Iowa State men's basketball is getting a lift from its surprisingly effective offense
AMES – Iowa State knew it would need – and suspected it could get – an elite-level defense this season if it hoped to replicate some semblance of last year’s surprising Sweet 16 success.
That’s exactly what they’ve gotten near the midpoint of the year, with a defensive attack that ranks among the best in the country for the second consecutive year.
What that preseason presumption assumed, though, was that the Cyclone defense was going to need to be elite because its offense would lag so far behind.
That, so far, has not come to fruition.
Iowa State has built its 13-2 record and a 4-0 start in Big 12 play not only on a ferocious defense, but also on a surprisingly effective offense.
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“Everyone is playing for one another,” senior Caleb Grill said, “and we’re doing a really good job sharing the ball, taking the right shots on offense.
“We don’t take a lot of bad shots.”
Shot selection does indeed appear to be key for No. 14 Iowa State, which will put its undefeated Big 12 record on the line Saturday at No. 2 Kansas (3 p.m.; ESPN+). The Cyclones rank No. 1 in effective field goal percentage, during Big 12 play, and they have the third-most efficient offense in the conference.
Last season, when Iowa State finished 171st nationally and ninth in the Big 12 in offense, the Cyclones had six players average at least two attempts from 3-point range per game. As many of those six shot above 36% as those who shot under 28%.
This season, Iowa State has just four players averaging more than two 3s per game and all four are shooting above 33%. Three of the four are at 37% or higher.
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"Our guys have pride to play well and win,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelebrger said. “We’ve got a lot of weapons out there. A lot of guys that can bring something to the table. Nobody has to stomach all the scoring load.
“Our guys are very intentional about trying to get the best shot for our team every possession.”
In addition to limiting 3-point shot attempts to those best suited to make them, Iowa State is also getting considerably more consistency from Gabe Kalscheur. The fifth-year senior shot just 23.5% on 4.9 long-range shots per game last year, but is shooting 33.3% on 5.6 this season.
Getting close to break-even 3-point shooting (usually considered 35%) from Kalscheur is a huge plus for Iowa State, but getting him consistently scoring is an even bigger development. He scored in double figures in just five league games a year ago, and he only managed the feat in back-to-back games once.
He has scored in double figures in three of four Big 12 games this season (scoring 9 in the other) and has gotten into double figures in six of the last seven games for Iowa State. Kalscheur is shooting 53.5% inside the arc this season, up from 48.8 last year.
“He’s earning it, and I love seeing how aggressive he’s playing out there,” Otzelberger said. “It’s a great feeling because he’s not just predicated on making a jump shot. He’s able to rip and drive and attack the closeout. He’s able to cut, find a way to the basket. Run a lane in transition. Get to the foul line. Get to the mid-range. His floater got him going last game.
“He’s got all those aspects to his game that he works on. It’s great to see all of them showing up for him on game nights.”
How long Iowa State can sustain at this level offensively remains to be seen. It seems unlikely they’ll be able to continue shooting 43.6% on 3s as they have in Big 12 play. There are signs, though, that the Cyclones can at least hover around the average, or a little better, in that regard. That's all they really need with such a dynamic defense.
Shot selection, an offensive rebounding philosophy that has been effective and a shared burden suggests that this team won’t have to ride the feast or famine from a year ago. Tamin Lipsey’s spread-it-around point guard play and Jaren Holmes’ steady production means Iowa State may not have to simply rely on its defense holding teams to season-lows every single night.
“There’s going to be different things we can utilize, different strengths we have depending on our opponent," Otzelberger said, "and we need to continue to take advantage of those.”
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cyclones getting more than expected from itss offense amid 4-0 start
