Big 12 Tournament Preview: Iowa State Cyclones vs Oklahoma Sooners
By Brian Spaen
Feb 20, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Melvin Ejim (3) scores over Baylor Bears center Isaiah Austin (21) during the second half at the Ferrell Center. Iowa State won 87-82. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
(5)Iowa State Cyclones vs (4)Oklahoma Sooners
Sprint Center | Kansas City, MO
Time – 11:30 AM CT | TV – ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Depending on what bracket prediction you look at, the Iowa State men’s basketball team is either slighty in or has both feet in the door for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. With a victory today, it will all but seal the deal for the Cyclones.
They will take on the Oklahoma Sooners to open up quarterfinal action in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship. Both teams have nearly similar resumes; they finished with an 11-7 conference record, and Iowa State has one more victory over .500 simply because they’ve played one more conference game.
They split the season series 1-1 with neither team having any success on the road. Iowa State’s 3-point barrage early gave them a big lead at home. Oklahoma executed nearly flawlessly at home hitting all 34 free throw attempts and taking advantage of a Cyclone team still frustrated by the loss against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum five days before.
If Iowa State wants to make their case, they have to continue winning away from Hilton. They’re just 5-9 on the road, and one of those came in a neutral site game against Drake. Three of those came against Missouri-Kansas City, TCU, and West Virginia.
Projected Starting Lineups
Based on team notes.
Iowa State Cyclones
- Korie Lucious
- Will Clyburn
- Chris Babb
- Melvin Ejim
- Georges Niang
Oklahoma Sooners
- Sam Grooms (1, G)
- Steven Pledger (2, G)
- Je’lon Hornbeak (5, G)
- Amath M’Baye (22, F)
- Romero Osby (24, F)
Keys to the Game
Don’t send OU to the line. That doesn’t mean “not play defense” in the first half like in Norman, but don’t give up cheap fouls. Especially when they’re shooting. The Sooners are the best team in the conference.
Melvin Ejim needs to stay out of foul trouble. With Anthony Booker likely not playing, ISU needs all the size they can get to match up with Romero Osby.
Play with pride. It’s been eight years since Iowa State has won a game in the Big 12 tournament. They need to show the selection committee that they belong.
Prediction
The rubber match should be better than the first two meetings. Despite giving up a big lead against West Virginia, the Cyclones have impressed since getting blown out by these Sooners a few weeks ago.
This losing streak in the tournament should end. Fred Hoiberg will implement the right gameplan, 3-point shooting may not go down as easy as it did in Ames, but they shouldn’t have trouble draining them against this team. It should be a fantastic start to a fun day in KC.
Cyclones 76, Sooners 74