Texas (17-9, 6-7 Big 12) vs. #14/14 Iowa State (19-6, 9-4 Big 12)
Saturday, February, 21, 2015 – 1:00PM CST
Frank Erwin Center
The game will be televised by ESPN2.
PREDICTION
After a heartbreaking loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, the Texas Longhorns are looking to bounce back against Iowa State.
The Cyclones got their second road win of the Big 12 season in Stillwater on Wednesday. That win likely gave the Cyclones an added boost to their self-esteem and confidence that Texas has no chance to beat them.
I disagree.
It’s plausible that the Longhorns hot start against Oklahoma was an aberration. However, I believe they have found a system to start scoring – Isaiah Taylor is in mid-season form after his injury, and Myles Turner is asserting himself offensively (that turn-around jumper is impossible to defend).
Defense and turnovers continue to be an issue with this Texas team but Saturday’s focus should be to eliminate those mistakes and create opportunities to get to the free throw line.
Texas battled back against Iowa State in Ames to make it a game late but came up short. I predict that Texas makes it a game early and pulls away late, defending their home court.
Texas 72 – Iowa State 65
SERIES INFO‘”
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[*]Texas leads the all-time series, 17-12.
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[*]Iowa State won the last meeting, 89-86 (Jan. 26, 2015; in Ames).
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[*]Texas has won 11 of the last 15 meetings.
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[*]The Longhorns own an 11-1 record against Iowa State in home games.
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[*]The last win by ISU in Austin came in a 92-80 overtime victory on Feb. 5, 2005.
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TEXAS NOTES‘”
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[*]Texas leads the nation in blocked shots (7.7/game).
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[*]UT held 18 of 26 opponents to below 40% FG shooting this year.
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[*]Myles Turner recorded back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his collegiate career in the last two contests. In those two games, Turner averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while converting 15-of-22 (.682) field goals and 10-of-12 (.833) free throws.
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[*]In the loss to OU, Kendal Yancy reached double figures in scoring (14 points) for the fourth time this year. He also tied his career high in scoring (also had 14 vs. Stanford on Dec. 23, 2014) and field goals made (6-of-14).
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IOWA STATE NOTES‘”
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[*]A victory over Texas would give ISU 20 wins for the fourth season in a row, which would be a first in school history.
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[*]ISU is the only team nationally with six players averaging double figures in scoring.
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[*]The Cyclones are the Big 12’s top scoring team and 11th nationally at 79.6 points per game. ISU’s 48.7 percent field goal shooting also leads the conference and is 13th nationally.
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[*]ISU is fifth nationally in assists (17.2 per game), and has assisted on 60.7 percent of its field goals.
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[*]The Cyclones have a Big 12-best team assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 (seventh nationally), and are averaging 11.5 turnovers/game.
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