Iowa State Basketball Disrespected in Sweet Sixteen Rankings

“The Cyclones might struggle against the best teams in the field if Jefferson doesn't return. But when their hometown hero is good, they'll always have a chance,” Medcalf wrote.

The hometown hero he is referring to is point guard Tamin Lipsey. A senior point guard, he has helped rally the troops despite their All-Big 12 forward being out of the lineup, setting the tone on both ends of the floor and stuffing the stat sheet.

Against the Tigers, Lipsey battled foul trouble and wasn’t very impactful. But when facing Kentucky, he was the best player on the court.

He scored a career-high 26 points while handing out 10 assists for the fourth double-double of his career. Five steals were added, helping the Cyclones force 20 turnovers against the Wildcats to break their will.

As long as Lipsey is playing at that level, Iowa State is going to be hard to beat. Guard play is paramount at this point in the season, and head coach T.J. Otzelberger has to feel confident knowing he might have the best one every time his team takes the court.

Don’t forget about sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic as well. The best 3-point shooter in the country, his presence on the court is integral to the team’s offensive game plan coming together due to the gravity he possesses.

Teams have to pay attention to him once the Cyclones get over halfcourt. He is in range the second he steps into the gym.

With a strong supporting cast of Blake Buchanan, Nate Heise, Killyan Toure, Jamarion Batemon, Dominick Nelson and Dominykas Pleta, this is still a very dangerous team even without Jefferson in the fold.