Big 12 Quarterfinals Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

Who: [5] Iowa State (26-6, 12-6 Big 12) vs. [4] Texas Tech (22-9, 12-6 Big 12)

Where: T-Mobile Center (18,000) – Kansas City, Mo.

When: Thursday, March 12, 2026 – 11:30 a.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Dan Shulman (PxP), Jay Bilas (Analyst) & Kris Budden (Reporter)

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

Tipping Off: A ticket to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals will be on the line, as Iowa State is set for a rematch with Texas Tech on Thursday morning. The Cyclones will look to avenge their only home loss of the season against the Red Raiders.

Iowa State's 2026 Big 12 Tournament debut was historic, as the Cyclones plastered Arizona State in a 49-point drubbing. The win was the largest margin of victory in Big 12 Tournament history.

Texas Tech's last win came against ISU in Ames, as the Red Raiders dropped their final two games of the regular season to TCU and at BYU. TTU has made the semifinals in each of the last two seasons and will look to make it three in a row.

Storylines:

Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 50 straight weeks, the fourth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 124, 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 honored in the Big 12 postseason awards. Joshua Jefferson was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Milan Momcilovic to the Second Team, and Tamin Lipsey earned All-Defensive, Second Team and Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.
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 220-114 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 121-51 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.
Iowa State has won 25 or more games for just the seventh time in program history.
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 Wednesday, the Cyclones are ranked No. 8 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 7 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the 48th all-time meeting between Iowa State and Texas Tech. ISU leads the all-time series, 24-23, and has won three of the last five.
- The Red Raiders are 2-1 in neutral-site games against ISU.
Like Milan Momcilovic, Texas Tech's Donovan Atwell set TTU's single-season 3-point record this season.
- The two lead the conference in 3-pointers made. Atwell has 121 and Momcilovic has 118.
Texas Tech lost 2024-25 Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin to a season-ending injury on Feb. 17. At the time, Toppin led the country in field goals (226) and was Top 10 in double-doubles (16), rebounds per game (10.8), and points per game (21.8).
- Toppin, along with teammate Christian Anderson, was named to the Wooden Award Top 20. They were the only teammates to make the list.
The Red Raiders were picked to finish third in the preseason conference poll, a year after finishing second with a 15-5 record.
Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland is in his third year at the helm of the Red Raider program. McCasland is 72-29 with TTU and is 284-118 overall in his 12-year head coaching career, which began at D-II Midwestern State and includes stops at both Arkansas State and North Texas.
- McCasland has led Tech to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons. Last year, the Red Raiders finished 28-9, earned a No. 3 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time ever.

As of Wednesday, the Red Raiders are ranked No. 15 in the NET. Texas Tech is No. 17 in KenPom and No. 18 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Big 12 Quarterfinals Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

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Big 12 Quarterfinals Primer: No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

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