Caught in a Cyclone: ISU hammers No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — T.J. Otzelberger practically let the Astronomical 12 Match trophy scurry through his arms sooner than adjusting his grip and raising it above his head, that polo shirt so many of us score so comically tight on Iowa Insist‘s coach stretching excellent barely bit more.

There was as soon as nothing humorous about the intention the Cyclones performed Saturday evening.

Led by Keshon Gilbertthe tourney’s most outstanding player, and a balanced roster in which all people has a role, the nation’s seventh-ranked team efficiently dismantled No. 1 Houston within the championship game. Gilbert executed with 16 points as the Cyclones rolled to the 69-41 victorygiving them their sixth Astronomical 12 trophy of their sixth title game look.

The margin was as soon as a truly vital over a No. 1 team since UCLA beat the Cougars by 32 within the 1968 Final Four.

“I give our guys the total credit score,” Otzelberger stated after lowering down the nets. “You hear it the total time: You have to be taking part on your handiest this time of twelve months. I originate now not reflect there might be any quiz that is what we’re doing.”

Milan Momcilovic had 18 points, and Hason Ward scored 13 for the Cyclones (27-7), who occupy beaten 5 varied programs to steal the trophy, at the side of Oklahomawhich at the time was as soon as led by most well-liked Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.

Sampson potentially felt even worse on Saturday evening than he did in 2000. Iowa Insist outdated skool an 18-3 trail to turn a 30-23 halftime lead into the roughly blowout Sampson has rarely ever experienced. And that in turn gave thousands of Cyclones followers who paint Kansas Metropolis crimson and yellow every March a selection of reason to stand on their ft and shout their approval.

“Very seldom originate you play a boulevard game within the championship of a match, but what? Hats off to Iowa Insist’s followers,” Sampson stated. “I’ve known Iowa Insist’s followers for an extended, long time. That’s now not the first time I’ve misplaced to them within the championship. But originate now not lose glance of how correct you’d like to be to assemble here.”

It would now not seem to topic who’s instructing Iowa Insist at the Astronomical 12 Match, both. Otzelberger became the fourth to steal that trophy support to Ames, Iowa, and the third to originate it within the past 10 carried out events.

“You beat a team or program as correct as Houston is,” Otzelberger stated, “your guys know they’ve accomplished something.”

Jamal Shead had 10 points on 3-for-17 shooting for Houston (30-4), which was as soon as outscored 39-18 within the 2nd half of. L.J. Cryer was as soon as held to seven points and Emanuel Fascinating to 5 as the Cougars shot 4 of 22 from the three-level arc and 15 of 56 from the self-discipline.

“We will pick ourselves up. We now occupy had a enormous twelve months,” Sampson stated. “Forty minutes is now not going to clarify three months.”

Iowa Insist constructed its halftime lead by taking part within the role of Houston larger than Houston.

The preternaturally poised Cyclones by no contrivance wavered after they fell within the support of early. They exhibited some beautiful ball movement for easy layups when the Cougars’ guards tried to lock down the perimeter. And when the Cyclones got those buckets to head, it freed up Momcilovic and the rest of the Iowa Insist sharpshooters to birth draining 3-pointers.

On the various cease, the Cyclones forced Shead into off-balance runners and long 3s at the tip of the shot clock; the Astronomical 12 player of the twelve months — and defensive player of the twelve months — was as soon as 2-for-11 within the first half of, and it didn’t assemble any larger within the 2nd.

Cougars enormous man J’Wan Roberts also was as soon as largely ineffective after hurting his lawful leg and taking part in sparingly of their semifinal rout of Texas Tech. He began the game and performed 13 first-half of minutes sooner than sitting out the 2nd half of.

“This game’s now not near as significant as his effectively being,” Sampson stated.

Roberts potentially don’t occupy made a distinction the intention the Cyclones had been rolling. They scored the first 10 points as segment of their trail to birth the 2nd half of, and Momcilovic’s 3 from in front of his bench pushed their lead to Forty eight-23 with 12:40 to head.

Resorting to desperation images, the Cougars went 9½ minutes without a self-discipline aim as the game got away from them.

It was as soon as one easiest blowout in a match where the well-liked margin was as soon as practically 15 points.

“We originate now not in fact care what the outdoors world thinks of us,” Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey stated. “That’s why we’re one of these shut team. We excellent attach our head down and trip to work. That’s why I originate now not reflect there might be someone more deserving than our team to be in this declare and occupy an even time this moment.”

Iowa Insist is recurrently a No. 2 seed within the NCAA match and could also assemble a favorable landing peril in Omaha, Nebraska, for the gap weekend. It is handiest a pair of 2½-hour drive from its campus in Ames.

Houston practically indubitably had locked up a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tourney. The quiz now is whether the assorted committee would attach the Cougars within the an identical enviornment as Iowa Insist to situation up a possible rematch.