Dallas ? No Big 12 Conference basketball team has inflicted more pain on Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison than Iowa State.
The Cyclones have defeated Kansas University’s senior standouts four times in four seasons entering today’s Big 12 tournament quarterfinal battle against the No. 4 Jayhawks (24-6). Tipoff is noon at American Airlines Center.
Oklahoma has beaten KU three times in the same span; Oklahoma State and Missouri have downed the Jayhawks twice.
“We have had many, many difficult games against them over the years,” Collison, KU’s 6-foot-9 senior forward from Iowa Falls, Iowa, said of the unranked Cyclones (16-12).
The Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley-led Cyclones went 4-0 against KU. The Jayhawks, however, swept Iowa State last year and again this year — 83-54, Jan. 6 in Ames, Iowa, and 70-51, Feb. 16 at Allen Fieldhouse.
“They have a good team and they’ve been playing a lot better lately,” Collison said. “They beat Missouri and Colorado pretty handily so we know it’s going to be difficult.”
The Cyclones (5-11 Big 12) won three of their final five league contests, including home victories against Colorado (81-55) and Missouri (71-55).
“Coach (Larry) Eustachy will have them ready to play,” said Collison, who has averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 boards versus ISU in his career. Hinrich, a 6-3 guard from Sioux City, Iowa, has averaged 10.9 points and 4.1 assists versus ISU.
Tempers flared in the game in Lawrence — a game in which Hinrich and Collison each scored 19 points.
KU sophomore Aaron Miles received a technical foul after popping Jared Homan in the back of the head during a second-half scuffle. Miles was aiding KU sophomore Wayne Simien, who was shoved in the back by ISU’s Jackson Vroman, who also earned a technical.
“We know a lot about Iowa State because we’ve played them twice,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “Jackson Vroman (6-10 junior, 11.9 ppg) has played better and better and Tim Barnes (6-0 junior, 10.9 ppg) has played better and better. I think both those kids have improved a lot from the beginning of the year.
“You still have to be concerned about Jake Sullivan,” Williams said of the 6-0 junior from Oakdale, Minn., who averages 17.6 ppg. “Jake can make a bunch in a hurry and Vroman gives them an inside threat to score. We know we’ll have our work cut out.”
The winner advances to Saturday’s semifinals, set for 1 p.m. at American Airlines Center
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