Joshua Jefferson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – As the pep rallies got underway Thursday morning in the Power & Light District, a turn in any direction would result in the sight of someone wearing red and gold.

Iowa State’s typical takeover of Kansas City in March has come again, with the top-10 Cyclones headed toward a top seed in the NCAA Tournament and their fans hopeful for a long week in the City of Fountains.

“It’s Hilton South,” said Keaton Gwinn, a southern Iowa resident who made his annual trek south for some Big 12 Tournament action on Thursday. “Personally, I think it’s a little better (than games in Ames). It’s more of an experience here.”

Two years ago, Iowa State ran through the Big 12 Tournament, overwhelming regular season league champion Houston in the league’s championship game for a 69-41 victory. That was the first year Alex Davis and his family began the tradition of coming down to Kansas City for the tournament.

“It’s really fun to come every year now,” said Davis, who said his family enjoys checking things out around the city on their visit. “Good food, drinks, it’s a good time.”

Davis’ sons enjoy the Big 12 Boulevard located outside the T-Mobile Center. Others, like Kelli and Corey Schmidt, were Iowa State alums joining in on the Cyclones’ fun at the Big 12 Tournament for the first time.

“We are so excited to share it with our kids,” said Schmidt, a Des Moines, Iowa, native whose teenaged daughter was outfitted with a large chain necklace featuring a photo of Iowa State star forward Milan Momcilovic. “We came (Wednesday) and here until they’re done. It’s ‘Hilton South,’ right? This crowd is just going to grow.”

In the transfer portal era of college athletics, Iowa State’s built a rapport between its players and fans with several multi-year starters for the Cyclones.

Ames native and senior guard Tamin Lipsey has been part of some great Iowa State teams during his time with the Cyclones — including one that rolled through the 2024 league tournament to cut down the nets in Kansas City. With four years in a row coming to the T-Mobile Center, the star senior said the atmosphere for ‘Hilton South’ is great.

″Just knowing the excitement of this tournament, and obviously our fans call it Hilton South, and you can see how well our fans travel,» Lipsey said following a 75-53 win over Texas Tech in Thursday’s quarterfinal round. “And it helps us a lot in these games.”

The help was needed with a pseudo second home game in less than two weeks for the Cyclones against the Red Raiders, who handed Iowa State its only home loss of the year at Hilton Coliseum.

“We were happy that we got a chance to get back at them,” Lipsey said following the win.

Years of a similar Iowa State roster have built a connection between the throngs of fans coming to Kansas City, and the players, something Davis and Schmidt each shared.

“They’ve just been linked together so well for such a long time,” said Davis. “And we just love (head coach) T.J. (Otzelberger). Our boys absolutely love (Lipsey).”

Davis’ boys and the Iowa State faithful as a whole will return Friday for their second matchup with Big 12 regular season champion Arizona on Friday at 6 p.m.

After Iowa State’s band concluded its festivities at Power & Light District and Arizona’s pep rally began, several of those in attendance supporting the Cyclones boo’d a “U of A” chant from the Wildcats faithful.

Senior forward Joshua Jefferson said he was excited for a second opportunity against Arizona following a 2-for-17 shooting performance last week in Tucson.

“After that game I was really upset with myself and how that turned out,” Jefferson said Thursday. “I’m excited to get this game back.”

“There’s going to be another wave of fans that come tomorrow,” said Momcilovic. “It’ll be even more packed and more loud, so it’ll be fun tomorrow.”

Now, as the crowds swell for Friday’s semifinals, Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said he was looking forward to the Cyclone fans’ support.

“I can’t say enough how excited I am for our fanbase to show up for us tomorrow,” Otzelberger said. “I know what it feels like in these first two games but tomorrow night, to have our fans have the opportunity to drive over tonight, drive over in the morning, and have a great turnout there will give our guys tremendous energy.”

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