ISU BASKETBALL

If you want to win NCAA title, first beat Iowa State

Register staff report
Mar 28, 2014; New York; Connecticut Huskies guard Ryan Boatright (11) reacts during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the semifinals of the east regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Four of Iowa State's past six appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament have ended in losses to the eventual national champion.

The Cyclones lost to Michigan State in 2000 in the Elite Eight, North Carolina in 2005 in the round of 32, Kentucky in 2012 in the round of 32, and UConn in 2014 in the Sweet 16.

Three of those losses were in the other team's home state, and the last was in front of a partisan UConn crowd in Madison Square Garden.

ISU's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1944, when the tournament only had eight teams, ended in a loss to eventual national champion Utah.

Iowa State's 81-76 loss to Connecticut was the Huskies' smallest margin of victory in the NCAA Tournament.