The 17th ranked Iowa State basketball team is headed to Hawaii to take part in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. The Cyclones are 8-0 and will take on George Mason in the opening round on Sunday afternoon. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg says the field for the tournament is very good from top to bottom.
George Mason enters the tournament with a record of 5-4. “It’s a team that has a lot of experience that won 24 games a year ago. We’re excited for the challenge,” Hoiberg says. George Mason is averaging 66 points per game but Hoiberg says it is a team that will run if given the opportunity. Hoiberg says they also do a good job defensively with their press and try to get you going in a hurry.
With three games in four days depth will be more of a factor. “The number one thing obviously is taking care of business, if you can find a way to get your guys some rest…I do plan on using a couple guys who haven’t played a lot of minutes, who have really been giving us some good play in practice. So everybody’s got to be ready and I think they will,” Hoiberg says.
The Cyclones will play either Oregon State or Akron in the second round.