It was certainly not pretty. The game was extremely physical. I do think it was poorly officiated, but at a certain point, both teams were banging each other around because it wasn’t getting called.

Wisconsin’s point guard Chucky Hepburn injured his ankle in the first half and never returned, eventually showing up on the bench with a walking boot and crutches. And Wisconsin clearly looked lost the rest of the game.

Tonight, Iowa State’s hero was Gabe Kalscheur. He scored 22 of the Cyclones’ 54 points. As Iowa State stretched their lead in the second half, he made a couple nice drives into the lane and drained the jumper. But his biggest plays might have gone lost in the stats sheet, as he batted a couple of offensive rebounds back to his teammates allowing Iowa State to take another 20 seconds off the clock.

I would have to say that Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger has to be considered the Coach of the Year. This is his first season at Iowa State, and he has taken a program that won 2 games before he showed up to the Sweet 16. I don’t know if this has ever happened or not, but it is just incredible the job he has done.

I have to say that I am horribly nervous. Watching the Big 10 go 0-4 today is not giving me great feelings with my Boilers getting ready to play Texas. The two regular season Big 10 champs, Illinois and Wisconsin, just scored 53 and 48 points in their Sweet 16 games. I sure hope that Purdue can win this game – I really want to see them playing next week.

There is definitely other exciting games going on. Texas Tech is down 1 to the 11 seed Irish. Auburn is down 1 to the 10 seed Hurricanes. But the Lunatic’s attention will be in Milwaukee, hoping above hope that the Boilers can head to the Sweet 16.

But I digress! This post should be all about the amazing Iowa State Cyclones!!!! I know that some of my family is from Ames, Iowa and has always been huge supporters of Iowa State – so I am thrilled that the Cyclones will be heading to my old home of Chicago to the Midwest Region Sweet 16. Go Cyclones!!!!!!