3. #22 Milan Momcilovic, 6’8″, 220 lbs., Fr., F, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
12.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 45.8 FG%, 40.2 3-PT FG%, 85.2 FT%, 31 mpg
Momcilovic is having a stellar freshman season at Iowa State, with only four games scoring below double digits and shooting over 40 percent from the field and from three-point range. He’s clearly earned trust in the coaching staff as Momcilovic leads the team in minutes per game, including 30+ minutes in eight of 10 Big 12 games.
4. #5 Curtis Jones, 6’4″, 190 lbs., Sr., G, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Buffalo Transfer
9.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 39.7 FG%, 33.3 3-PT FG%, 78.4 FT%, 51 ast.-16 TO, 42 stl, 25.5 mpg
Jones is in his first season with Iowa State after spending the previous two seasons at Buffalo. His 2022-23 season with Buffalo was solid, leading the team with 15 points per game and scoring in double figures in 24 of 31 games. Jones has really come on over his last six games, each scoring in double figures and three times hitting three or more three-point shots.
5. #0 Tre King, 6’7″, 230 lbs., Sr., F, Lexington, Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky Transfer
9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 51.2 FG%, 9-30 3-PT FG, 80.4 FT%, 23.1 mpg
King can get overlooked by Gilbert and Lipsey and even Momcilovic, but he is a very important player to this Cyclones team. He has 10 games scoring in double figures, 14 games with five or more rebounds and 15 games shooting 50 percent or better from the field. King is a great all-around player, going back to his days at EKU. He was in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals in the OVC at EKU in 2020-21 and led Iowa State in 2022-23 in free throw shooting and rebounding.
6. #12 Robert Jones, 6’10”, 255 lbs., Sr., F, Prior Lake, Minnesota
8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 61.7 FG%, 50% FT, 22 blk, 22.4 mpg
Jones is an efficient role player, shooting over 60 percent from the floor and blocking 22 shots. Nine times Jones has pulled down five or more rebounds and only has five games shooting below 50 percent from the field.
Keys to the Game
1. Rebounding: While Iowa State is not a great rebounding team, they don’t give up a lot of rebounds either at 32 per game. The Bearcats did an okay job on the boards against Houston, but they have to do a better job at not giving up second chance points. In this game, they need to rebound as many missed Iowa State shots as they can.
2. Free Throw Shooting: It’s just like protecting your quarterback in football. You have to make shots given to you because of a defensive foul. Cincinnati missed seven free throws on Saturday afternoon against No. 5 Houston. They lost by five points. They have to do what they against Texas Tech from the line, going 10-10, on a more consistent basis.
3. Assist to Turnover Ratio: Cincinnati did a great job not letting Houston guard Jamal Shead dominate the game. They kept his assist and steal numbers low, and they’ll have to have another strong performance Tuesday night against Iowa State. The Cyclones have 390 assists on the season to just 251 turnovers. They also have 248 steals. Limiting turnovers and turning over the Cyclones will go a long way towards deciding this game.
