No. 8 Iowa State is in a funk, as coach Tj Otzelberger is well aware.
The cyclones will have a chance to snap their three-game losing line when they host TCU on Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.
Otzelberger knows that it will not be easy for Iowa State (17-5, 7-4 BIG 12) against TCU (12-10, 5-6), a potentially dangerous underdog that has earned back-to-back victories.
“Winning games is challenging in every conference,” said Otzelberger. “Winning games in Big 12 when you arrive until the end of January and February, especially when everyone is tired, everyone is sore, everyone is beaten, everyone is mentally challenged, all these things are going on – this is where you have to double down on your Habits, your elasticity and the things that make you win.
“But winning in this league is difficult. I know that. I had many years as an assistant and now four as head coach.”
TCU hopes to be the latest team that challenges Iowa State. Horned Frogs comes home from triumphs against Colorado on Sunday and West Virginia on Wednesday.
After losing six of their first nine conference games, Horned Frogs is a victory away from climbing back to .500 in the Big 12 position.
“We’re getting better,” said TCU coach Jamie Dixon. “We find ways. It has been difficult, it has been a battle. We know it, (given) how young we were, but I like how we answered.”
Noah Reynolds leads TCU with 12.7 points per match. Vasean Allette (11.6 points per match) also gets two digits for Horned Frogs, who lost Frankie Collins to a seasonal foot injury in December.
Dixon comes from a career milestone. When he goes to his place on the bench Saturday, it will mark the first competition since he won his 500th match.
“I’ve been lucky,” said Dixon, who won 328 matches on Pitt and has 172 wins at TCU. “I’ve been to two fantastic schools, two schools that I care about, and I’ve had many good players. Big players. I’ve been lucky to do what I have wanted to do all my life and fortunately I have a family as supports me with it. ”
Iowa State has five players who score in two -digit numbers. Curtis Jones leads the team with 17.4 points per match, Keshon Gilbert is an average of 15.0 points, and Joshua Jefferson rounds off the top three with 12.8 points per match.
Tamin Lipsey (10.8 points per match) and Milan Momcilovic (10.3) also score points in double -digit numbers. Momcilovic has been on the side of a hand injury since mid -January but returned to the training this week.
“He was out there doing things,” Otzelberger said after Momcilovic returned to court. “It will be day to day, when he can return. When it is in his best interest is when he comes back.”
The cyclones have fought without their ESS 3-point shooter. They shot a seasonal 30.6 percent from the floor and published a season-low point in total in a 69-52 loss on No. 16 Kansas on Monday.
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