#19 Texas Longhorns at #17 Iowa State Cyclones
James H. Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa
Tuesday, February 17, 2014, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Iowa State -5 1/2
Current Line: Iowa State -6
Opening Total: 153
Current Total: 154
Opening Money Line: Iowa State -200 / Texas +170
Current Money Line: Iowa State -260 / Texas +220
The 19-5 Iowa State Cyclones host the 20-5 Texas Longhorns in a key Big 12 game Tuesday night. Texas is 9-3 in the Big 12 and in second place behind 10-2 Kansas. Iowa State is 7-5 and tied for fourth with Kansas State. Texas has won 9 of their last 10 games including 2 straight. Iowa State has won 4 of their last 5 games.
Texas leads the series 17-10 against Iowa State, but the Cyclones are 7-4 in Ames against the Longhorns. Texas won earlier this season January 18 in Austin 86-76.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. The Longhorns have losses to BYU in Kansas City, at home to Michigan State and Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, and at Kansas State. Texas has key wins over DePaul in Kansas City, at home against Vanderbilt, at North Carolina, at home against Rice, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia Saturday 88-71, plus road wins at West Virginia, Baylor and TCU. Texas is 12-10 ATS and the total is 12-10 this season.
Texas is outscoring teams 77-70 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 44.2% from the field and 33.5% from 3 point range. Texas makes 66.7% of their free throws. The Longhorns are #279 out of 351 teams in free throw shooting. Texas opponents are shooting 39.8% from the field and 34.1% from 3 point range. Texas is #29 in opponents’ field goal percentage. The Longhorns average 42.3 rebounds per game and opponents average 29.7 per game. Texas is #5 nationally in rebounding. The Longhorns average 12.2 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 6.3 steals, and 6.1 blocks per game. Texas opponents average 12.6 assists, 12.6 turnovers, 6.6 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Texas forward Jonathan Holmes averages 13 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Guard Javan Felix averages 12.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Isaiah Taylor averages 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Center Cameron Ridley averages 11.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. Guard Demarcus Holland averages 8.1 points, 5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Demarcus Croaker, Connor Lammert, Prince Ibeh, and Kendal Yancy will also get significant time in the rotation.
Iowa State is coached by Fred Hoiberg. The Cyclones have losses at Oklahoma, Kansas twice, at Texas and at West Virginia. Iowa State has wins over Michigan, at BYU, Auburn, Northern Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa, George Mason, Akron, and Boise State (all in a tournament in Honolulu), Northern Illinois, Texas Tech twice (including 70-64 Saturday in Ames), Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, and TCU. The Cyclones are 10-12 ATS this season and the total is 12-9-1 this season.
Iowa State is outscoring teams 84-74 this season. The Cyclones are #5 in scoring nationally and #269 out of 351 teams in points allowed. Iowa State is shooting 47.2% from the field and 34.2% from 3 point range. The Cyclones make 69.6% from the free throw line. ISU opponents are shooting 41.4% from the field and 33.4% from 3 point range. The Cyclones average 38.9 rebounds per game and opponents average 35.4 per game. Iowa State is #26 in rebounding and #336 in rebounds allowed. The Cyclones average 18.6 assists, 10.6 turnovers, 6.4 steals and 3 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.5 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 5.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game.
Forward Melvin Ejim averages 18.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Georges Niang averages 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Guard DeAndre Kane averages 15.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Forward Dustin Hogue averages 10.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1 assist per game. Matt Thomas, Naz Long, and Monte Morris all average at least 6.6 points a game.
Texas is 4-1 ATS against teams with winning records. The over is 13-4 ATS in this series recently, including 4-1 ATS in Ames.
Iowa State is 4-1-1 ATS in Tuesday games, 12-5 against teams with winning road records, 1-4 after a straight up win, 1-7 after failing to cover, 1-8 against teams with winning records, 1-9 overall and against Big 12 teams, and 0-5 at home. The home team is 5-2 ATS in this series recently.
Iowa State is much better at home, with the only loss coming to Kansas in a close game. Texas might be the second best team in the Big 12, but both Iowa State and Texas have some head scratching losses. Of course, in the Big 12 this year, 9 of the 10 teams can beat any of the other teams on a given night, except for last place TCU. I think Iowa State uses some of the so called Hilton Magic to win a close game at home.
