Players to watch, keys to the game for Kentucky vs. Iowa State

For the second straight season to open the Mark Pope era, the Kentucky Wildcats are playing for a berth in the Sweet 16. Sunday in St. Louis, the Cats will take on the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones. On the line is a trip to Chicago and the Sweet 16.

The Cats can do this. They have momentum on their side, and they have belief. Those two things are vital in the month of March.

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Iowa State is really good. That much has been known all season. What’s not known is what will happen Sunday afternoon. Again, as KSR’s Matt Jones said, the NCAA Tournament is so random.

With that, let’s take a closer look at Iowa State and their key players to watch, keys to the game, and score prediction.

NCAA Tournament First Round: Iowa State 108 — Tennessee State 74

Even after Joshua Jefferson went down early, the Cyclones cruised to a 34-point win in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament over the Tigers. They did it with an efficient offensive performance and an aggressive performance on the glass.

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Iowa State shot 52.8 percent from the floor and 11-24 from three-point range. The Cyclones won the rebound battle 43-29, and they had 24 assists to just 11 turnovers. Of the Cyclones’ 43 rebounds, 18 were on the offensive glass.

Killyan Toure led the Cyclones with 25 points and 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, with Nate Heise right behind with 22 points and four three-pointers. Milan Momcilovic had 17 points and three three-pointers, while Blake Buchanan led the Cyclones with eight assists.

On defense, the Cyclones forced 16 Tigers’ turnovers and held them to just 5-21 from three-point range. The Tigers shot just 43.1 percent from the floor and had just 14 assists.

The big story, though, is that Joshua Jefferson sustained a left ankle sprain less than three minutes into the game. He was helped off by members of the Iowa State training staff, and it’s now being reported that he is unlikely to play Sunday. Still, though, Cyclones head coach T.J….

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Publish date : 2026-03-22 03:19:00

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