Audi Crooks, Iowa State at Kansas State: How to watch or listen and what to watch in a make-or-break matchup

The Big 12 tournament picture tightens as Iowa State heads to Manhattan, Kan., for a crucial game against Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum. This matchup matters for seeding and momentum — a win locks Iowa State into the seven seed and a later first game, while a loss would drop them into the No. 9 or No. 10 range with an earlier start. The spotlight will fall on star scoring, specifically audi crooks, who remains central to the Cyclones' offensive identity.

How to watch or listen to Iowa State at Kansas State

Venue: Bramlage Coliseum — Manhattan, Kan.

Television: National cable telecast (play-by-play: Elise Woodward; analyst: Madison Hock).

Radio: Iowa State radio broadcast (play-by-play: Noah Wolf; analyst: Jamie Steyer Johnson).

Audi Crooks and Iowa State's late-season questions

Offensively, Iowa State still boasts one of the conference's most efficient attacks, anchored by perimeter shooting and a handful of high-conversion deep shooters. The Cyclones rank near the top of the league in three-pointers made, converting at 37% from distance, and field four players with three-point percentages above 39%. That shooting depth has been a core reason the team can produce a top-tier points-per-possession figure.

Individual returns have mattered. Since the return of Addy Brown, audi crooks has seen a scoring uptick — averaging 23 points per game with Brown available versus a lower average without her. Ball security and playmaking are also strengths; the team is averaging roughly 9. 33 turnovers and about 20. 66 assists over the recent span, a combination that yields an assist-to-turnover ratio above 2. 0 and places the Cyclones among the conference leaders in both assists and limiting giveaways.

Defensive strain in the paint and matchup implications

Concerns persist on the defensive end, particularly near the rim. In the past two games the Cyclones allowed 86 points in the paint while scoring 56 themselves over that span. Opponents have found success driving into the lane or forcing rotations that prompt Audi to move off her initial assignment and create bounce-pass opportunities to interior scorers. Those adjustments were decisive in recent comebacks and finishes, and they expose a closing-time vulnerability that the Cyclones will need to correct to secure a favorable seed.

Kansas State's response and previous meeting

Kansas State comes into this contest attempting to halt a slide and avoid a three-game losing streak. Recent losses included heavy defeats that present a short-term test of confidence, yet the teams' first meeting was competitive: Iowa State prevailed 76-72 in Ames, a game that tightened late before the Cyclones pulled away. In that earlier matchup, Kansas State received a strong scoring outing from Taryn Sides, who produced 23 points, including efficient perimeter work and perfect free-throw shooting.

What to watch and what’s next

This game effectively functions as a playoff-style test for both sides. For Iowa State, sustaining 40 minutes of sharp defensive attention and leveraging its high-level three-point shooting will be key to avoiding the vulnerability the past two opponents exploited. For Kansas State, disrupting the Cyclones' ball movement and forcing contested looks on the perimeter could swing momentum. The seeding consequences are clear: a win simplifies Iowa State's path in the tournament bracket, while a loss forces an earlier start and a more congested schedule.

Expect coaching adjustments centered on limiting points in the paint, protecting the ball, and creating consistent perimeter looks. The matchup timeline and broadcast details are set, but game developments and lineup decisions may evolve as teams finalize preparations.