*******OU-Iowa State Game Thread*******

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209389973

QUICK PREVIEW
Riding a four-game winning streak and alone in second place in the Big 12, No. 23/25 Oklahoma (17-4, 6-2) travels to take on No. 16/18 Iowa State (15-4, 3-4)on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT inside Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Sooners, who have beaten three top-12 teams in their last six games, are coming off an 88-76 home win over No. 8/10 Oklahoma State on Monday. The Cyclones, who have lost four of five, fell 92-81 at Kansas on Wednesday.

ON THE AIR
Saturday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM "The Franchise" in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck calling the action. The game will be televised by the Big 12 Network (KOCB Ch. 34 in OKC; KMYT Ch. 41 in Tulsa) with Mark Neely and Rich Zvosec announcing.

THE SERIES
Oklahoma owns a 112-81 all-time record against Iowa State and is 14-9 since the formation of the Big 12. OU is 37-47 in the series in Ames (4-6 since Big 12’s inception). Last season’s 83-64 ISU win in Ames marked the Sooners’ largest margin of defeat in conference play, as OU’s starters each scored in single digits and combined for only 26 points (box score on page 25 of these notes).

PREVIEWING IOWA STATE
Picked fourth in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, Iowa State (15-4, 3-4) was one of the last five undefeated teams in the country (14-0) but has lost four of five games since. The No. 16/18 Cyclones rank sixth nationally in scoring offense (87.0 ppg) and rank second in the nation in assists (18.1 apg). In Big 12 play, they rank third in scoring (78.6 ppg), last in scoring defense (78.7), third in field goal percentage (.451), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.322) and sixth in free throw percentage (.707). They are coming off a 92-81 loss at first-place Kansas on Wednesday. ISU is 9-1 at home this year, with its only loss coming to KU (77-70 on Jan. 13).

Iowa State boasts three of the Big 12’s top 10 scorers, including senior forward Melvin Ejim, who paces the league with his 17.9 points an outing. Ejim, who led the league with his 9.3 rebounds a game last season, is shooting .516 from the field and averages 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Senior guard DeAndre Kane, a first-year Cyclone who transferred from Marshall, ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.6), 11th in rebounding (6.8), second in assists (5.6) and second in steals (1.5). He turned in a 23-point, 9-rebound, 4-assist game against OU three weeks ago. Sophomore forward Georges Niang averages 15.8 points (ranks 10th in league) and 3.7 assists. Junior forward Dustin Hogue averages 11.7 points and ranks second in the Big 12 with his 9.1 rebounds an outing.

Fred Hoiberg is in his fourth year as a collegiate head coach and owns a 77-43 record. He was a 1995 third-team All-American at Iowa State and is the school’s third-leading all-time scorer (1,993 points). The Ames native played 10 years in the NBA.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

This would be a big win. I hope the guys can pull it off.

 

[pnkranger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Agreed. No reason to panic if we lose. We're in great position...but if we win. Time to get fired up.

 

[BCSooners]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

81-77 OU, Hield goes off.

 

[BigTime]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Not feeling great about this one but would love to be wrong:

OU: 70
ISU: 81

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Agreed. No reason to panic if we lose. We're in great position...but if we win. Time to get fired up.

If we can win and if Texas beats KU, we have a chance to win the conference.

 

[pnkranger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

If we can win and if Texas beats KU, we have a chance to win the conference.

Long way to go...

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Long way to go...

Agreed, but other than Lawrence, Ames is the toughest place to win a road game. A lot can happen but a win there would signal we are contenders for the regular season race.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Agreed, but other than Lawrence, Ames is the toughest place to win a road game. A lot can happen but a win there would signal we are contenders for the regular season race.

Actually, OU does slightly worse at both Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

 

[slappy in OP]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Big game for the team. If we get this one.........:woot

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Actually, OU does slightly worse at both Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

Now your splitting hairs. They are all tough places to play but when ISU is good Hilton Coliseum is as tough a place to play as anywhere in the country.

The same can be said for OSU and KSU but I think ISU is a little better than both of those, but we will see.

 

[Chaser728]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Do I believe OU can pull this one out? Yes. Do I think it will happen tomorrow? No. I just think there are too many factors going against us:

1. Law of averages would have us due a loss.
2. ISU just needs this win way more than we do.
3. They want revenge.

However, as was stated earlier in this thread, if I am wrong and we actually pull the upset; it is time to start thinking bigger things then just winning one game in the tourney. IMO we lose by 5 in a game that we had once lead by 10.

85-80 ISU. And let me make one more prediction: KU will get beat tomorrow, which might make this loss sting a little more than it would have.

 

[pnkranger]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

I just don't see KU losing to UT. And if UT wins, I will be more than willing to appoint them as the 2nd best team in the big 12 until they prove me otherwise.

 

[TheGimper]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

I don't see OU winning tomorrow and I'm prepared for that. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't loved to be proved wrong.

 

[BigTime]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Clones on OU: http://cyclonefanatic.com/basketball/mens/news/williams-blog-time-for-a-lineup-change/

 

[AltSooner33]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Do I believe OU can pull this one out? Yes. Do I think it will happen tomorrow? No. I just think there are too many factors going against us:

1. Law of averages would have us due a loss.
2. ISU just needs this win way more than we do.
3. They want revenge.

However, as was stated earlier in this thread, if I am wrong and we actually pull the upset; it is time to start thinking bigger things then just winning one game in the tourney. IMO we lose by 5 in a game that we had once lead by 10.

85-80 ISU. And let me make one more prediction: KU will get beat tomorrow, which might make this loss sting a little more than it would have.

These are basically my thoughts today, besides hilton just being a hard place to go into and win. There just seem to be a lot of other factors going against us as well. But if we can somehow go in there and pull it off, I'm not even sure where I should start setting my expectations for this season.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

These are basically my thoughts today, besides hilton just being a hard place to go into and win. There just seem to be a lot of other factors going against us as well. But if we can somehow go in there and pull it off, I'm not even sure where I should start setting my expectations for this season.

Reverse psychology eh? Not supposed to win this game, so if we lose no freakouts, but if we win...lets say im doing a shot for every point we win by and then some

 

[DoraNi]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Well, I'm wearing my lucky OU hoodie, whatever that's worth...hoping for a good game.

 

[MNsooner]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Missed a good opportunity there. I liked the D on the first possession though.

 

[MNsooner]

Re: *******OU-Iowa State Pregame Notes/Predictions/Game Thread*******

Buddy showed up to play. We need to settle down though.