Arizona fans are well aware of their team’s recent NCAA Tournament results, bracketing a pair of trips to the Sweet 16 around a shocking first-round upset. But how many know that the next opponent, Iowa State, bowed out in the same round as the UA each tourney?

Iowa State is seeking a fourth straight NCAA bid this March, and based on how the season has gone so far it could be as a No. 1 seed for the first time in school history. The Cyclones (17-2, 7-1 Big 12) are ranked third in the latest Associated Press Top 25, their only losses to No. 1 Auburn (in Maui) and last week at West Virginia.

To better understand ISU, we reached out to Matthias Schwartkopf of SB Nation sister site Wide Right Natty Lite for some insight and a score prediction. Below are his creative answers to our boilerplate questions:

AZ Desert Swarm: Iowa State is one of five teams that ranked in the top 20 in KenPom in offensive and defensive efficiency. Which side is more likely to have an off night, and what would make that happen?

Matthias Schwartzkopf: “Well on the road the the offense and defense have had their moments of struggle, especially against WVU and parts of the game at Arizona State. Though if we are going to pick one right now it would be the offense. Milan Momcilovic being injured has taken a bit of floor spacing away from the Cyclones. Curtis Jones has kept the offense going for the most part but if he has an off night, it could be interesting for Iowa State until Milan returns.”

Senior guard Curtis Jones is coming off a career-high 33 at ASU, just his fifth start of the season and fourth since Milan Momcilovic got injured. Why was he not starting before that, considering he’s the team’s leading scorer?

“I think Iowa State really found a nice balance with Curt coming off the bench the last two seasons and he played started minutes while doing it. I think we will see him come off the bench once again when Milan comes back but his role won’t diminish any more than it is now. Whenever you can throw another punch with that type of weapon off the bench, it is something most teams don’t have and what makes Iowa State more deadly later in the season when they are healthy”

How have things changed for the Cyclones during the absence of Momcilovic, besides Jones becoming a starter?

“Mentioned it before, it really is the spacing. Teams are packing it in and with one real consistent three-ball shooter outside with Curtis Jones the paint has been hard to score in. (Keshon) Gilbert and Tamin (Lipsey) can hit occasionally but they are not the volume three guys that Curtis Jones and Milan are. So basically we are relying on Jones to stretch out the defense and hoping Milan returns faster than not.”

While Iowa State has a 29-game home win streak it’s looked like a different team on the road, most recently losing at West Virginia and trailing at ASU in the second half. What is keeping the Cyclones from performing as well away from home?

“I don’t think there is a real answer here. It’s been weird because these two games have been so different on the road without Momcilovic. At Colorado the ball moved around and they looked comfortable (Milan was there), at WVU and ASU they are tight and just not moving the rock until really late against the Sun Devils on Saturday. Without one of your weapons you just got to move the ball and be relaxed. Especially on Monday night where the environment is going to be insane.”

This will also be the second game in three days, both on the road, something Iowa State last did two years ago. Is there any concern about fatigue, particularly with one less player in the rotation?

“Thankfully you are staying in the state of Arizona so that certainly helps. I think anytime you are playing two games so close together, there is always concern for fatigue. Shout out to the Big 12 though for making this ‘back to back’ in the same state. Other than the short trip to you guys and two nights in the hotel both teams are on short rest. Don’t think it will be a factor one way or another.”

Prediction time. Does Iowa State hand Arizona its first Big 12 home loss and get a leg up in the Big 12 race or do the Wildcats get a statement win in their debut conference season? Give us a score pick.

“This is a tough spot. Obviously Arizona is way better than the AP poll is willing to show right now and that may change Monday morning after a good week for the Wildcats but this is one of the toughest road games in all the Big 12 and the reputation of the Arizona basketball team holds true. I picked the Cyclones to drop this one before the season starts and I will stick with that. Not that I don’t think Iowa State can compete with Arizona, because they can. It is just a tough road game against a good team. No shame in losing in this one. Arizona 82, Iowa State 76.”