When last we visited the hostile Hilton Coliseum, it was as rowdy and effective as ever, as expected, and it began from the jump. Actually, make that before the jump. This was WVU v. Iowa State The Sequel — Double Dragon II, if you will — after Dustin Hogue kicked Kevin Noreen (or “kind of threw his foot out,” if you ask the Cyclones) and Eron Harris walloped Monte Morris late in WVU’s blowout win at home. Harris was dogged throughout the rematch — he said it wasn’t a factor, but he was 4 for 14 and looked clearly bothered — and the Mountaineers had no answer for a big first-half run and then some bigger Naz Long 3-pointers.

I won’t use this as the stage to forward the Mountaineers/Cyclones Rivalry, unless you consider what I just did forwarding, but there is some mud involved when these two schools get together. The football haves have been wacky and the basketball teams have played close and, shall we say, competitive games.

“I don’t know if they’ve been close — they scored 103 on us last year at their place,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said.

True. But that was Good WVU. And that was followed by Good Iowa State. The other three games have been dramatic. So let’s say they bring the best out of one another, one way or another.

“One thing about playing a Bob Huggins team is you know it’s going to be a tough game,” Hoiberg said. “They’re going to be physical, so you have to be ready to match up against. The only way you’re going to win the game is to match their toughness. I think our guys take pride in that.”

I still think Kansas has more of Iowa State’s attention, especially this season, but the Cyclones also know and appreciate WVU because there are some similarities. Hoiberg remembers one of his first scouting trips with the Minnesota Timberwolves was at the WVU Coliseum.  (Aside: Exactly when isn’t so easy to recall and Hoiberg has to flip through his memory. “When did I have heart surgery?” is his mental bookmark.)

It was the WVU v. Pitt game in the 2005-06 season, and it was raucous.

“I think they were throwing stuff on the floor, so I got a taste for how passionate that fan base is,” Hoiberg said. “Obviously, I’ve been in Ames for pretty much my entire life, so I know how passionate our fan base is, too. They’re a lot alike in that regard.”

When I was getting familiar with the Big 12 and the people who cover it or know it, a bunch of those people remarked that Ames is the conference’s town that’s most like Morgantown, and I’m inclined to agree. The fans, the campuses, the way the city sort of exists around the university, it’s all pretty even. Heck, the basketball teams are coached by graduates and both teams play in a Coliseum, something only Kansas State can say (and I’d say Manhattan is probably most like Ames and Morgantown).

These Coliseums are similar. WVU’s seats 14,000, Iowa State’s seats 14,384. The students are on the floor, though here they sit behind the baskets. The seating sort of recesses up and away from the floor, too, which seems to add a vastness to the places. It’s not like other Big 12 venues, and that distinction brings these two together.

“I can completely understand the comparison,” Georges Niang said. “To me, it feels liek arenas aroudn the Big 12 are comewhat circular and compact. West Virginia’s is more wide open, just liek how ours iw wide open. Both do a great job filling it up. West Virginia has some wild fants. They feel liek it’s the only show  in town and they’re really poassionate about their sports. Our fans are the same way.”

Here’s expecting more of the same today…