Iowa State

The traditionalists will be rooting for North Carolina and UCLA, two of the most storied programs in college basketball history. The front-runners will be cheering for Duke and Michigan State, the only top seeds left in this year's NCAA tournament. Here's something to ponder: What if Gonzaga, Iowa State, Tulsa and Seton Hall make it to next month's Final Four in Indianapolis? There will be plenty of tickets available at the RCA Dome. There will be plenty of office pools without any teams left.

MINNEAPOLIS -- A lady approached Iowa State's Marcus Fizer before yesterday's game after recognizing him from last week's Sports Illustrated cover. "So you're what all the fuss is about," she said. Fizer grinned and answered, "Just watch the game later." Iowa State's supporting cast backed Fizer's claim by assuming the lead roles yesterday during a slow start by its first-team All-American as the Cyclones stormed past seventh-seeded Auburn, 79-60, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. No. 2 Iowa State (31-4)

Points Matt Santangelo, Gonzaga ..........26 Stromile Swift, LSU ......................23 Lonny Baxter, Maryland ................22 Marcus Fizer, Iowa State .............22 Gilbert Arenas, Arizona ................21 Erick Barkley, St. John's ...............21 Mateen Cleaves, Mich. State ........21 Stevie Johnson, Iowa State ..........21 Nolan Johnson, Oklahoma ............20 Andre Hutson, Michigan State ......19 Ivan Wagner, Texas .......................19 Anthony Glover, St. John's .....

East Regional First round Yesterday At Baton Rouge, La. Stephen F. Austin 73, Xavier 72 LSU 77, Liberty 54 At Storrs, Conn. Clemson 64, Drake 50 Connecticut 116, Hampton 45 Today At West Lafayette, Ind. Oklahoma vs. BYU, 6 p.m. Dartmouth at Purdue, 8: 30 p.m. At Durham, N.C. Marquette vs. Western Kentucky, 5 p.m. Campbell at Duke, 7 p.m. Second round Tomorrow At Baton Rouge, La. Stephen F. Austin vs. LSU, 8: 35 p.m. At Storrs, Conn....

MINNEAPOLIS -- Auburn may have lost its leading scorer, but the seventh-seeded Tigers have not lost their swagger. They seemed overly relaxed a day before facing No. 2 Iowa State (30-4) at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. They played "hangman" on the locker-room chalkboard, and one of the answers read: "Final Four." Yet no one was laughing. "I really feel like we're the No. 1 seed," forward Mack McGadney said. "It's just unfortunate that the NCAA didn't pick us as the No. 1 seed. I think it would be an upset if Iowa State beats us."

The glass sneakers, uh, slippers are collecting dust. The fairy godmother, in the form of the NCAA men's tournament selection committee, has done its best to let this year's Cinderellas take their shots. Continuing on this theme, let the Big Dance begin. When this year's tournament opens for 32 teams at four subregional sites tomorrow, and the other 32 at four other locations on Friday, more than a few will be thinking they have a chance to make it all the way to Indianapolis for next month's Final Four.

Big Ten at Chicago Saturday's semifinals Illinois 94, Penn State 84 Michigan State 55, Wisconsin 46 Yesterday's championship Michigan State 76, Illinois 61 Big 12 at Kansas City Saturday's semifinals Iowa State 68, Oklahoma State 64 Oklahoma 81, Texas 65 Yesterday's championship Iowa State 70, Oklahoma 58 Big West at Reno, Nev. Saturday's championship Utah State 71, New Mexico State 66 Mid-Eastern at Richmond, Va. Saturday's championship ...

Midway through the conference seasons and what do we have? A muddle? Maybe. Confusion? Could be. A free-for-all? Finally. What a difference a year makes. No heavyweight contender inspiring bracket-ducking (though look how things turned out for Duke). Cincinnati has dominated the rankings, sure, but the pessimism of coach Bob Huggins (who faults the Bearcats for inconsistency on defense and inexperience in the backcourt) finds its reflection in the widely held notion that Cincy can be had. By whom is another question.

AMES, Iowa -- Life on the road in Big 12 basketball country is never a lot of fun, but Coppin State came ever so close to winning two games in five days in this wild atmosphere.After upsetting Missouri on Tuesday night in Columbia to end an 0-for-16 drought against Big 12 schools, the Eagles took on Iowa State here last night and nearly pulled off another shocker in the championship game of the Cyclone Challenge.But Iowa State (4-1) paraded to the free-throw line 22 times in the final 13: 16 of regulation and overtime, hitting 19 foul shots to pull out a 77-74 victory over Coppin before 9,061 roaring Cyclones fans at Hilton Coliseum.

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State overcame the hot shooting of Danny Singletary and Antoine Brockington to turn back Coppin State, 77-74, last night in an overtime thriller in the championship game of the Cyclone Challenge at Hilton Coliseum.Singletary (27) and Brockington (20) combined for 47 points, but it wasn't enough as Coppin State (2-2) narrowly failed to post its second road win over a Big 12 Conference school in five days.Coach Fang Mitchell refused to criticize the officiating, even though host Iowa State scored its last six points from the foul line.