Saturday, December 31st, 2022

 Well, 2022 was a pretty fun year I would say.  In February we took the family to Orlando, where we enjoyed a week at Universal Studios.  In June, Elizabeth and I enjoyed an adventure in Europe, where we spent time in Belgium and the Netherlands.  Of course, I always enjoy the ISU sports season, which is why I am blogging today...

Eben came down to today's game with me, and we witnessed the Cyclones convincing 77-62 triumph over the #12 ranked Baylor Bears! It had been quite a while since dad has come down to a basketball game with me.  The previous game was ISU's victory over TCU in 2020.  I haven't exactly kept track of the conference basketball games that Eben has attended with me as closely as I have tracked my kids' games.  I know that dad has also seen wins against Kansas in 2019, Texas in 2017, and Texas Tech in 2016 and 2015. 

As for today's game, Gabe Kalscheur was the player of the game, as he led the team with 23 points and connected on 5 threes.  He was joined in double-figures scoring by Caleb Grill (18) and Jaren Holmes (10).  Today's game was a sell-out, and it got pretty loud in the second half when ISU started to put the game away.  

This was the seventh time that I have seen ISU play Baylor in basketball, and it was the 4th win.  Iowa State was also victorious in 2018, 2017, and in 2013.  The Bears ended up winning in 2022, 2019, and 2015.  

Go Cyclones!!

Sunday, December 18th, 2022

 We are now down to 7 days until Christmas!

Today I was able to take Maxwell over to Hilton, where we watched the Iowa State Cyclones defeat the Broncos of Western Michigan, 73-57.  This marks the 21st time that I have taken Maxwell to a men's basketball game.  This was the third game that Maxwell has been to so far this year (Milwaukee and North Carolina A&T were the others). Western Michigan is a university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and they compete in the MAC (Mid-American Conference).  

As for the game, it is worth noting that this was the first game that Tre King was eligible to play as a Cyclone.  King transferred from Georgetown during the middle of last year, so he had to sit out the first semester this year.  I would say that Caleb Grill was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team with 14 points.  Grill was joined in double-figures scoring by Tre King (11), Gabe Kalscheur (11), Jaren Holmes (10), and Robert Jones (10).  

Iowa State 73, Western Michigan 57.  

Sunday, December 4th, 2022

 Today I took Nolan over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Iowa State Cyclones defeat the St. John's Red Storm, 71-60.  St. John's plays in the Big East Conference, and today's game was part of the Big 12 / Big East Challenge.

The Cyclones never trailed in the game, as they got out to a 22-5 lead with about 8 and a half minutes left to play in the first half.  St. John's actually did not make a field goal for the first 10 minutes of the game!  Coming into the game today, Iowa State was ranked #23 in the country.  St. John's was not ranked, but they were undefeated at 8-0 before today.  

I would say that Caleb Grill was the player of the game for ISU.  He only scored 7 points, but he added 10 rebounds and 5 steals, and he played 34 minutes of solid defense for the Cyclones.  The double-figure scorers for ISU were Jaren Holmes (14), Aljaz Kunc (12), and Robert Jones (11).  

Today was the 28th time that Nolan has been to a men's basketball game.  

I had to make a lovely edit to this picture, because the scoreboard lights did not show in the original picture.