Scouting Iowa State

Game: Thursday, 9:20 p.m. (TBS)

Location: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville

Seed: No. 8

Region: South

Record: 22-10 overall, 12-6 Big 12

NCAA history: 14th appearance, first since advancing to second round in 2005

Series history: first meeting

Common opponent: Providence - Iowa State won, 64-54, Nov. 25 South Padre Island Invitational; UConn lost, 72-70, Feb. 28

Head coach: Fred Hoiberg (2nd year)

Top scorers: 6-8 so. forward Royce White (13.1 pts, 9.2 rebs), 6-3 sr. guard Scott Christopeherson (12.5 pts), 6-3 sr. guard Chris Allen (11.8 pts), 6-6 so. forward Melvin Ejim (9.4 pts, 6.6 rebs)

Noteworthy: First NCAA tournament bid in seven years. … Cyclones tied for third in Big 12… Lost in Big 12 tournament first round to Texas, 71-65, Thursday. … Quality wins: Kansas (72-64), Texas (77-71) and Baylor (80-72). … White named Big 12 Newcomer of Year and first team all-league pick. Only player in country to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists (5.2), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0). … Three-pointer a weapon, averaging 8.9 made per game. Cyclones convert 38.5 percent from beyond arc. … Balanced attack: six players average 8.1 points or more per game.

- Gavin Keefe