KU's Bill Self: ISU already a tournament-ready team

AMES - If Bill Self served as a selection committee of one, he knows where he'd send Fred Hoiberg's Iowa State squad in mid-March.

"They're definitely a (NCAA) Tournament team," said the Kansas coach, whose team saw a 13-game winning streak against ISU snapped by a 72-64 loss Saturday at sold out Hilton Coliseum. "Fred's done a great job in a short amount of time. They've got good players and they seem to play well together and like each other. And they've got a matchup that not too many people have."

That's point forward Royce White, all six-feet eight inches and 270 pounds of him.

The anxious and potent star has solved his free throw shooting problems - for now, at least - and considered joining the rather orderly mosh pit fans created at mid-court after the buzzer sounded.

"Security did a good job of holding all those guys back," said White, who had 18 point, nine rebounds and made six of his last eight free throws. "I kind of wanted to get in there and rush in there and party with them. It was a good thing they were excited.”

Self singled out ISU super-sub Tyrus McGee as a difference maker Saturday.

"I thought (he) kept balls alive," Self said.

The 6-2 McGee had nine points and six rebounds. His double-clutch three-point play put the Cyclones up 56-53. They didn't trail after that.

"SWEET" WIN: It's been a good year for Iowa State's marquee programs in terms of upsets.

The football team rocked the college football world by upsetting then-No. 2 Oklahoma State.

Then Saturday happened - as ISU men's basketball scored its first home win over a top-five foe since beating then-No. 3 Kansas in 1995.

So when "Sweet Caroline" rang out a couple minutes into Saturday's euphoric celebration, ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard smiled.

OK, he was already smiling.

"First of all, I think we've got a new school song," Pollard said, joking. "And I think people coming into Hilton or Jack Trice (Stadium) are probably not big Neil Diamond fans. But it's wonderful because it's the fans and the students enjoying it. That's what makes it special."

EYEING THE RIM: After making a pair of free throws with several minutes remaining, Royce White briskly back pedaled on defense, but stared at the hoop for a few seconds.

Why?

"That was for (Kansas star) Thomas (Robinson)," White said with a grin.

Why?

"He said I was going to miss them," White said, still grinning.

REBUILDING THE MAGIC: Hoiberg said Hilton Magic was in "full effect" Saturday. Now it's all about keeping that decibel-detecting needle in the red zone.

"To be honest with you, I think the two best buildings in our league to play in are Allen Fieldhouse and Hilton Coliseum," Hoiberg said. "I'm absolutely passionate about that. They made it tough for us to win down there (an 82-73 Cyclone loss) and I think we made it tough for them to win down here."

One thing's for sure: Saturday produced the first all-out swarm of the Hilton floor senior Scott Christoperson's experienced.

"I've been here through some bad times and they still keep coming, they're still passionate about Iowa State basketball," he said of the fans. "It's great to have that kind of support."