A pair of top-ranked defenses square off when West Virginia and No. 3 Iowa State open Big 12 play on Friday in Ames, Iowa.
The Mountaineers (9-4) are No. 5 in scoring defense nationally, allowing 60.2 points per game. Iowa State (13-0) checks in at No. 9 with 62.8 ppg allowed.
Where the teams separate is on offense. The Cyclones have a high-octane attack that averages 90.4 points. The 27-point difference puts Iowa State No. 3 nationally in scoring margin. West Virginia averages 76.2 points per game, tied for 214th, resulting in the No. 38 scoring margin.
Propelled by Joshua Jefferson (18.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg), who leads the team in scoring and rebounding, Iowa State is one win from matching the best start in school history set by the 2013-14 team.
Milan Momcilovic (17.9 ppg) is second in scoring and connects on 53.8% of his 3-point attempts. Tamin Lipsey (14.2) and Killyan Toure (11.0) also score in double figures for coach T.J. Otzelberger’s hard-nosed group.
Virginia transfer Blake Buchanan (9.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) has fit right into Otzelberger’s program ethos.
“When we set out to recruit guys, we talk about how hard this is going to be,” Otzelberger said. “The adversity they’ll face and how every single day they are going to have to bring their best, whether they are sick, tired or sore, we are right back to work.”
But it’s Jefferson’s steady hand on and off the court that has impressed Otzelberger. Iowa State rolled to an 89-61 win over Houston Christian on Monday, led by Jefferson’s 23 points and eight rebounds.
“The leadership and character he shows in all aspects really stands out,” Otzelberger said. “He’s taken a huge step. We continue to ask more of him and he continues to deliver.”
For the Mountaineers, leading scorer Honor Huff (17.5 ppg) is second nationally with 4.08 3-pointers made per game. First-year coach Ross Hodge said the Mountaineers have acclimated to their offensive sets and recognize where to find the right shots.
“Our guys put a lot of work and time in,” Hodge said. “They’re probably a little more comfortable with everything that’s going on and understanding where we want the shots to come from as a group.”
Leading rebounder Chance Moore (6.1 rpg) didn’t play in the Mountaineers’ 86-51 win over Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 22. The St. Bonaventure transfer is second in scoring at 12.3 points, but didn’t “feel good in warmups,” according to Hodge.
Treysen Eaglestaff led the Mountaineers with 23 points against the Delta Devils as both he and Huff connected on 4 of 10 three-point attempts.
The Mountaineers drained 12 of 27 3-point attempts, yet Hodge doesn’t have a set amount of deep shots for the team to attempt each game.
“There’s not a number (of threes) you quantify,” Hodge said. “If someone is giving you a shot … some of it is taking the shot they are giving you with confidence.”
–Field Level Media
