Ticket Punched, Poor Drake, Zusevics Done

By Chris Hassel

Ticket punched. For the 7th straight year, the Cyclones won't be sweating out on 'Selection Sunday' --- that's because they all but locked up an at-large big on Saturday. ISU's 65-61 victory at Kansas State was perhaps the most impressive win of the season for the Cyclones. K-State was one of the hottest teams in the nation, coming off back-to-back wins over top 10 teams. Iowa State was able to withstand a 20-1 run, and improved to 21-8 on the season. Now, with two games to play in the regular season, all they're playing for is seeding. If Iowa State can win one of its final two games, and one game in the tournament, they'll be able to avoid that dreaded 8/9 match-up. Next up, a trip to #3 Missouri.

Scott Christopherson scored 29 points in a 65-61 win at K-State.

Despite the fact that Royce White is the only player in college basketball to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, you could make the case that Scott Christopherson is the teams' MVP. When the Cyclones need a bucket, or a free-throw, it's Scotty C. He, like Iowa's Matt Gatens, will be sorely missed for their respective teams, next season. 

Some Iowa haters are legitimately trying to argue that the Hawkeyes have "no chance" at making the NCAA Tournament unless they win the Big Ten Tournament. That's just ridiculous. So you're telling me that if the Hawks win out, and then loses in the Big Ten title game, they couldn't get in? They'd be 21-14 overall with an 8-game winning streak at the end of the season. Let's get real. They have a chance, but they must win out. I honestly don't see that happening. Iowa just doesn't win at Illinois. If they can beat the Illini, Sunday, I'll start believing. 

Poor Drake. The Bulldogs finish the regular season in the tie for 3rd in the MVC yet thanks to a 5-team tiebreaker, Drake gets the 7-seed in the MVC Tournament. That means Drake will have to play Bradley on Thursday. UNI tied Drake at 9-9 overall, but the Panthers get the 4-seed and a first round bye. Ouch. The Panthers will be a tough out, but I don't see anyone beating Wichita State.

It was an awful day for former Hawkeye, Markus Zusevics. The offensive lineman tore his pectoral muscle while benching in front of NFL scouts. Zusevics was supposed to be drafted somewhere around the 5th round. Now there's a question of whether or not he'll be drafted at all. What a tough break.

Markus Zusevics

Z's former teammate, Riley Reiff, is also having a tough time of it at the combine. Some scouts are saying Reiff's arms are too short to play tackle in the NFL. Plus, several people are poking fun at Reiff's pokey body. After watching him run the 40-yard dash, one writer said he looked like he was on the Jay Cutler diet.