:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68848161/usa_today_15516834.0.jpg)
The No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners have only played one game since the last meeting with the Iowa St. Cyclones, so OU will hopefully be fresh for today’s matchup in Ames.
With the postponement of this week's OU-Texas game, the #Sooners will hit the road to face Iowa State (Saturday) and Kansas State (Tuesday).
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) February 17, 2021
Coming off a win at West Virginia, this will be the first time since 1996 that OU has played three straight conference road games.
No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (13-5, 8-4 Big 12) at Iowa State (2-15, 0-12 Big 12): 5 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum (Ames, Iowa)
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Commentary: Mark Neely and Tim Welsh
Radio: Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing
Line: Oklahoma -12 (as of 10 a.m. CT)
About Iowa State
- Since the last meeting, Iowa State has dropped games to TCU (79-76) Kansas (97-64, 64-50) and Oklahoma State (76-58).
- The Cyclones are led by guard Rasir Bolton, who averages 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per outing. However, Jalen Coleman-Lands has had the hot hand, as he’s averaged over 17 PPG since the last meeting and scored 20 in each matchup with Kansas.
- After hitting 16 of their 31 three-point attempts in the last meeting, the Cyclones have cooled down significantly, hitting just shy of 27 percent of their attempts since then.
Three Things
Hilton skid - OU has lost nine straight at Hilton Coliseum, with the last win coming in Jeff Capel’s final season (2011). Iowa State is not its usual self in 2021, and the capacity will be limited, so now is as good an opportunity as any to end the streak.
Bracketology - ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Sooners as a No. 3 seed in his updated bracketology entry, while CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm has OU all the way up to the 2 line as of Saturday morning. Meanwhile, OU is currently No. 18 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which is one of the tools the selection committee utilizes to seed the field.
Umoja on fire - Transfer guard Umoja Gibson has hit 15 of his 29 three-point attempts over the last four games, averaging 15.8 points and hitting at least three threes in each of the contests.
Prediction
Austin Reaves has been nothing but clutch in his two games since returning from COVID-19 protocol, and his steady hand will be needed if Iowa State is able to keep this close once again. Fortunately, that likely won’t be needed, as a fresh OU team should come out firing on all cylinders.
Oklahoma 83, Iowa State 68