Previewing Iowa State Basketball

Iowa State, like Oklahoma, isn't one of the Big 12's top teams this year but just how good they may be is still a bit uncertain when you take a look at their conference schedule. They've got home losses to Texas and Kansas and a road loss at Texas Tech. Their lone conference win this season game at Nebraska earlier this month. The Cyclones have a 12-7 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the Big 12.

Iowa State averages 75 points per game (8^th in the Big 12) and are shooting 47% from the floor (5^th in the Big 12). They are making 42% of their 3-point shots (1^st in the Big 12) which should strike fear in the hearts of a Sooner team that has struggled to defend the perimeter. However, the loss of guard Lucca Staiger to a professional league in Germant last week could significantly hurt the Cyclones from long range. Staiger had been a starter who led the team with 48 three-point shots made and was good for 43% from long range. The Cyclones are relatively weak from the charity stripe where they only converting 62% (11^th in the Big 12) of their free throw opportunities.

Junior forward Craig Brackins and senior forward Marquis Gilstrap lead the Cyclones in scoring and rebounding. Brackins is living up to his preseason All-American status by leading the team with 16.0 points per game and is second on the squad with 7.8 rebounds per game.  For the year Brackins has scored in double figures in all but two game this season and has recorded six double-doubles. Meanwhile, Gilstrap averages 15.1 points per game and leads the team with 9.3 boards per game. In conference play he's leading the Big 12 in rebounds per game with 12.3 and his 18 points per game in conference play gives him a double-double average.  Oklahoma could catch a break here though because Clone Chronicles is reporting that Gilstrap is questionable. In the backcourt, junior point guard Diante Garrett is averaging 8.0 points per game and leads the team in assists (5.4) and steals (1.4) per game. 

As disappointing as the season has been for the Sooners a top four finish in the conference is still within Oklahoma's grasp at this point. There is very little room for error though and the OU must protect the home court. Texas A&M and Texas Tech were winnable games for the Sooners last week but they just couldn't close them out on the road. So far that hasn't been the case at home this year where OU remains perfect. This is a game that the could win, it's a game that they need to win and it's a game that they should win.