Iowa State ready for showdown with No. 4 Auburn in Maui men’s basketball invitational

AMES — Tamin Lipsey’s eager to be surprised.

Iowa State’s star point guard likely will loll on the beach a bit. A traditional luau could be on the team’s agenda.

But Lipsey’s unsure of the No. 5 Cyclones’ off-the-court plans this week during the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii — but is well aware that he and his teammates will face stern challenges on the court, beginning with Monday’s 8 p.m. matchup (ESPNU) with fourth-ranked Auburn (4-0).

“I guess we’ll have to see, but I’m looking forward to being there and hanging with my teammates,” said Lipsey, who has stripped away at least one steal in 69 of his 72 career games. “Enjoying the time, while still having that business mentality.”

ISU (3-0) could face two other top-10 teams in 10th-ranked North Carolina (3-1) and No. 2 Connecticut (4-0) while playing three games in three days. Other potential foes include Dayton, Michigan State, Colorado and Memphis.

“I haven’t looked at the bracket as much, it’s just knowing, man, there (are) a lot of good teams there,” said Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who has led his team to two Sweet 16 appearances in his three seasons at the helm. “Auburn is the only game that matters right now, and having tremendous focus on our preparation — what we need to do in practice and film, (mental things) that need to be on our mind to go be successful in that game.”

The Bruce Pearl-led Tigers feature five players averaging double figures in scoring — and 6-foot-7 forward Chaney Johnson is averaging 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds off the bench. Auburn already owns a top-10 win over Houston and boasts the nation’s second-most efficient offense, according to KenPom.

“They play fast, they’re physical, they’re a great matchup for us,” said ISU guard Keshon Gilbert, who is averaging a team-high seven assists per game. “I’m just looking forward to playing against them.”

The Tigers and the Cyclones rank among the top-five nationally in defensive efficiency. Auburn sits fourth nationally in opponents’ two-point shooting percentage at 39.1, and ISU leads the national in defensive turnover percentage (28.0).

“At this point, they’re probably playing as well or better than anyone in the country,” Otzelberger said of the Tigers. “So we’ve got respect for that and respect for the program, and yet at the same time, there (are) things we can do to impose our will and come out and be our best to put ourself in position to win the game.”

That, as always, starts with stringent on-ball defense. The Cyclones’ ongoing bedrock identity is based on making opposing offense’s miserable — and that won’t change in Maui or elsewhere.

“I’m excited to see us hit that head-on,” Otzelberger said. “I’m excited to see us welcome that and be better as a result.”

Losing two of three games in last season’s Thanksgiving tournament — the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla. — serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go south when playing high-caliber teams in November.

“(It’s about) staying true to what we do as a team defensively,” said Lipsey, who leads ISU in scoring as 13.7 points per game. “Playing together is something that’s gonna be really important in these early-season tournament games. Teams are still trying to figure things out.”

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