Iowa State

Iowa State went on the road last week as a double-digit underdog that hadn't won a Big 12 game - and won by 34 points. Kansas hits the road this week as a double-digit underdog that hasn't won a Big 12 game. On Saturday, the Jayhawks (2-6, 0-5 Big 12) face Iowa State, the one team that knows how dangerous a supposedly weaker team can be in this league. Iowa State (4-4, 1-4) stunned the Big 12 by throttling Texas Tech 41-7 in Lubbock last week. The Cyclones insist they're on guard against letting Kansas (2-6, 0-5)

Austen Arnaud ignited a sluggish offense with a 37-yard pass completion and Josh Lenz returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown, lifting Iowa State past Kansas 28-16 on Saturday. Arnaud's pass to Darius Darks keyed a third-quarter touchdown drive that put the Cyclones (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) ahead. They added two more TDs in the period to put it away. Given up for dead after allowing 120 points in consecutive losses to Utah and Oklahoma, Iowa State has won two straight and needs only one victory in its last three games to become bowl eligible for the second year in a row. Kansas (2-6, 0-4)

Rodney McGruder scored 22 points and Angel Rodriguez added 20 as No. 13 Kansas State knocked off Iowa State 79-70 to take sole possession of first place in the Big 12. Korie Lucious led the Cyclones (16-7, 6-4) with 16 points and reserve Tyrus McGee had 15. The Wildcats (19-4, 8-2) held a slim 33-32 lead at the break in a game that remained close most of the way. With 9:10 remaining, Kansas State led 61-52. In response to a pair of Iowa State baskets, Gipson and Rodriguez both scored and put the Wildcats up 65-55 - the first double-digit lead of the game.

Bill Self tried to temper expectations surrounding fifth-ranked Kansas as the season began, pointing out all the big-name players lost to graduation and the NBA. He didn't fool his fellow Big 12 coaches. They picked the Jayhawks as co-favorites again. After rolling through their first seven conference games without a miscue, Kansas is in a familiar position. Missouri's upset loss to Oklahoma State earlier this week created a two-game cushion in the standings heading into the Jayhawks' game Saturday at Iowa State.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Daniel Thomas rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 34 carries, and Kansas State rallied to beat Iowa State 27-20 on Saturday. Carson Coffman added 104 passing yards for the Wildcats (3-0, 1-0 Big 12), who have won back-to-back conference openers for the first time in 10 years. Austen Arnaud threw for 122 yards and a touchdown to lead Iowa State (1-2, 0-1), which lost its third straight to Kansas State. Thomas's 2-yard TD run gave Kansas State a 24-20 lead with 6:47 left.

Royce White has been so bad from the free throw line lately that his struggles have literally turned into nightmares. A few hours after waking up from a dream in which he couldn't hit anything from the line, White sank the two biggest freebies of his career to give Iowa State a landmark win for coach Fred Hoiberg. White had 18 points and nine rebounds as the Cyclones upset fifth-ranked Kansas 72-64 on Saturday, snapping the Jayhawks' winning streak at 10 games. White, the versatile big man who entered shooting an abysmal 39 percent from the line in Big 12 games, hit a pair that rattled in to put Iowa State up 64-59 with 1:47 left.

Zach Guyer kicked a 42-yard field goal with 4:30 left to give Iowa State the lead, and backup running back Jeff Woody helped the Cyclones run out the clock in a 13-10 victory over Kansas on Saturday. Iowa State looked nothing like the team that rolled over Texas Tech 41-7 a week before and struggled to finish drives against the Big 12's worst defense. But freshman quarterback Jared Barnett finally got the Cyclones (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) close enough for Guyer to kick his game-winner, leading a march from his own 13 to the Kansas 24. With the wind at his back, Guyer's kick sailed through the uprights, his second field goal of the day. Kansas (2-7, 0-5)

Iowa State was really close to getting on KU's Revenge Tour list this season. The Cyclones were a couple buckets away and Ben McLemore's amazing bank shot three-pointer to give KU life in overtime the last time these two played in Lawrence. Monday it's going down in Ames, Iowa. Game time set for 8 p.m. Kansas (23-4) is coming off a blowout win over TCU, Saturday in Lawrence. Doubtful if the game with Iowa State will be nearly as lopsided. Kansas won 97-89 but needed overtime to do it. Iowa State has won 22 straight home games at Hilton Coliseum and beat Kansas 72-64 last season in Ames.

