The Iowa State Cyclones try to make it eight in a row tonight at Texas A&M. The Cyclones improved to 7-5 in the Big-12 after Saturday’s thrilling overtime win at second ranked Kansas and will now play an Aggie team that is 16-7 under first year coach Billy Gillispie. Cyclone coach Wayne Morgan says Gillespi has done a good job and deserves all the accolades he’s been given. The Aggies are 5-7 in the Big-12 after going 0-16 a year ago. At 15-8 overall, the Cyclones are in the NCAA hunt with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Morgan says the focus has to be on this game and when that’s over, win or lose, the focus will move to the next game. He says that’s the way it has to be if they’re going to make it into the tournament.
A key in recent weeks has been the play of guard Curtis Stinson who hit the game winning shot at Kansas and was named the Big-12 player of the week. Morgan says Stinson has shown great leadership by example and says he can also verbally get on other players if they’re not doing the job. He says the others on the team draw confidence and inspiration from Stinson.
Gillispie says the Cyclones’ run has been impressive, and says he doesn’t know of any other team that’s done as much. Gillispie says you have to be strong with the basketball against Iowa State. He says they do a great job with their hands and have the strongest hands in the league and get a lot of loose balls.
A&M is 16-7 overall.