Iowa State Hosts Arizona in Key Big 12 Basketball Showdown

Ames, Iowa — In a crucial clash in the Big 12 men’s basketball conference, the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats will face off against the No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones this Saturday, March 1. With both teams vying for top-four seeds in the upcoming conference tournament, this game has significant implications for their NCAA Tournament aspirations.

The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET at Hilton Coliseum, where Iowa State looks to regain its footing after suffering back-to-back losses. The Cyclones, currently holding a record of 19-9 overall and 13-4 in conference play, are two games ahead of Arizona, which stands at 21-7 with an 11-6 conference record.

Houston has already clinched the Big 12 title and the top seed in the tournament, but the battle for seeds two through four is intensifying. Both Arizona and Iowa State need strong finishes to secure favorable positions, enhancing their chances in the NCAA Tournament. CBS Sports has projected Arizona as a No. 5 seed while Iowa State is currently slotted at No. 4.

Iowa State is dealing with injury woes, missing leading scorer Keshon Gilbert in its last two games, which were tough road losses to Houston and Oklahoma State. Gilbert remains a game-time decision for Saturday, adding an element of uncertainty for the Cyclones.

On the other side of the court, Arizona enters the matchup on a positive note, having secured a dominant 83-66 victory at home against Utah earlier this week. The Wildcats previously faced Iowa State on Jan. 27, where they triumphed 86-75 after an overtime battle. Remarkably, Arizona last played at Hilton Coliseum in 1983—the very venue where it was the first opponent faced by Iowa State back in 1971.

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives Iowa State a 61.1% chance to win the matchup, and the Cyclones are favored by 5.5 points according to betting lines. As the season nears its end, every game becomes critical, and this contest is expected to produce high stakes and intense competition.

Fans can catch the live broadcast of the game on ESPN or stream it through various platforms including the ESPN app, Sling, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu, and YouTube TV. For local radio broadcasts, listeners can tune into Arizona Sports Enterprises or the respective Iowa State channel.

The anticipation is palpable as both teams gear up for what could be a pivotal evening in the Big 12 landscape.