Iowa State is coming off their big win over the Boilermakers on the road. Their offense has averaged 94.6 points per game and it’s hard to replicate that performance in back‑to‑back games, especially in a rivalry game. Iowa will attempt to slow down the game, defend the perimeter, and have longer possessions. The Cyclones have won and covered three of the last four meetings, but this isn’t a Fran McCaffrey Iowa team, who played very little defense. Ben McCollum’s Hawkeyes have a bigger emphasis on defense and should make the necessary adjustments after their blowout loss to Michigan State in their first true road game.

Iowa from the Big Ten is 8-1, and Iowa State from the Big 12 is 9-0, and both teams have covered seven of nine games. After beating St. John's by one two weeks ago, Iowa State has gone on a run of beating its next four opponents by 18 points or more. They had their best win in their last game at Purdue, winning 81-58, shooting 58%, and 48% from three. They've beaten Iowa the last 2 years by nine points or more. Iowa State leads the nation in field goal percentage, hitting 54.9% and is No. 3 in three-point shots made at 43.8%. Iowa played its first road game 9 days ago at Michigan State and lost by 19. Iowa State.

It's fair to speculate if the Hawkeyes can really keep pace in "Hoops Cy-Hawk" after Iowa lost contact vs. Michigan State last week. The task of slowing ISU's offense (better than 94 ppg and hitting north of 54% from the floor) will likely come down to how well Ben McCollum's offense controls pace and tempo, and preventing the Cyclones from deploying their devastating transition game that helped bury top-ranked Purdue last Saturday. Easier said than done, but even if winning the game might a real stretch for Iowa, McCollum's team can slow the pace as good as any, and with four starters (including star G Bennett Stirtz) hitting better than 50% from the floor, the Hawkeyes can afford to be patient. Play Iowa-ISU Under