Iowa St Cyclones at Texas Longhorns
Frank Erwin Special Events Center – Austin, Texas
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: Longhorn Network
Opening Line: Texas -7
Current Line: Texas -7
Opening Total: 140 1/2
Current Total: 140 1/2
Opening Money Line: Texas -320 / Iowa St +260
Current Money Line: Texas -320 / Iowa St +260
The 14-5 Iowa St Cyclones are 4-2 in the Big and tied for third place in the conference with Baylor, 2.5 games behind first place Kansas. The Cyclones travel to Austin to take on the 12-7 Texas Longhorns who are 2-4 in conference Wednesday night. This is the second meeting between the schools as they opened conference play against each other in Ames. The Cyclones won that game 77-71. Texas has lost 3 games in a row, including 69-66 at home against Kansas Saturday. Iowa St won at Texas Tech Saturday 76-52. Texas leads the series against Iowa St 13-9, including 8-1 in Austin. Before the earlier game this season, Texas had won 7 straight games in the series.
Iowa St is coached by Fred Hoiberg. The Cyclones have wins over Providence, Rice, Iowa, Central Michigan, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma St in addition to the Texas and Texas Tech victories. Iowa St has losses to Drake, Northern Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Kansas.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. Texas has wins over Boston Univ., Rhode Island, Sam Houston St, North Texas, UCLA, Temple, Rice, Oklahoma St, and Texas A&M. In addition to the Iowa St and Kansas losses, Texas also has losses to Oregon St, NC State, North Carolina, Missouri, and Kansas St.
Iowa St is outscoring opponents 75-67 this season. The Cyclones are shooting 45.6% from the field, including 38.1% from 3-point range. Iowa St makes 67.4% of their free throws. The Cyclones average 37.3 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4.5. ISU averages 14.5 assists and 12.7 turnovers a game. The Cyclones average 5.6 steals and 3.1 blocks a game. Iowa St opponents are shooting 42.4% from the field, including 29.4% from 3-point range. The Cyclones force 11.9 turnovers a game.
Royce White leads the Cyclones in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks, and is tied for the team lead in steals averaging 13.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game. Chris Allen averages 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game. Allen shoots 35.1% from 3 point range. Scott Christopherson averages 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He is shooting 40.7% from 3 point range. Tyrus McGee averages 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. He is shooting 46.2% from 3 point range. Chris Babb averages 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Babb makes 35.2% from 3 point range. Guard Bubu Palo is out until late February with a broken wrist.
Texas is outscoring opponents 75-65 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 44.5% from the field, and 33.1% from 3 point range. Texas makes 73.2% of their free throws. The Longhorns average 37.7 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4. Texas averages 13.4 assists, 13 turnovers, 3.9 blocks, and 6.9 steals a game. Texas opponents are shooting 39.5% from the field and 34.9% from 3 point range. The Longhorns force 14 turnovers a game.
Texas guard J’Covan Brown averages 19.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.4 steals a game to lead the team. Brown makes 38% from 3 point range. Sheldon McClellan averages 11.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1 steals a game. Myck Kabongo averages 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists to lead the team, and 1.2 steals a game. Jonathan Holmes averages 8.2 points, and 5.4 rebounds a game. Julien Lewis averages 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a game. Clint Chapman averages 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game to lead the Longhorns in both categories.
Texas is 5-9 against the spread and the total is 6-8 overall. Iowa St is 8-7 ATS and the total is 7-8 this season. Iowa St is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 against Texas. Six of the last seven games in the series have gone over the total. The Cyclones are 4-1 ATS in road games, as a road underdog, and in road games against teams with winning home records, 8-2 in Big 12 games, 6-2 as an underdog, 11-5 against teams with winning records, 6-19-1 as an underdog of 7-12.5 points, including 3-14 on the road, 1-4 after a cover, and 0-4 in Tuesday games. The Longhorns are 21-8-1 ATS in Tuesday games, 3-7 at home, and after a cover, 5-12 overall, 2-5 in Big 12 games, 4-10 against teams with winning records, 2-7 as a home favorite, including 1-5 as a favorite of 7-12.5 points, 2-7 as a favorite, including 1-5 as a favorite of 7-12.5 points.
Iowa St is overachieving so far with a 4-2 conference record, after going 3-13 last year in the Big 12. Texas is in a rebuilding year. I like the Cyclones to keep it within the number, and maybe even pull off the upset.
