Iowa State
vs.
Kansas
College Basketball
Pick
1/17/15
The Big 12 has an insane seven teams currently in the Top 25 of the AP Polls. There are only 10 teams in the conference. This matchup features the two highest ranked teams of that group.
This is an interesting Game for a number of reasons. Kansas is usually the hands down favorite in the Conference every year, but a lot of people are saying this could be the year they slip up due to the depth in the conference. In previous years, Iowa State has always given the Jayhawks trouble in this matchup in Ames. More often than not, Kansas has prevailed, though. The Cyclones put a ton into this Game, but have now lost Four straight regular season Games to the Jayhawks (beat them in Big 12 Tourney last season).
While many are doubting Kansas’ ability to win the Conference this year, the same can be said about Iowa State. This team may not be as good as previous versions, but they are chugging along. ISU has now been in Four straight close Games, with the first of those being a surprising loss to South Carolina. In their opening Big 12 Games, they beat Oklahoma State 63-61 at home and then had a nice 74-72 win at West Virginia. However, they fell on Wednesday in the final seconds to Baylor on the road.
The thing about the Big 12 this year is that there aren’t going to be any freebies and saying Kansas is in the midst of Four straight Games vs. ranked teams may not mean that much because so is everyone else. The Jayhawks already have a nice road win at Baylor in their opener 56-55 and have taken care of work at Allen Fieldhouse in two other Conference Games. They have an unexplainable 25-point loss at Temple from late December, but besides that have been successful with wins over Michigan State and Utah.
The question for this Game will be if Iowa State can deal with the size of Perry Ellis and Cliff Alexander for Kansas. Defending those guys is going to be a major issue as well as getting rebounds. The Cyclones are a small team as usual, but maybe even smaller this year. A big part of their success could fall on Jameel McKay off the bench, as he is the team’s tallest player. If Ellis or Alexander get going in the paint, it could mean trouble quickly for Iowa State.
And then there’s point guard Frank Mason, who has stepped up in his second season with the team, being an all-around player, who knows he has to lead the team.
The Cyclones are their usual efficient selves, being one of the best teams in the nation at scoring, assisting and in field goal percentage. Having to come out and guard guys like Georges Niang will be a problem for Kansas, and that’s how ISU usually has success. Remove the big shot blockers from the paint and it opens things up.
Every one of Iowa State’s starters can shoot the ball from range, but it’s going to be elsewhere on the cOurt that the Cyclones have to play well if they want to win. They can’t be dominated on the boards and newcomer Bryce Dejean-Jones will need to help out. It’ll be a wonder how long McKay will play due to the size of Kansas. McKay could be the most important player in this Game for the Cyclones.
This will no doubt be a close Game that comes down to the wire. Kansas has the edge in the paint, but Iowa State has a huge home cOurt advantage that can’t be forgotten about.
We like Kansas by 14
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