Peterson: Thoughts on Iowa State basketball blowout win include Tamin Lipsey's career game
AMES – Tamin Lipsey spent the summer working on his jump shot. He was in the gym at the crack of dawn. He was there when the sun went down. He was there at all times in between.
After two games, the most recent of which was his career night in Thursday’s 102-47 Iowa State victory over Lindenwood at Hilton Coliseum, that determination to improve his shot is paying off.
"Watch how he walks, how he talks, how he treats people, how he conducts himself in the classroom," Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said after his team improved to 2-0. "Everything he does is about leadership. It’s winning."
"You couldn't say enough about what he does on a daily basis for our team."
Lipsey’s shooting improvement is proven by the statistics:
The former Ames High School star made 8 of his 11 shots and scored 21 points before departing for good with 7 minutes to play Thursday, including 1-of-2 from 3-point range. On Monday against Green Bay, he was 4-of-8 (including 2-for-2 from deep), en route to 12 points.
"It feels good to have a lot of confidence on the court," Lipsey said after the game. "That time I spent in the offseason, lots of (the) work wasn't easy. The days were hard, but it was all worth it.,"
Buzzer-beating shots are getting to be Milan Momcilovic’s thing
He did it with an off-balance bank shot from the right of the basket in the season opener. He did it again Thursday with a fall-away bucket at the top of the key with just a couple seconds left in the first half. He’s got to have one of the softest, hard-to-defend step-back shots in the Big 12.
More: Peterson: What can Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic do for an encore? Score in the paint
The 6-foot-8 freshman had 11 first-half points, and his baskets included making a 3-pointer, a mid-range basket and a basket from just outside the paint. Yeah, the dude has game.
For the game, he scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He made buckets from everywhere on the floor.
And blowouts continued
Who’s got next, during this Iowa State men’s basketball early-season romp past non-conference opponents that, so far, have been outclassed in every way possible?
That’d be Idaho State, at noon Sunday, and maybe the Bengals will give the talented Cyclones some competition. They certainly haven’t had it yet. And by the way, Evan Eustachy is an Idaho State assistant. He’s the son of former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy.
The Cyclones have beaten their first two opponents by a combined score of 187-91, including Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum, and Monday’s 85-44 breeze against Green Bay.
According to the KenPom ratings on Thursday, Lindenwood was No. 354, Green Bay was No. 351, and Idaho State, Sunday’s opponent at Hilton, No. 293.
More: Iowa State basketball signee Nojus Indrusaitis excited to add to Cyclones' program
Otzelberger wanted paint points, he got them
That’s an area where Otzelberger told reporters Wednesday would be a focal point in practices before Thursday’s game.
His team got 21 points from within the lane in the opener, but he felt that number could rise, considering the players he has that are capable of scoring at the rim.
“We feel we have more guys that can get in there with the dribble or by posting a smaller guy,” Otzelberger said Wednesday. “By getting in there, we believe that’s going to create more wide-open 3-point opportunities or a chance for us to get to the foul line.”
The Cyclones got it. That's where 52 of the points on Thursday came from.
"Getting 52 is good," Otzelberger said Thursday. "We’re fortunate to have multiple playmaking guards — some guys that can shoot it, and guys that can attack a mismatch and post. We have to continue to be intentional there.
"When teams double or bring a second defender, we kick out and that’s when we shoot the threes the best."
The tempo and intensity got better and better
An impressive Thursday night included the Cyclones not being satisfied with an insurmountable lead midway through the second half.
They went on a 20-2 run while building a 77-31 lead, which ended with just under 10 minutes to play. They did it with defense leading to fast-breaking offense.
Iowa State’s rebounding made it such that Lindenwood got just one shot off during the impressive 7-minute stretch. From there, the Cyclones’ speed, nifty ball-handling and shooting took over.
And let's not forget Iowa State getting a whopping 19 steals.
"Our guys did a really good job focusing on being in the gaps defensively," Otzelberger said. "We had real good focus defensively — being in the right spot and having hands active."
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, on X @RandyPete, and at DesMoinesRegister.com/CyclonesTexts
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Peterson: Tamin Lipsey has career night in Iowa State basketball win
