Sweet 16 Primer: No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 23 Tennessee

Who: [2] Iowa State (29-7, 12-6 Big 12) vs. [6] Tennessee (24-11, 11-7 SEC)

Where: United Center (20,917) – Chicago, Ill.

When: Friday, March 27, 2026 – 9:10 p.m. CT

Watch: TBS // Andrew Catalon (PxP), Steve Lappas (Analyst) & Evan Washburn (Reporter)

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

Tipping Off:
In the 25th NCAA Tournament in school history, No. 6 Iowa State is making its eighth Sweet 16 appearance and the third under Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger in the last five years. Iowa State is one of 11 teams in the Sweet 16 that have been in at least three of the last five Sweet 16s. The Cyclones are 0-3 all-time in the United Center, having faced Duke in 2010, while playing the 2016 and 2022 Sweet 16s in the house that Jordan built.

Iowa State will play its second-straight contest against an SEC program on Friday, as it is coming off a 19-point drubbing of Kentucky in the Round of 32. Through two games, ISU's average margin of victory has been 26.5 points. A win would give ISU a 30-win season for the second time ever.

No. 23 Tennessee is making its fourth-consecutive Sweet 16 appearance after grabbing a seven-point upset victory over three-seed Virginia in the Round of 32. The Volunteers will aim to advance to their third Elite Eight in a row on Friday evening.

Storylines:

Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 51 straight weeks, the fourth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 125, 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.
- He has been named a finalist for the Karl Malone award.
- 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.
- Jefferson has earned multiple All-American honors after the regular season's conclusion, most notably being named a Second Team AP All-American.
Milan Momcilovic has been the nation's best marksman this season, as the junior leads the country in 3-point percentage and makes.
- He has been named a finalist for the Julius Erving award.
- Momcilovic has seven 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 223-115 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 124-52 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 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 Big 12 Tournament win over No. 16 Texas Tech, Iowa State now has 30 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is tied for the sixth-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 five postseason appearances, Otzelberger has seven NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
The Cyclones are ranked No. 6 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 7 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 6 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Tennessee and Iowa State and the first in the NCAA Tournament. UT holds a 2-1 series lead.
- ISU has played Tennessee on a neutral floor just once, back in 1977 in Tempe, losing 81-76.
Tennessee is one of three schools (Houston and Alabama being the others) that can say they have been to four-straight Sweet 16s.
Tennessee became the first team in the 64/68-team era (since 1985) to play a 30-win opponent in both the Round of 64 and the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
After beating No. 9 Virginia, the Volunteers are now 3-0 versus AP top-11 teams this season, owning prior wins over third-ranked Houston (Nov. 25 in Las Vegas) and No. 11 Louisville (Dec. 16 at home).
Tennessee Head Coach Rick Barnes is in his 11th year at the helm of the Volunteer program. Barnes has been a head coach for 39 years, with stops at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas.
- Barnes is no stranger to Iowa State. Barnes spent 17 years as the Head Coach at Texas, where he went 15-9 against the Cyclones.
- Barnes has played ISU just once as the coach at Tennessee, winning in Hilton in 2018, 68-45.
- Barnes now owns 860 victories in his career, still good for second place among all active Division I head coaches and for No. 10 all-time.
- Barnes' 14 NCAA Tournament wins at Tennessee are six more than any other coach in program history, while his eight appearances are two more.
The Volunteers are ranked No. 20 in the NET. Tennessee is No. 14 in KenPom and No. 11 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Sweet 16 Primer: No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 23 Tennessee

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Sweet 16 Primer: No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 23 Tennessee

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