In this age of conference expansion, made for television tournaments and the financial need for home games Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger hopes there is still a place for the Cy-Hawk Series. The third ranked Cyclones invade Carver-Hawkeye Arena Thursday night for the 78th meeting in the series against Iowa.

Otzelberger says the approach this week stays the same but everybody knows this is not just another game.

Otzelberger calls their national ranking flattering. The Cyclones are third in this week’s AP Poll. It is the program’s highest ranking since 1957.

Ames native and junior guard Tamin Lipsey played in the game two years ago in Iowa City and is trying to get his teammates prepared. The Hawkeyes scored the first 15 points of the game in a 75-56 win.

Lipsey says the start of the game will be a key to the outcome.

Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic has told the new players to expect a hostile crowd.