The Iowa State men’s basketball team is off to a perfect 4-0 start, but the Cyclones have yet to face a true test. That changes this week. Video above: ‘Roland Rocket’ Gary Thompson meets with Iowa State men’s basketball team Iowa State will play three games in four days as part of the ESPN Event Invitational. The Cyclones won the first game of the event Thursday, 68-64 vs. VCU. Here’s what you need to know about the event. ESPN Event Invitational Scores, Schedule, and Standings The ESPN Event Invitational begins on Thursday, November 23rd and ends on Sunday, November. 26. *All games are shown in Central Time. Thursday, Nov. 23 Texas A&M 89, Penn State 77, Florida Atlantic 91, Butler 86 Iowa State 68, VCU 6:47 p.m.: Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN2 or ESPNU) Nov. 23 Friday 11:10am: Texas A&M vs. Florida Atlantic (ESPN2) 12:30pm: Penn State vs. Butler (ESPN+) 4:30pm: Semifinals #2 (ESPN2) 7:00pm: Repechage #2 (ESPNU)Sunday, November 269th: 7th Place Game (ESPNU) 12:00 PM: Championship Game (ESPN) 3:00 PM: 5th Place Game (ESPN2) 5:00 PM: 3rd Place Game (ESPN2) ) You can see the complete bracket here. Iowa State’s schedule and opponents are as follows: ESPN Event Invitational Iowa State vs. VCU opens Thursday at 4:30 p.m. After that, match times and opponents can get complicated. Iowa State will play the winner of Boise State vs. Virginia Tech. That semifinal match will be Semifinal #2, listed in the schedule above, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Iowa State will have Saturday off and will play in one of four possible spots available Sunday. There is one scheduling oddity about this tournament. The championship is not the final game on the schedule. Instead, the championship will be played at 12pm on Sunday as his second of his four matches on the final day. Both the fifth and third place games will be held after the championship is determined, and Iowa State will face one of four teams on Sunday: Penn State, Texas A&M, Florida Atlantic or Butler. FAU made it to last year’s Final Four after a Cinderella run as a No. 9 seed, but lost to runner-up San Diego State. Iowa State History at the ESPN Event Invitational The Cyclones have played in this tournament once before, finishing in second place. 2016-17. That year, Iowa State lost in the title game to eventual Final Four runner Gonzaga. In the championship game, Deonte Barton led all scorers with 29 points, and Gonzaga won 73-71.
The Iowa State men’s basketball team is off to a perfect start at 4-0, but the Cyclones have yet to face a real test.
Things change this week.
Video above: “Roland Lockett” Gary Thompson meets with Iowa State men’s basketball team
Iowa State will play three games in four days as part of the ESPN Event Invitational. The Cyclones won the first game of Thursday’s event against VCU, 68-64.
Here’s what you need to know about the event.
ESPN Event Invitational scores, schedule and standings
The ESPN Events Invitational begins on Thursday, November 23rd and ends on Sunday, November 26th.
*All games are shown in Central Time.
Thursday, November 23rd
Texas A&M 89, Pennsylvania State 77
Florida Atlantic 91, Butler 86
Iowa State University 68, VCU 64
7 p.m.: Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Friday, November 24th
10 a.m.: Texas A&M vs. Florida Atlantic (ESPN2)
12:30 p.m.: Penn State vs. Butler (ESPN+)
4:30 p.m.: Semifinals #2 (ESPN2)
7:00 p.m.: Consolation #2 (ESPNU)
Sunday, November 26th
9:30am: 7th place match (ESPNU)
12:00 p.m.: Championship Game (ESPN)
3:00 p.m.: 5th place match (ESPN2)
5:00 p.m.: 3rd place match (ESPN2)
You can see the complete bracket here.
Iowa State schedule, ESPN Events Invitational opponents
Iowa State begins its game Thursday against VCU at 4:30 p.m.
After that, match times and opponents can get complicated.
Iowa State will play the winner of Boise State vs. Virginia Tech. That semifinal match will be Semifinal #2, listed in the schedule above, on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Iowa State will have Saturday off and will play in one of four possible spots available Sunday. There is one scheduling oddity about this tournament. That said, the championship isn’t the final game on the schedule.
Instead, the championship will be played as the second of four final games on Sunday at 12 p.m. Both the 5th place match and the 3rd place match will be held after the championship.
Iowa State will face one of four teams on Sunday: Penn State, Texas A&M, Florida Atlantic University, and Butler University. FAU reached last year’s Final Four after a Cinderella run as a No. 9 seed, but lost to runner-up San Diego State.
Iowa State History at ESPN Events Invitational
The Cyclones have appeared in this tournament once before, finishing second in 2016-17. That year, Iowa State lost in the title game to eventual Final Four runner Gonzaga. In the championship game, Deonte Barton led all scorers with 29 points, and Gonzaga won 73-71.