How can Utah make adjustments after struggling against Big 12’s best team at creating turnovers?

Iowa State leads the Big 12 in turnovers forced, averaging 14.93 takeaways per game, and the University of Utah got its firsthand account of just how disruptive that can be Tuesday night.

The Cyclones forced the Runnin’ Utes into a season-high 18 turnovers in a 75-59 loss, and Iowa State turned those takeaways into 20 points.

While Utah found success in other areas, the Utes (10-18, 2-13 Big 12) were clearly overwhelmed by Iowa State’s pressure defense that often attacked Utah once it crossed midcourt.

“They really just sped us up from the beginning of the game all the way for the full 40 minutes. Then we got sped up and taken out of what we do and playing our own game,” Utah junior forward Keanu Dawes said.

With four more guaranteed games this season — three more during the regular season and at least one in the Big 12 tournament — what adjustments can the Utes make after facing one of the league’s most imposing defenses?

“One thing we talk about is playing with the pass. For instance, the pick-and-roll, we said they’re going to be very aggressive in it. You got to hit the first guy out, and then we got to attack from there. We’re not going to be able to beat it off the dribble, on the pick-and-roll,” first-year coach Alex Jensen said.

“When you’re facing that pressure, it’s hard, and we get sped up. We did (beat) it at times, but not consistently enough, and it kind of played into their hands and forced the turnovers.”

Dawes added it’s important for players to stay within their roles.

“It’s just going back to your habits and your fundamentals, what you do, not only individually but personally as a team, and staying within your role and not trying to do too much because of how much they speed you up,” he said.

During one of the more critical stretches of the game, the Cyclones fed off Utah turnovers to help them seize momentum and go on a sustained run to establish control.

The Utes initially held a 12-10 lead six minutes in, but by halftime they trailed 41-31.

Over the final 12 minutes of the first half, Utah committed eight of its 11 first-half turnovers — not surprisingly, that was around the time the Cyclones gained control with an 18-5 run to go up 28-17.

Those 11 first-half turnovers led to 14 Cyclone points before halftime, and while Utah cut down some on its turnovers in the second half, those giveaways played a large role in the Utes never seriously threatening after cutting Iowa State’s lead to 45-40 just minutes into the second half.

“The over dribbling will hurt you, and they’re gonna be aggressive in the pick-and-roll, be aggressive picking us up full court,” Jensen said. “It’s hard, easier said than done, just don’t let it speed you up. I think that’s one of the things we struggle with as a team, we tend to get going too fast and get above our feet or the ball.”

On the opposite sideline, Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger has created a culture centered around defensive pressure.

The Cyclones (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) have thrived under Otzelberger’s leadership. They’ve made the NCAA Tournament every year since he took over the program five years ago, and they are projected to contend for a No. 1 seed this year.

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That defensive mentality is ingrained into their identity.

“We’ve been really fortunate with the young men in our program, their character, their daily habits and how they work and the pride that they represent,” Otzelberger said.

Iowa State entered Tuesday’s game coming off a 10-point loss at BYU, but the coach praised his team for how they reacted to that setback.

“What we saw on the practice court the last two days, when you get to mid-February or late February, especially coming off a loss, you learn about a lot about the character in your group, and our guys really dug in,” Otzelberger said. “I think that program pride, their work habits, their character, they deserve so much credit for what they’re doing every single day.”

That’s the kind of mentality Jensen is trying to build at Utah, and his program will get its next test Saturday when the Utes travel to Arizona State before finishing off the regular season next week with a home game against Colorado before a road game at Baylor.

Otzelberger, aware of the success that Jensen has had as a former college assistant at Saint Louis (under former Utah Hall of Fame coach Rick Majerus) and during a decade-plus as an NBA assistant, believes the Utes have the right guy in charge to build the right foundation of a defense-first team.

“I know that this is going to be a program that’s on the rise. I have a lot of confidence in (Jensen) and respect for him and what he’s done,” Otzelberger said.

“It’s one of those things when you come in in the first year, you have a vision, and you continue to build upon that. And I think that the Utes fans should be excited about the future. I know everybody wants the instant gratification of the wins right away, but I have a lot of confidence in Coach Jensen and what he’ll continue to do and how he’ll build this program and the pride that will be with Runnin’ Utes basketball.”