CHI Health Center Omaha will host the 2024 NCAA tournament first-round tie between the Iowa State Cyclones and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Thursday, March 21. Both teams have been drawn in the East region, with the Cyclones seeded as No. 2 and the Jackrabbits seeded as No. 15. Despite the disparity in their seedings, both teams have exceptional qualities that could push them as far as possible. However, they’ll need to pass the first test to participate in the second round.
Iowa State Cyclones
Looking at how the Cyclones (27-7, 13-5 Big 12) have fared this season, there’s no doubt they are difficult to face. They missed out on the Big 12 Conference regular season title to the Houston Cougars but made amends by winning the postseason title. In their quest to win the Big 12 Conference tournament, they beat the Kansas State Wildcats and the Baylor Bears to set a postseason tournament final date with the regular season champions, the Houston Cougars. The Cyclones dominated the game, winning 69-41 to cement their place in the 2024 NCAA March Madness. Now, the target is to surpass the 2022 stint that had them make the tournament’s sweet sixteen and even get the chance to play in the Championship game. First, they must dump the Jackrabbits out of the competition on Thursday. With Coach T.J. Otzelberger in charge, making it past their first opponent is a strong possibility.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Head Coach Eric Henderson will again be in charge of the Jackrabbits after leading them to the second NCAA tournament in his fifth year. The Jackrabbits (22-12, 12-4 SL) are currently on an eight-game winning streak that saw them win the regular and postseason Summit League titles. With these performances, they secured an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA tournament that paired them with the Iowa State Cyclones in the first round of the competition. While they go into this game as the underdog, the quality of the team cannot be neglected. They were crowned regular season champions for five straight seasons between 2018-2022 before returning to win again in 2024. Hence, the encounter against the Cyclones might be one of those games where we get to experience an upset.
Head-to-Head Cyclones vs Jackrabbits
The most recent meeting between these two sides was in the 2020/21 season. At the Hilton Coliseum, the SD State Jackrabbits pulled off a 71-68 win over the Iowa State Cyclones. The last time the Jackrabbits won an NCAA tournament was in 1963 when they were in Division II. On the other hand, the Cyclone’s best result in this tournament happened in 1944 when they made the Final Four. Many events have occurred during this time, with each team having various achievements. As both teams seek to add another title to their shelf, bettors can engage in this game and other NCAA basketball on the night by placing bets on BetVictor. Basketball Odds will be provided for the Cyclones vs Jackrabbits game and other 2024 March Madness fixtures.
Cyclones vs Jackrabbits Predictions
The Iowa State Cyclones are the favorite team entering this game. They’ve been seeded as No.2 in the East region after their performances in the regular and postseason. On the other hand, the Jackrabbits were seeded at No.15, making them the underdog. Nevertheless, they possess the potential to pull an upset in this game. With their numbers this season, they’ve shown to be an offensive side, netting 76.8 points, 35.6 rebounds and 12.8 assists per game compared to the Cyclones’ 75.6 points, 33.9 rebounds, and 15.8 assists. Both teams making this tournament indicate that they have the potential to win the 2024 edition of March Madness. With this encounter being their second in the last five years, any team could own the day. We advise bettors to see this game as entertainment and only use funds you can afford to lose if you decide to bet.
Players To Look Out For
Zeke Mayo, the Summit League Player of the Year, is one player to look out for in the Jacks squad. Mayo averages 18.8 points per game and holds the record for the most assists in the team this season. William Kyle III, Charlie Easley and Luke Appel have also been outstanding. Kyle III averages 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while Easley averages 12 points and 2.2 steals. The Cyclones will need Keshon Gilbert, Milan Momcilovic, Tamin Lipsey, and Tre King to be in the best shape. Gilbert and Momcilovic average 13.8 and 11 points, respectively, while King provides the most rebounds, 5.2 per game. Lipsey will also be influential, as he has the most assists and steals in the squad.
All odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly 18+
