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Iowa State Battles Arizona for NCAA Seed in Semifinals

3/14/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Iowa State Cyclones face the Arizona Wildcats in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 13 at 7 PM ET.
Iowa State enters the semifinal with a 27-6 record after wins over Arizona State (91-42) and Texas Tech (75-53).
Arizona enters with a 30-2 record and is led by Brayden Burries.
A victory could secure Iowa State a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams, marking a pivotal shift in college basketball. This expansion, coupled with CBS's broadcast, generated over $1 billion in revenue and showcased teams like Iowa State and Arizona. Villanova's stunning victory over Georgetown in the championship game, with a score of 66-64, remains one of the greatest upsets in tournament history, solidifying the event's significance in sports culture.

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Story summary

Iowa State Cyclones face the Arizona Wildcats in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 13 at 7 PM ET.
Iowa State enters the semifinal with a 27-6 record after wins over Arizona State (91-42) and Texas Tech (75-53).
Arizona enters with a 30-2 record and is led by Brayden Burries.
A victory could secure Iowa State a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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