks to Rebound Against Resurgent Kansas State

Iowa State will look to put a tough road loss behind them as they return home to face a Kansas State team that is starting to find its rhythm. The Cyclones are eager to regain momentum in the Big 12 race, while the Wildcats aim to extend their recent winning streak.

Cyclones Eye a Fresh Start

No. 3 Iowa State (17-3, 7-2 Big 12) suffered a setback in their last game, falling 86-75 in overtime to Arizona on Monday. The loss marked their second defeat in four games, but head coach T.J. Otzelberger remains optimistic about his team’s ability to bounce back.

“We’ll be better for it,” Otzelberger said. “We’ll move on to the next thing here.”

The next challenge comes in the form of Kansas State, a team that struggled early in conference play but has shown signs of improvement. The Wildcats have won two straight games after enduring a brutal six-game losing streak, setting up an intriguing clash in Ames.

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Iowa State continues to be led by Curtis Jones, who is averaging 18.1 points per game. Keshon Gilbert (15.6 ppg), Joshua Jefferson (12.9 ppg), and Tamin Lipsey (10.4 ppg) provide additional firepower, but the Cyclones remain without sophomore Milan Momcilovic, who has missed five straight games with a hand injury.

Momcilovic, who was averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 44.3% from three-point range, is making progress but isn’t expected to return just yet.

“(His) cast is off. He’s doing strengthening exercises,” Otzelberger said. “I would say four (weeks) is probably aggressive, but we’ll see.”

Kansas State Turning the Corner

Kansas State (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) is beginning to show signs of life after a rough start to conference play. The Wildcats have simplified their game plan, and the results have been encouraging, with back-to-back wins over No. 23 West Virginia (73-60) and Oklahoma State (85-57).

Head coach Jerome Tang credited the turnaround to making things easier for his players.

“We thought we were being simple with what we were providing them, but there was still confusion in what we were giving them,” Tang said. “Because we were probably giving them too much and thinking, ‘Man, … we’ve already toned it down, the number of sets we gave or what we are doing defensively.’ But that was still the common theme as I met with the players.”

Now, Kansas State is aiming for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

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David N’Guessan leads the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, followed closely by Brendan Hausen (12.0 ppg) and Coleman Hawkins (10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Hawkins, in particular, has drawn praise from Otzelberger for his versatility.

“Hawkins is a terrific mismatch player, and they use him in a lot of ways,” Otzelberger said. “The way that he can shoot it, post at the mid-post, drive it (and) beat you off the dribble to the rim—he creates a matchup situation. You’ve got to be intentional guarding him.”

What to Expect

Iowa State will be eager to bounce back after their loss to Arizona, and playing at home should give them an edge. The Cyclones’ defensive intensity and balanced scoring attack will be key in slowing down a Kansas State team that has started to figure things out.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, will need to maintain their recent momentum and continue executing their simplified approach. If they can stay competitive early, they could have a chance to challenge an Iowa State team looking to reclaim its dominance.

Can Iowa State get back on track, or will Kansas State extend its winning streak and pull off an upset? The battle in Ames will provide the answer.