Iowa State Cyclones' March Madness Run Continues

0:00On March 24th, Iowa State Cyclones entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament with strong momentum from the Big 12 Tournament, where they knocked off Arizona State and Texas Tech before a close semi-final loss to Arizona. That earned them a number two seed in the Midwest region. Right away, they faced a setback when star-forward Joshua Jefferson sprained his ankle just three minutes into their first round matchup against Tennessee State, but they still pulled out the win. Just up in the round of 32, was a tough Kentucky squad. The Wildcats jumped out to a 12-point lead early, testing the Cyclones without their key player. Iowa State's coaching staff adjusted quickly, sticking to their game plan and rallying the team to take a slim one-point edge at halftime. Hall of Fame coach Mike Krogeski raved about their poise during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show, calling it one of the tournament's most impressive showing so far. He highlighted how they stayed calm despite the injury and early deficit, turning the game around completely.

1:01A hustle play late in the half sparked an A to nothing run, and Iowa State never trailed again, cruising to an 82-63 blowout. Victory. Kentucky committed 20 turnovers and seemed to fold under pressure, while the Cyclones showed real grit. Now headed to the sweet 16 against Tennessee Iowa State, keeps proving their built for March madness, with their depth and coaching carrying.