It only took an elevator ride for Owen Freeman to raise the Cy-Hawk series to new heights.
At the team’s hotel in Ames for Iowa men’s basketball’s 2023 matchup against Iowa State, Freeman walked through elevator doors, turned around, and found himself alone.
Standing in front of him was a man in Cyclones merchandise, feet planted on the floor, refusing to share a space with the enemy.
“He wanted no part of me,” Freeman said with a smile.
This pregame display of hostility was the then-first-year Freeman’s introduction to the Cy-Hawk series, and the intimidation only continued inside Hilton Coliseum beneath thousands of roaring fans as Iowa State dominated en route to a 90-65 victory.
“I didn’t realize how big the rivalry was coming in, but once you get here, that’s all people talk about,” Freeman said.
On Thursday, the banter and trash talk resumes as Iowa and No. 3 Iowa State converge at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6:30 p.m. While this year’s Cyclone squad features some new faces, the opportunity stays the same – knock off a rival and gain a quality win in the process.
For the Hawkeyes, who are no strangers to resilience after clawing back from an early 20-4 deficit in their previous contest against Michigan, an uphill battle is to be relished.
“Just prove that we can hang with some of the top teams in the nation, that we’re right there with them, that we can really compete in the Big Ten,” Iowa forward Payton Sandfort said. “There’s a lot to look forward to, and a lot for us that we can be excited about. We got nothing to lose.”
Holding a 7-1 overall mark and a first-place standing in the Big 12, Iowa State boasts a ranked win after topping No. 5 Marquette, 81-70, at home on Dec. 4. The Cyclones average a conference-best 87.8 points per game and feature five double-digit scorers.
Senior guard Keshon Gilbert leads the squad with 17.1 points per game, followed by fellow returnees Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic. The Cyclones feature two new players in the front court in transfers Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson.
Jackson, standing at 6-foot-11 and 274-pounds, arrives in Ames after two seasons at Washington State and another at Charlotte. Jefferson spent two seasons at St. Mary’s and leads Iowa State with 7.8 rebounds per game.
“I’ve been impressed with both of these guys, they seem to fit really well with this group,” Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said. “They fit into the system. [Iowa State] puts pieces in there that work.”
Meanwhile, Hawkeyes’ frontcourt presence has waned as of late. Against Michigan, Iowa was outscored in the paint, 54-32, and outshined on the glass, 45-30. Starting power forward Ladji Dembele and Freeman combined for 14 points, eight rebounds, and six fouls.
“You’re going to be challenged with [Iowa State’s] defense, so you got to be able to make plays,” McCaffery said of the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt.
Keeping turnovers at minimum will be a tough task against the Cyclones, who lead the Big 12 in steals with 10 per game and opponent turnovers with 16.9 per game.
Although recent series scores haven’t been close, with the victors winning by an average of 14 points over the last six matchups. Nevertheless, should the Hawkeyes find themselves with a chance to upset, every point will matter, especially free throws. The charity stripe hasn’t been kind to Iowa this season, as it ranks 16th in the Big Ten with a 66 percent free-throw percentage.
“I think we have a team that will eventually be a really good free-throw shooting team,” McCaffery said. “It’s obviously been a problem so far. I think we’ll be fine moving forward. You just spend more time doing it. Getting back into a rhythm.”
Injury news and updates
McCaffery said forward Seydou Traore is likely to return on Thursday. Traore has missed the past two games due to an ankle injury, has averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest coming off the bench.
Forward Cooper Koch, who has sat out past two contests with an unknown ailment, is also possible to suit up again, McCaffery said.