Cyclones regroup after loss to Texas in Big 12 quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Iowa State forward Royce White kicked himself.

Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg thanked the fans.

And in the aftermath of a numbing 71-65 Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinal loss late Thursday to Texas at the Sprint Center, all those under the Cardinal and Gold-clad roof vowed to boldly rebound - and gird themselves for a run in next week's NCAA tournament.

“When we came in the locker room we were frustrated because you only get one shot you know?”said White, who notched 17 points and 10 rebounds, but felt he could have done considerably better. “That's the thing that sucks about it. If we played them seven times, we'd win four out of seven, you know? It sucks that we lost, so the frustration is definitely there, but we've got to get past that, otherwise we're not going to accomplish the other goals that we set out in front of us.”

It's still almost certain ISU (22-10, third place in the Big 12 regular season) will earn its first bid to the “Big Dance” since 2005.

Fans will gather around the Cyclones at HIlton Coliseum beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday in anticipation of the 5 p.m. selection show - much like they did for a couple hours at the Sprint Center, vastly outnumbering Longhorns devotees.

“It was great to see all that cardinal and gold out there,” said Hoiberg, whose team is projected by ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi to be an eight seed. “To walk away after one game is very disappointing.”

Texas - which forged a 26-7 second-half run to take control Thursday - dropped ISU to 0-7 at the Big 12 tournament since 2005, but this time absorbing a postseason conference loss translated to learn and move forward, not one and done.

The Cyclones' hearts may ache, but their season's far from broken.

“As much of an x's and o's standpoint, look at where we kind of splintered off and what led to that,” ISU guard Scott Christopherson said when asked what he'd think about between then and Sunday. “Make those corrections and then Sunday we'll be able to hopefully sit back and watch the selection show and see where we're going.”

The Longhorns (20-12) played tougher and more purposefully than ISU.

They knew a loss probably ended hope for a 14th straight NCAA tournament appearance.

And a win, whatever the result in Friday's late semifinal matchup with No. 5 Missouri, likely put them on the bright side of the bubble.

“You love to walk into other gyms and quiet their fans,” said Texas star J'Covan Brown, who lifted his team to victory with 23 points and noted ISU's large fan turnout. “So we just went out there, just gave it our all for 40 minutes. Like Coach (Rick Barnes) said, he never gave up on us. So we didn't.”

Hoiberg's unwavering belief in the Cyclones hasn't waned, either.

It may even be stronger.

“We've got one more chance to go out and to try to do something, to try to make a run,” he said. “I believe this group will do that.”