Saturday, February 25th, 2023

 Well, today I took Maxwell with me to Hilton, where we watched the #23 ranked Cyclones drop a game vs Oklahoma, 61-50.  Iowa State has really been in a slump recently, as they have lost 7 of their last 9 games.  Not exactly the way you want to be playing heading into March...

I believe that this was the 24th basketball game that I have taken Maxwell to.  He still has not seen ISU defeat the Sooners.  Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech are the other conference teams that he still needs to see the Cyclones defeat.  

As for today's game, the Cyclones were leading by 5 points at halftime, but for a large portion of the second half their offense completely stalled.  I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he scored 10 points and had 4 steals.  Gabe Kalscheur was the only other Cyclone in double figures today, with 12.  

Today was the 9th time that I have seen ISU play Oklahoma, and it is only the second time that the Sooners have won.  ISU was victorious in 2022, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.  The only other game that OU won was back in 2003.  

Overall this year I attended 11 men's basketball games.  ISU won nine of those and lost the last two.  I was happy that I was able to cross Kansas off of the list of teams that Nolan needed to see Iowa State defeat, and it was fun to cross Texas off of that list for Maxwell.  

Wins:

• Kansas
• Texas
• Baylor
• Western Michigan
• St. John's
• North Dakota
• UW-Milwaukee
• North Carolina A&T
• IUPUI

Losses:

• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State

Saturday, February 11th, 2023

 Today Eben came down to visit and brought us some meat from a beef that took to the locker recently.  We ordered Pizza Pit for lunch (one sausage and one Canadian bacon / pineapple pizza).  Nolan proclaimed after trying it that pineapple does not belong on pizza.  We then spent some time watching old home movies that Eben had made.  Those were the highlights of the day.

I also took Eben over to Hilton today, but unfortunately it was a stinker of a basketball game, as #11 Iowa State fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 64-56.  The Cyclones shot poorly from the free throw line, hitting only 9-19.  I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for ISU, as he had 12 points and 6 rebounds.  The only other Cyclone in double digits scoring was Aljaz Kunc (13).  

Today was the 9th time that I have attended a basketball game between the Cyclones and Cowboys.  Iowa State has won 6 of those games (2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, and 2013).  

Saturday, February 4th, 2023

 LET'S GO CYCLONES!!

Today Nolan and I were able to watch an exciting win by the #13 Cyclones, as they defeated the #8 Kansas Jayhawks, 68-53.  

This was the 29th time that I have taken Nolan to a men's basketball game, and it was his 11th conference game.  After today's win, the only Big 12 team that he has not seen Iowa State defeat in person is the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  The other conference wins that Nolan has attended are: West Virginia in 2022, Oklahoma in 2022, Texas in 2020, Baylor in 2018, Texas Tech in 2017, Kansas State in 2016, and TCU in 2014.  

Today was the seventh time I have attended an ISU / Kansas basketball game, and it was Iowa State's third win.  The other games where I saw the Cyclones defeat the Jayhawks were in 2019 and in 2015.  

As for today's game, I would say that Jaren Holmes was the player of the game, as he led the team with 15 points.  He connected on 4 of 6 from three point range.  Holmes was joined in double figures scoring by Osun Osunniyi (13) and Tre King (10).  The Cyclones forced 20 Jayhawk turnovers, compared to only 10 for Iowa State.  

Today's game was "Gold Rules", and there were golden pop-poms on every seat.

GO CYCLONES!!