More Neil Diamond requested

A go-to song after victories by the home team at Iowa State University athletic events has been Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline.

“Good times never seemed so good” again blared from all corners of Hilton Coliseum on Saturday as the Iowa State men’s basketball team took down No. 5-ranked Kansas and fans were allowed a rare storming the court moment.

The good times are returning to Cyclone basketball after a dark age when head coach Wayne Morgan left and Greg McDermott made the unsuccessful move from Northern Iowa to Ames.

“This is my fourth year and (our fans) have been here through some bad times and they still keep coming and are still passionate about Iowa State basketball,” senior guard Scott Christopherson said after Saturday’s win.

Iowa State has not been in the NCAA tournament since 2005. The program’s recent claims to fame include being the last No. 2-seed to lose to a 15 in the tournament (2000) and head coach Larry Eustachy’s proneness to party with Natural Light in one hand and co-eds in the other on the road.

The win for second-year head coach Fred Hoiberg’s ‘Clones over the Jayhawks can be tucked away in the ‘key win’ column for consideration for advancing to the NCAA tourney. But there need to me more, cue tonight’s matchup with Kansas State and cue up more Neil.

It’s how the Cyclones won Saturday that sticks out. Iowa State didn’t play particular well, yet ISU ended a 13-game losing streak to the Jayhawks with its first home win over a top-five foe since 1995. It was their ability to control the glass that helped them get by and of course – good old Hilton Magic.

“Hilton Magic definitely was in full effect,” Hoiberg said.

Iowa State outrebounded the mighty Jayhawks, 36-23. Kansas was limited to five offensive rebounds and two second-chance points.

Royce White was well, Royce White, with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Christopherson added 14 points and continues to be one of the most underrated guards in the Big 12. He is one of four sharpshooters on the team to have at least 34 made treys for the season - Iowa State is the only Division I team to have that many.

“They have their own identity,” Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor said. “Royce White is a matchup problem. You’re not going to find too many guys his size with his skill level being able to do the things that he does with four guys that can shoot the ball around him.”

The 6-foot-8, 270-pound White leads ISU in each points (13.6), rebounds (9.6), assists (4.5) and blocks (1.1) per game. He is second in steals (1.1).

“They’re definitely a tournament team. Fred’s done a great job in a short amount of time. …. They’ve got a matchup (in White) that not too many people have,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self. “Fred has been around enough in the NBA I think he probably coaches a bad matchup like that probably as well as anybody in the country could because of that’s how they do it in the League. That’s a big bonus for Iowa State.”

Tonight is the real test of where the Cyclones (15-6, 5-3) stand as they host Kansas State (15-5, 4-4). Iowa State can’t afford a letdown here. This is a game on its home court against a team below them in the Big 12 standings. Don’t expect this one to be a cakewalk at all. Kansas State is in the same boat, needing quality wins to bolster its NCAA tourney application. And the Wildcats know their way around Hilton having won five straight over ISU in the series.

“It was a great win for our program,” Hoiberg said of his signature win. “But again, like I told our guys, you got to expect to win your home games, this win doesn’t win anything unless we go out and take care of business on Tuesday,” Hoiberg said.

Want to play in the NCAA tournament? Play well enough for Sweet Caroline to be playing when the game is over.