Peterson: Iowa State-Texas is about more than one player, it's Cyclones vs. Longhorns
AMES – There’s more to Iowa State against Texas on Tuesday than the return of Tyrese Hunter.
Sure, the Cyclone-turned-Longhorn is a major storyline. Intriguing stuff like that always is, a player coming back to play in front of fans who embraced him for five months.
He helped T.J. Otzelberger’s first Iowa State team get to the Sweet 16. He said after the NCAA Tournament that he’d help his coach recruit players for the next season. And then, boom, he’s a Longhorn.
Transferring happens. It will continue happening.
Believe it or not, he’s not the only story to watch in the 7 p.m. game at Hilton Coliseum (ESPN+, subscription required).
The focus from a team standpoint will be about getting back into the win column after Saturday’s two-point loss at Kansas, not on the player who transferred from one Big 12 Conference program to another.
More:Former Cyclone Tyrese Hunter set to make his Ames return for Texas Longhorns
More:Peterson: Iowa State can't let Saturday's one-score loss vs. Kansas turn into something major
The team is focused on Gabe Kalscheur’s all-around play, on emerging freshman Demarion Watson, on Caleb Grill and Jaren Holmes doing their things, and on Osun Osunniyi’s continued solid play in the post.
And let’s not forget true freshman point guard Tamin Lipsey, who is handling himself quite well for a team that’s 4-1 in the Big 12, 13-3 overall.
Remember, the former Ames High star wouldn’t be playing as much if Hunter would have stayed.
I called Lipsey on the Sunday after Iowa State lost against Miami in the Sweet 16. After Hunter had told me he was looking forward to playing alongside Lipsey, I wanted Lipsey’s comments on playing with the Big 12’s freshman of the year.
“Defensively, he’s very aggressive,” Lipsey told me last March. “He’s got an eye for the ball. We’re similar. We’ll be a good defensive duo. Offensively, he’s super quick. I played pickup with him a while back, and he was tough to guard.
“I think we can mesh very well. Having two guys on the court that can handle the ball — that’ll make it easier on our team and bother the opponent. One person doesn’t always have to be in charge.”
That’s changed. Tuesday night, Lipsey will be focused on doing what he’s been successful doing, regardless of who’s guarding him.
“Maybe fans will see it a different way, but us as players − we look at each opponent the same way,” Lipsey said after practice Monday. “If they’re not wearing our jersey, then they’re going against us.”
The Iowa State rookie’s role is something to watch Tuesday. Game tempo will be significant. The Longhorns average 74 possessions a game, while the Cyclones average 68.
“When they get out and go and play their style, they’re really good,” Grill said. “We’ve got to do a good job slowing them down, and making them have longer possessions – like we’ve been playing all year.
“If we let them play their style, it’s not going to fit us.”
That’s Iowa State’s focus, as it should be, not on getting even with someone who wanted to play elsewhere. That stuff happens. It’s the transfer portal era. It’s the NIL era.
Kansas had just 64 possessions last Saturday, its second-lowest against a Big 12 opponent this season. That’s where Otzelberger’s team’s mind was on Monday.
“We were a little on our heels at the start against Kansas,” Lipsey said.
There’s also an emphasis on keeping the 6-foot-10 Osunniyi offensively engaged. Like at Kansas, where he scored 14 points, on 7-of-10 shooting.
“Shune has continued to get more multiple effort plays defensively, and when you’re the aggressor on the defensive end, it gives you more of an aggressive mindset offensively,” Otzelberger said. “He had that Saturday. We were able to hit him on the short roll, pocket passes, and around the foul line. He finished plays at the rim. He’s a very skilled offensive player.”
That’s where an effort has been since Saturday’s loss, not on worrying about Hunter's return to Ames. Otzelberger mentioned the names of only two Texas players during 10 minutes or so with the media – ball-dominant Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen.
“They want to get up the court in transition and play fast, so transition defense is important,” Otzelberger said. “Carr (17.5 points a game) is a dynamic scorer. He can score in bunches, so always having great awareness to him is important.
“Allen has been a great isolation player. Having an awareness to him is important as well.”
This game also is important, given the Longhorns are ranked seventh by the coaches, and Iowa State is 12th. Both are significant in the all-important NET ranking − the Cyclones ranking 10th, while Texas is 11th. Both were projected as No. 3-seeds on ESPN’s most recent NCAA bracketology.
“We focus on what’s in front of us,” Otzelberger said. “Right now, everything is in front of us for our season. We know we play in a great league. The good thing is, there’s not such a thing, probably, as a bad loss, and every win you get is a good win.”
Bottom line: At least for the team, Tuesday’s game is bigger than any one player, regardless of who that player is.
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State against Texas is a game loaded with intriguing storylines