This is the first matchup between the Wildcats and Cyclones in Ames since 2007, which happens to be the last time that Iowa St. beat KSU.  Sure, the 'Cats may have won four straight in this series, but they've won those game by an average margin of six points.  Another close game is expected on Saturday, especially since the game is expected to be played in heavy rain. A soggy field would seem to benefit K-State which boasts the 9 th best rushing attack in the country, but Iowa State wants to run the ball as well.  Interestingly, the game features two of the stingiest scoring defenses in the Big 12.  The Cyclones will need it, as the Wildcats come in as the nation's 11 th highest scoring team, throw in a clear advantage in the kicking game and you've got a 6 ½ point favorite on the road.

I actually like KU's Adidas uniforms they're wearing at the Big 12 Tournament, I'm not sure I want to see them every day.   I know I don't want to see Notre Dame's ever again; I wouldn't use them to line my cat litter. KU-K-State I would bet against both of them reaching the final in Kansas City, but I hope they do.  I'm not sure why Bruce Weber continues to open his mouth, but what comes out of it seems to be fueling some fire.  The Kansas State Coach told a reporter that he'd hoped to celebrate Kansas State's basketball title a week ago, but that bad officiating in the Iowa State - Kansas game took care of that.  After the rivals both lost last weekend, they ended up sharing the title - something that KSU has celebrated widely, while KU, with nine of them in a row, has barely noticed---barely.  That KU players and even Bill Self are reacting to it shows that Weber is getting under their skin - a little.   I'm pretty sure that's a good thing for a rivalry that's been one in mane only for far too long.  You can't tell me that KU fan doesn't want to get KSU one more time---just to reacquaint them with the pecking order.  That would make Sunday interesting, even though both team's tickets to the NCAA have long been punched.

Coach Bill Self is really fun to watch when he's coaching.  When he's angry he gets so red in the face and when he's nervous, he wrings his hands over and over until it seems they're going to blister.  One new tic I've noticed with Self is that when he watches  his son play, he chews on his pinky fingernail over and over.  That should tell you something about Thursday's Kansas game:  Tyler Self got playing time. Not exactly what you'd expect in conference tournament time but this was Kansas versus Texas Tech.  Not exactly a huge surprise either.

Iowa State senior guard Will Clyburn was very frank after the Cyclones' win over Oklahoma on Thursday:  "I want some payback," said Clyburn.  He was referring to his teams overtime loss to Kansas in Ames earlier this season.  A loss that was marred by what the Cyclones faithful saw as poor officiating. Only it wasn't just officiating that has the Cyclones wanting revenge.  Elijah Johnson's breakway dunk in the final seconds of that game in Ames, when it was already decided, was tantamount to him giving Iowa State the middle finger.  Well, at least it was in the Cyclones' players and fans eyes.

You aren't alone in thinking that there were some questionable calls at the end of last night's Kansas vs Iowa State game.  This afternoon the Big 12 conference released a statement acknowledging the fact that their referee's missed a few calls.  The statement from the conference is as follows: The Big 12 Conference acknowledges that officiating errors were made at the end of regulation during last night's Kansas at Iowa State...

While Kansas is battling it out with Iowa State to keep it's grasp on first place in the Big 12, it looks like K-State will be having an easier time with Texas Tech. Riding an eight game losing skid, the Red Raiders come to Manhattan for a game with redhot K-State, Monday night. Tip off set for 6 p.m. Iowa State or Texas Tech? Who do you think will have the easier game Monday night? K-State (22-5) whipped Texas Saturday night in Austin for it's third straight win. The Wildcats remain in a tie for first place in the Big 12 standings with KU. The Wildcats last won a regular season conference title in 1976-77 in the Big 8. Rodney McGruder scored 20 points and Angel Rodriguez dropped in 16 against the 'Horns.

Iowa State was really close to getting on KU's Revenge Tour list this season. The Cyclones were a couple buckets away and Ben McLemore's amazing bank shot three-pointer to give KU life in overtime the last time these two played in Lawrence. Monday it's going down in Ames, Iowa. Game time set for 8 p.m. Kansas (23-4) is coming off a blowout win over TCU, Saturday in Lawrence. Doubtful if the game with Iowa State will be nearly as lopsided. Kansas won 97-89 but needed overtime to do it. Iowa State has won 22 straight home games at Hilton Coliseum and beat Kansas 72-64 last season in Ames.

Rodney McGruder scored 22 points and Angel Rodriguez added 20 as No. 13 Kansas State knocked off Iowa State 79-70 to take sole possession of first place in the Big 12. Korie Lucious led the Cyclones (16-7, 6-4) with 16 points and reserve Tyrus McGee had 15. The Wildcats (19-4, 8-2) held a slim 33-32 lead at the break in a game that remained close most of the way. With 9:10 remaining, Kansas State led 61-52. In response to a pair of Iowa State baskets, Gipson and Rodriguez both scored and put the Wildcats up 65-55 - the first double-digit lead of the game.