Iowa State Cyclones Face Syracuse Orange in NCAA Tournament

Cyclones look to avenge 2017 tournament loss to Orange in Storrs

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:06pm

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Iowa State will open NCAA tournament play against the Syracuse Orange at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. This will represent the 24th appearance in the tournament for the Cyclones, including each of the last seven and 17 of the last 19. This will also mark the 14th appearance for Syracuse. The Orange have only reached the second weekend once, but were able to stretch their 2016 run to the national championship game where they ultimately lost to UConn.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with strong tournament pedigrees, as Iowa State and Syracuse have combined for 38 NCAA tournament appearances. The game also represents a chance for the Cyclones to avenge a previous tournament loss to the Orange in 2017.

The details

Iowa State experienced a tough shooting performance in the Big 12 tournament against Arizona State, going just 7-36 from the field. This was due to the Sun Devils negating entry passes to second team All-American Audi Crooks and forcing the Cyclones to attempt a high volume of three-pointers. Syracuse, led by freshman star Uche Izoje, applies constant defensive pressure and looks to force turnovers, which could pose a challenge for Iowa State's normally efficient offense.

  • The game will tip off at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2 on March 21, 2026.
  • This will be Iowa State's 24th NCAA tournament appearance, including each of the last seven and 17 of the last 19.
  • This will mark Syracuse's 14th NCAA tournament appearance.

The players

Uche Izoje

A freshman star for Syracuse, Izoje has led the team with 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on 55.6% shooting.

Audi Crooks

A second team All-American for Iowa State, Crooks will be a focal point of the Cyclones' offense.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two tournament-tested programs promises an exciting and competitive game, with Iowa State looking to avenge a previous loss to Syracuse and the Orange seeking to pull off an upset over the favored Cyclones.