Cyclones Aim for Elite Eight Run

0:00On March 6th, the Iowa State Cyclones are heading into their last home game of the regular season, a big senior night matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The team has hit some rough patches lately with a tough schedule, but they are still eyeing strong runs in the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament. After a recent loss to the Arizona Wildcats, the Cyclones got some much needed rest to regroup. They probably will not snag a double buy in the Big 12 event, but they remain a solid contender there before shifting focus to March madness. Fans and analysts see potential, despite the dips, as the team has shown they can compete at a high level. Historical data from sites like Kenpom puts teams into tears based on efficiency, leading into the postseason, and Iowa State fits the profile for an annual Elite 8 run right now. A closer look at the numbers shows they are hovering just shy of higher benchmarks, with offensive efficiency at 123.4 and defensive at 93.4.

1:01To climb into Final Four territory, they need to nudge those up to around 124 offensively and 91 defensively. That upcoming game offers a prime shot to boost those stats, especially on defense, setting them up to surprise in the tournaments ahead,