Iowa State Cyclones' Buchanan Steps Up Without Jefferson

0:00On March 23rd, the Iowa State Cyclones have punched their ticket to the sweet 16, set to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Friday. They've earned plenty of praise for strong showings in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. But early on against the Tennessee State Tigers, star-forward Joshua Jefferson suffered an injury that knocked him out of that game, and the next one, versus the Kentucky Wildcats. Without Jefferson, the Cyclones shuffled their lineup, sliding Nate Heiss into the starting five for big minutes. They've also leaned more on starting center, Blake Buchanan, to help with front court size, a clear challenge now. Fans and analysts note how tough it's been without Jefferson's presence inside, forcing the team to adapt on the fly. Still, Iowa State's depth has shown through, keeping their tournament run alive amid the setback. Buchanan has stepped up nicely in his expanded role, posting 11 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals against the five. Tigers, then versus Kentucky, he added 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals over 31 minutes, his most action since early January.

1:10As the Cyclones gear up for Tennessee, Buchanan's rebounding, defense, and athleticism will be key to matching up inside, helping carry the momentum. Forward, without their injured star.