Iowa State is going through a difficult time with three losses in its last four games. A visit from the confident Longhorns probably isn’t what the Cyclones need right now. However ISU’s last two victories at home have been over Oklahoma and Kansas, proving they can beat anyone.
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HOW THE TEXAS LONGHORNS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Shaka Smart is one of the best minds in college basketball for a reason. He transformed the VCU program into a heavyweight with a Final Four appearance and five straight trips to the NCAA tournament in his six years there. Now, he’s at Texas and the team is looking better than ever.
Texas put its name back on the national landscape over the past month with upset wins at West Virginia and Baylor, along with a big win over the Cyclones at home on Jan. 12. The Horns won in hostile Big 12 venues against some of the league’s best, so a trip to Ames isn’t going to be that big of a deal.
Smart has instilled a tenacious work ethic on a group riddled with talent and simply coached them up like he always does. He altered the game of highly-touted guard Isaiah Taylor, making him more aggressive while being more of a distributor than scorer this season. Taylor is the Big 12’s third leading assist man.
The loss of Cameron Ridley forced everyone to take a harder look at their role on the club and Prince Ibeh stepped up. Ibeh has got it going inside with his scoring, rebounding and shot blocking improving daily. Connor Lambert is Smart’s prototypical player and the team resembles their coach more now. And that’s not a bad thing.
HOW THE IOWA STATE CYCLONES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Iowa State failed to compensate for the loss of senior forward Jameel McKay, who was suspended from the team last Saturday and missed Wednesday’s upset loss at Texas Tech. They sure could’ve used him with Deonte Burton and Georges Niang in foul trouble, and Abdel Nader working on a gimpy ankle.
Though there’s been no official word from the team, McKay could be back in the lineup against the Longhorns. He also had some extra time to allow his achy knee to rest and getting his 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds back in the rotation makes the Cyclones stronger.
Niang and guard Monte Morris are the two constants in the Cyclones’ trying season and have sparked the team at every turn. Niang averages 19.0 points per game connecting on 52 percent of his field goals. Morris, who averages 14.8 points and 7.2 assists, played all 45 minutes in Wednesday’s overtime loss.
While Iowa State is a bit depleted, it has one of the better homecourt advantages in the Big 12. The Cyclones knocked off Oklahoma and Kansas at Hilton Coliseum and look to avenge a 94-91 loss to Texas earlier this season. And as we know, it’s hard to win on the road in the Big 12.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Texas is playing its best basketball of the season and was a late Buddy Hield three-pointer away from being tied for the Big 12 lead. With games against West Virginia, Baylor and Oklahoma coming up, it could be easy to overlook the Cyclones, who have struggled with a lack of size and a depleted roster. If the Horns do look ahead, it could be costly. Iowa State is still a player in the conference, and if McKay has his suspension lifted, his return could be the spark that gets ISU back on track. With three losses in its last four games, including an overtime stunner at Texas Tech, Iowa State could use anything right now. Over their last three home games the Cyclones faced the conference’s co-leaders, beating Oklahoma and Kansas while falling by five points to West Virginia. Iowa State is a different team on its home floor and with a jubilant fan base cheering the Cyclones on, that will be the difference.
Iowa State 75, Texas 69
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