In this week's edition of the 3-2-1, we discuss what the Red Raiders might need to do to beat Iowa State this weekend and discuss the outlook for the Tech hoops as they head out to the Cancun Challenge...

1. Kingsbury, offense focused on a fast start

Despite having arguably their best outing in weeks, Pat Mahomes and the Red Raider offense sure got out to a dud of a start against OSU in Stillwater last Saturday. Tech went three and out on their opening three drives of the contest, allowing the Pokes to build an early 14-0 buffer and force Tech into must-score mode.

And those initial three and outs likely cost Tech the game, as they were mostly good to great the rest of the afternoon with the ball, missing just the extra point to end the game and lose 45-44.

So, as Kingsbury and his offensive players told the media on Monday, this week has been about finding a fast start and maintaining it throughout the contest, something the Red Raiders really haven't done much of this year.

They've gotten off to the races in scorching fashion plenty of times. It's simply been a matter of consistency throughout. And on a cold day in Ames, consistency will be paramount.

2. The High School Playoffs analogy

Sitting at 4-6 with two games to go, things are totally spelled out for Tech: Win or you'll miss the postseason. They must defeat both Iowa State and Baylor in the next two weeks to go bowling, something this program desperately needs to accomplish to avoid a major setback this season.

As a result, Coach Kingsbury and his staff have focused on comparing their situation to that of those teams in the high school football playoffs right now. It's win or go home time for each Texas high school program, and it's win or don't go bowling for the Red Raiders.

This message has seemingly resonated with Tech's players, specifically the younger portion of the team that isn't far removed from high school postseason play themselves.

And with late season injuries and attrition setting in, those younger players are exactly the ones the Red Raiders need to step up here late to accomplish that one goal.

3. Beard and Co. headed to Cancun

While Tech hoops is certainly focused on the task at hand that is Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, Red Raider fans are already peeking a few days down the line at their upcoming tournament in Cancun early next week.

Beard's team will first face Auburn in the competition, and depending upon how both their game and the one on the opposite side of the bracket shake out, they'll be facing Utah State or 15th ranked Purdue.

These early season matchups provide a real opportunity for Tech to boost their resume as an NCAA Tournament hopeful down the line, but they'll face some real front court challenges from both the Tigers and potentially the Boilermakers in the process.

1. What will it take for Tech to win in Ames?

It's a simple, basic question, but one work asking. Yes, Iowa State is only 2-8 on the season, but they've actually played some solid pass defense and have played Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, State, and Kansas State all close, three of those being within a score.

Offensively, they've done a great job of protecting the football, turning it over the second fewet times of any team in the Big 12 with only 12 giveaways on the season, and they have a bonafide NFL receiver on the roster in Alan Lazard.

Make no mistake: This will not be an easy win for Tech.

So, again, what must the Red Raiders do to absolutely secure a win? The answer is play a complete game. Nothing else will guarantee a win. We've seen the defense play solid while the offense flounders, watched the offense be unstoppable while the defense is a total sieve, and then the special teams will randomly have a hiccup every now and then.

Sure, the Red Raiders are more talented than the Cyclones, and they can win without a complete game.

But to guarantee that W, they're going to have to put together a solid team effort on a cold, windy day in Iowa.

2. What would winning the Cancun Challenge mean for Tech hoops?

Again, as stated earlier, Tech will face some tough competition from Auburn and one of either Utah State or Purdue. It's a great early season litmus test to get a feel for where this team is chemistry-wise and how far along they are as a unit still getting in the groove of running Beard's motion offense and total effort on defense.

But if the Red Raiders do come out of the event at 2-0 as the winner, what does that say about their prospects for the season as a whole?

If they do win, it likely means this team has a good chance of coming out of the non-conference unscathed with a perfect record and some real aspirations in Big 12 play. If they lose one or both contests, then it will be proof that this group is still gelling and establishing their sea legs within Beard's system.

Despite injuries at running back, Tech will still rush for over 100 yards at Iowa State

In conference, the two fewest rushing totals the Cyclones have given up is 109 and 149. Outside of that, they've given up 244, 247, 209, 229, and 469 on the ground. They're also giving up just over five yards a carry on the season.

The Cyclones flat out are not good at run defense. In fact, they're ninth in the Big 12 in the category.

You feel somewhat snakebit as the Red Raiders with the majority of your backfield out or ailing, with Da'Leon Ward and Quinton White likely the only two able backs in the stable and likely another skill position player such as KeKe Coutee or Jonathan Giles getting some carries at some point.

Despite all of that, I think the Red Raiders will still find a way to get north of the century mark on the ground, and hopefully much more than that against a very porous front.

They'll certainly need to.