No. 22 Arizona knows that it will be in an “uncomfortable” reception when it tips against No. 9 Iowa State in a BIG 12 conference battle Saturday night in AMES, Iowa.
Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd would expect nothing less.
“We don’t ask for things to be comfortable, because I know Saturday will be very uncomfortable,” Lloyd said. “So we should be comfortable in an uncomfortable environment.
“And during the rest of the season, I think that’s exactly how it will be. I thank the big 12 for it. I am honestly in a good way. Not because we did not have stressful moments in PAC-12, but we have had a good stretch of them here, and I think we will be better for it in the long term.”
Arizona (19-9, 13-4) is looking to maintain second place in the conference position. Wildcats come from a victory 83-66 against Utah on Wednesday evening.
At the same time, Iowa State (21-7, 11-6) is anxious to snap a two-game-skid after loss against then no. 5 Houston on Saturday and Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The cyclones are 4-5 during their last nine matches.
Injuries and illness have played a role in Iowa State’s latest image. Topscores Curtis Jones returned to Oklahoma State after an illness, helping leader Keshon Gilbert has missed the last two games due to a muscle trunk.
Iowa State Coach Tj Otzelberger said Gilbert made progress.
“We are optimistic because he will be able to return on Saturday, but again his health and well -being is # 1,” Otzelberger said. “(He) could practice for the first time (in a while), so we’ll see how his body answers it and where he is at.”
Arizona is led in points by Caleb Love, which is an average of 16.4 points to make 4.4 returns and 3.5 assists. Jaden Bradley is ranked number two with 11.4 points per match, and KJ Lewis rounds off the three best scores with 10.4 points per competition.
Jones leads Iowa State with an average of 16.9 points per match and shoots 36.8 percent beyond the arch. Gilbert (14.1 ppg), Joshua Jefferson (12.6), Milan Momcilovic (10.6) and Tamin Lipsey (10.5) also score points in double -digit numbers.
Jefferson said that he and his teammates needed to play more consistently, whether someone was injured.
“It’s frustrating,” Jefferson said. “We are 18-1 when we are completely healthy, but it’s not an excuse. We still have to find a way to win the games we will win.
“But now that we are completely healthy, I think we are starting to get back on the track forward.”
This will be the ninth game all the time between the programs and the other matchup this season. Arizona was doing an overtime of 86-75 on his home ground on January 27.
Wildcats have won four straight matches against Cyclones, including the first competition of the season. Arizona is constantly leading the series 5-3.
Iowa State is 14-1 at home this season. Arizona is 6-3 on the road.
-Field level media
