Yahoo Autos Iowa State men's basketball 'overlooked' by Barack Obama in NCAA Tournament bracket
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A former U.S. president became a talking point as reporters clustered around Iowa State basketball player Rob Jones on Thursday.
Jones saw that Barack Obama’s annual bracket had Pittsburgh beating Iowa State in Friday’s opening round of the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional at Greensboro Coliseum.
No, Jones doesn’t agree with it.
“Not only did I see that, but on Selection Sunday, when they came out with everything − the guys on 'SportsCenter' were talking the Pitt-Xavier game, which was crazy.”
To catch you up on the bracket – Pittsburgh first had to beat Mississippi State to reach the round of 64. Xavier must beat 26-8 Kennesaw State to play the Iowa State-Pitt winner.
More:Here's your chance to join Randy Peterson's Iowa State Cyclones text-message group
“Not only did (Pittsburgh) have to beat Mississippi State, they have to beat us as well,” Jones said. “Hearing that, and knowing Pitt has to go through two people to get that matchup – that gives a nod to how we’ve been looked at all season.
“Overlooked. When we’re overlooked, we come out and smack a team.”
Iowa State is a 4 1/2-point favorite to beat Pittsburgh. Xavier is a 12 1/2-point favorite to beat Kennesaw State.
“All right, Barack,” said Blake Hinson, who played at Iowa State before transferring to Pittsburgh. "Barack, what up, man? I love Barack. I'm not going to forget that right there.”
Meanwhile, back in the Iowa State locker room ...
“Another guy not buying into the Iowa State program ... not really knowing what’s going on here,” Jones said. “Because of that, it gives us more of a dig.”
The scoop on 22-10 Pittsburgh basketball
Best win: 60-59 vs. Mississippi State in Tuesday’s First Four game that advanced Pitt to the round of 64 for the first time since 2016
Worst loss: 91-60 vs. Michigan
NCAA seed: 11 (Iowa State is a six-seed)
NET: 67, 4-4 against Quad-1 competition (Iowa State’s net is 20, and the Cyclones are 19-11 against Q-1s)
KenPom rating: 77 (Iowa State is 24)
Strength: 6-foot-4 Jamarius Burton averages 15.3 points a game, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 49.9% field-goal shooting. Made the game-winning shot against Mississippi State. (Iowa State has a top-10 defense).
Weakness: Defense allows an average of 70.1 points a game, 160th nationally. (Iowa State’s offense is 233rd nationally, at 68.4 points a game).
Could Iowa State use it's secret weapon against Pitt?
That’d be walk-on Conrad Hawley, whose early-game enthusiasm and hustle in the regular-season finale at Baylor helped end Iowa State’s four-game losing streak.
Will he be used in a similar role on Friday?
“It’s been good for us to get everybody into the game,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said Thursday. “It’s something we’ll consider.”
Hawley hustled. He dove for loose balls. He was enthusiastic – and those traits were contagious.
More:Otzelberger: Iowa State's NCAA Tournament opponent resembles Baylor
“You get to this point in the year, the more you can harness the team dynamic and get everybody excited − I think that’s important,” Otzelberger said. “We’ll try to continue to keep everybody’s hands on deck.”
I asked Hawley about that as he sat on a stool in the corner of the locker room Thursday – and especially about a walk-on actually getting an opportunity to play in what should be a close NCAA Tournament game.
“I don’t know if I envisioned this,” he said. “I just know I envisioned coming here and doing what was asked of me – being the best teammate, a glue guy and a really hard practice player.
“I just give it my best every time. What (Otzelberger) decides to do is up to the staff.”
Hawley is realistic enough to know his role. He didn’t come to Iowa State expecting anything more.
“There’s 13 guys on the team,” he said. “I’m the 13th-best basketball player, and I’m proud of that. My niche is being the best teammate, and somebody who’s always there for the guys.”
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State's Robert Jones took offense to Obama's NCAA bracket picks
