PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State at No. 2 Arizona

Who: Iowa State (24-5, 11-5 Big 12) at Arizona (27-2, 14-2 Big 12)

Where: McKale Center at ALKEME Arena (14,688) – Tucson, Ariz.

When: Monday, March 2, 2026 – 8 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Jon Sciambi (PxP) & Fran Fraschilla (Analyst)

Listen: Cyclone Radio Network // John Walters (PxP) & Eric Heft (Analyst)

Tipping Off: Iowa State will head to Arizona this Monday for its final road game of the season. The Cyclones and Wildcats will square off in a top-ten tilt on the final Big Monday of the season.

The Cyclones enter Monday night's contest coming off of their first home loss of the season to No. 16 Texas Tech. Both the Cyclones and Wildcats have lost at home to TTU this season.

Arizona enters Monday night's contest riding a four-game winning streak. In fact, the Wildcats' last loss was against TTU at home. UA dominated No. 14 Kansas at home last time out to move to a league-best record of 27-2.

Storylines:

Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 49 straight weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 123, which is the longest streak in the country.
- The Cyclones and Cougars are the only two Big 12 schools to have streaks of at least 30 weeks.
In five seasons under Coach Otzelberger, the Cyclones have been known for their defense, as they have ranked as a top-15 unit in the country each year, and 2025-26 is no different (according to KenPom defensive rating).
The Cyclones had three players named to the Naismith Starting Five Midseason Top 10 Watch lists – Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson.
Joshua Jefferson has recorded two triple-doubles this season, tied for the most in the country.
- Jefferson became the first player in program history to have multiple triple-doubles in a career.
- He is just the third Big 12 player with multiple triple-doubles, but is the first to accomplish both in conference games.
Milan Momcilovic has been the nation's best marksman this season, as the junior leads the country in 3-point percentage.
- Momcilovic has six 25-plus point games so far this season for ISU.
Tamin Lipsey holds the most steals in program history and is in the top three in Big 12 history for career steals.
- He holds the most wins against Big 12 opponents by any active player.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 218-113 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 119-50 record over the last four years.
- He earned his 100th win at Iowa State against HOF coach Rick Pitino and No. 14 St. John's in the Players Era Championship opener on Nov. 24.
  - He was the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
- He then earned his 200th win over his mentor and former head coach Greg McDermott on Nov. 25.
- His 118 wins are the most in the first five years in ISU history.
- Otz is the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
With its home win over No. 2 Houston, Iowa State now has 29 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is the fifth-most in the nation during that stretch.
Otz has led Iowa State to four 20-plus win seasons, joining Orr (5) and Hoiberg (4) as the only ISU coaches to do so four-plus times.
Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men's basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- In four postseason appearances, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
As of Sunday, the Cyclones are ranked No. 10 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 8 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 8 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the 10th all-time meeting between Iowa State and Arizona. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 5-4, and is 3-1 at home against the Cyclones.
- The teams met twice last season, splitting the contests at one apiece.
Under Tommy Lloyd, Arizona is 30-15 against Top 25 opponents, tied for UConn for the best winning percentage in the country.
- This year, Arizona is 9-2 against ranked foes.
Lloyd has 139 wins as a head coach and is currently tied with former Butler coach Brad Stevens for the most wins through a coach's first five seasons in NCAA history.
Arizona is 13-2 in Quad 1 games this season. The 13 wins are the most in the country.
The Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the preseason conference poll, a year after finishing tied for third last season with a 14-6 record.
Arizona Head Coach Tommy Lloyd is in his fifth year at the helm of the Wildcat program. Lloyd is 139-35 with UA, which is his only stop as a head coach.
- Lloyd was a 20-year assistant with Mark Few at Gonzaga prior to getting the Arizona head coaching gig.
As of Sunday, the Wildcats are ranked No. 3 in the NET. Arizona is No. 3 in KenPom and No. 3 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State at No. 2 Arizona

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PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State at No. 2 Arizona

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