Iowa City, Iowa – The Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team will be looking to post an upset when they host third-ranked Iowa State Thursday night in the 78th meeting in the series. The Hawkeyes are 7-2 after an 85-83 loss at 14th ranked Michigan. Senior forward Payton Sandfort.
For a team hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament it is a chance for an early resume-building win.
To have a chance the Hawkeyes must handle Iowa State’s toughness and relentless defense.
One of the biggest questions for this contest is will this game even be close? The winning margin in the last six games has been 14 points or more, including last year when the Cyclones posted their most lopsided win in the series 90-65 in Ames.
That’s Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. Two years ago in Iowa City the Hawkeyes ambushed the Cyclones at the start and led by as many as 29 points enroute to a 75-56 win. Otzelberger says a better start is a must in this game.
Otzelberger says the keys remain the same in every road game.
Iowa State is 7-1 and a number three ranking in the AP Poll is the highest since 1957. Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffery says a strength of the Cyclones is depth.
The Cyclones win with defense and toughness and they have already played two teams ranked in the top five.
McCaffery says the Hawkeyes must prevent the Iowa State guards from dominating the game.
Iowa has won four of the last six games and leads the al-time series 48-29. Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and the game will be televised by Fox Sports One.
