Iowa State basketball: What to watch for vs. Texas Tech
By Brian Spaen
The biggest gaffe in the Iowa State basketball season was barely showing up at the end at Lubbock. With all five losses on the season coming on the road, the Cyclones are still trying to figure out how to create Hilton Magic away from Ames. For now, they’ll focus on getting revenge on Texas Tech.
Red Raiders knock off another Big 12 foe at home
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On Wednesday, Kansas State had a horrendous night on offense in a 64-47 loss to Texas Tech. It didn’t help that Marcus Foster and a frequent bench player was suspended for the game for a violation of team rules. Still, the Wildcats crumbled near the finish by not scoring for five minutes with around seven minutes to go in the game.
Sometimes, Texas Tech’s defense can be impressive. Iowa State learned it the hard way in Lubbock when the Red Raiders had the perfect storm of forcing bad shots and drilling everything from downtown on offense. TTU holds opponents to 62.9 points and, more impressively, just 11.1 assists per game (64th nationally).
Can Iowa State start a game on their tempo?
The Cyclones have had a major issue when opponents hold their teams to a low amount of assists. They tend to play into their enemy’s trance until they finally break through and go on a run. Sometimes it’s too late once they get out of it — being down by nearly 20 in Lubbock is too much of a hole to climb out of.
Since the game now two Saturdays ago, Iowa State has grown further away from “Hoiball” — the exception being 20 assists to 29 field goals made against Texas. That game also gives a firm reminder that even if Iowa State starts the game on their tempo, they have to close it out the same way.
[Niang]has scored 19 or more points in each game and has shot at 50 percent or better from the field while attempting 13 or more shots.
Will anyone stop Georges Niang?
Leading the team with 15.6 points per game, Niang has emerged as the player of the year candidate he was hailed as during the preseason. Since the Texas Tech loss, Iowa State’s talented forward has scored 19 or more points in each game and has shot at 50 percent or better from the field while attempting 13 or more shots. Niang took the loss seriously, and you can bet he won’t be looking past Tubby Smith’s squad again.