Look at the numbers, and it’s easy to assume Iowa State did whatever it wanted in its matchup against Colorado a month ago.

Certainly in one sense, the Cyclones did just that while routing the Buffaloes 99-71 in both teams’ final game of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 27. CU head coach Tad Boyle, he of the defense-first ethos, typically is the last person who will defend a shoddy defensive effort by his club.

Yet in that instance, it was the Buffaloes’ inability to protect the ball that led to their defensive demise.

CU will get another shot at the opportunistic Cyclones on Monday, as the Buffs host No. 3 Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference opener.

“You look at giving up 99 points and what they shot against us. But to be honest, it wasn’t our half-court defense,” Boyle said. “It was the 37 points off our turnovers, and the 14 points off second chance on offensive rebounds. You put those together, and it’s 51 of their 99 are a result of us not boxing out and getting our (butts) kicked on the boards, or not taking care of the ball on offense. And Iowa State, that’s what they feed on. They feed off of turning turnovers into layups and easy baskets.

“When our half-court defense got set, we weren’t that bad. I’m not saying we were great defensively. But we weren’t as bad as the score would indicate.”

Not only did CU surrender a season-high point total, but a defense that hasn’t allowed any other opponent to shoot 50% surrendered opponent season-highs in field goal percentage (.603), 3-point percentage (.440), made free throws (18) and assists (18) against the Cyclones.While CU has averaged just 12.6 turnovers in the past eight games after committing a whopping 55 through the season’s first three games, one glaring exception to the recent run occurred against the Cyclones. The Buffs committed 18 turnovers against ISU, and the Cyclones took advantage of just about every one of them, finishing with 37 points off turnovers.

That, by far, is the highest total of points off turnovers by a CU foe this season. The next highest mark was 20 points by Northern Colorado in the second game of the season, and that was a double-overtime game. The Buffs surrendered a relatively modest seven offensive rebounds against the Cyclones but, again, ISU took advantage of all of them, finishing with 14 second-chance points. That’s also the most by a CU foe this season.

Boyle reiterated a common theme of his after practice on Sunday that he would prefer a five-second call as opposed to wild, bail-out passes, given the Cyclones’ ability to turn live-ball turnovers into optimal looks in transition. ISU leads the Big 12 in forced turnovers (16.0) and turnover margin (plus-6.5).

“Obviously we’ve got to stay in front of the ball a lot better this game,” CU forward Bangot Dak said. “Their guards were able to create a lot for others last time I feel like. And just overall, all five guys were able to beat us off the bounce. We’ve got to be a way better help team. And the big key is just really taking care of the ball. They had 37 points that we basically gave to them. We just have to take care of the ball, no second-chance points, and it will be a better game.”