#13 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Iowa State Cyclones
Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
James H. Hilton Coliseum – Ames, Iowa
Opening Line: Iowa State -2 1/2
Current Line: Iowa State -3 1/2
Opening Total: 146 1/2
Current Total: 147 1/2
Opening Money Line: Iowa State -155 / Oklahoma State +135
Current Money Line: Iowa State -160 / Oklahoma State +140
The 22-6 Oklahoma State Cowboys are 12-4 in the Big 12. The Cowboys are a game and a half behind Kansas and Kansas State for the conference title. Kansas and Kansas State both won their games earlier in the week against Big 12 bottom feeders Texas Tech and TCU respectively earlier in the week. If Oklahoma St wins out and both the Jayhawks and Wildcats both lose on Saturday, it would create a 3 way tie for the regular season title.
However it won’t be easy for OSU, as they have to travel to the 19-10 Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones are 9-7 in conference and in fifth place in the conference. The only home loss for the Cyclones came to Kansas a few weeks ago in overtime. While Oklahoma State is a lock to make the tournament, and could be as high as a 3 or a 4 seed, Iowa State is firmly on the bubble to make the tournament.
Oklahoma State leads the series 63-53 against Iowa State but the Cyclones are 34-14 in Ames against the Cowboys. OSU has won 6 of the last 7 in the series, including 2 in a row. The last 4 games in the series have been decided by one possession or in overtime. Oklahoma State won 78-76 in overtime January 30 in Stillwater on game winning lay-up with 3.1 seconds left from guard Marcus Smart.
Oklahoma St is coached by Travis Ford. The Cowboys have losses at Virginia Tech, Kansas St, Oklahoma and Baylor and at home to Gonzaga and Kansas. OSU has wins over Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina St in a tournament in Puerto Rico along with home wins over South Florida, Missouri St, TCU, West Virginia, Iowa St, Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas 78-65 Saturday. The Cowboys have road wins at Kansas, Texas and Texas Tech, West Virginia, and TCU. OSU has won 9 of the last 10 and 3 in a row. The Cowboys are 14-11-2 ATS and the total is 9-12 this season.
Oklahoma St is outscoring teams 73-61 this season. OSU is shooting 44.2% from the field and 32.4% from 3 point range. The Cowboys are #35 in free throw shooting making 74.2% from the line. Oklahoma St averages 36.8 rebounds per game, and gives up 31.4 per game. Cowboy opponents are shooting 38.6% from the field and 32.4% from 3 point range. OSU is #17 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Cowboys average 12 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks, and 13 turnovers a game.
Guard Markel Brown averages 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Marcus Smart averages 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Guard-forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Guard Phil Forte averages 10.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Michael Cobbins averages 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Kamari Murphy, Philip Jurick, and Kirby Gardner make up the rest of the rotation. Guard Jean-Paul Olukemi (knee) is out for the season.
Iowa St is coached by Fred Hoiberg. The Cyclones have losses to Cincinnati in Las Vegas, at UNLV, and at Iowa. Iowa St has conference losses to Kansas twice, Texas Tech, Oklahoma St, Kansas St, Texas and Oklahoma Saturday 86-69. The Cyclones have lost 2 straight. The Cyclones have key wins over BYU, Drake, Yale, Texas, West Virginia, TCU twice, Kansas St, Baylor twice, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Iowa St is 12-12 ATS and the total is 17-3 this season.
Iowa St is outscoring teams 80-71. The Cyclones are #4 in scoring nationally. Iowa St is shooting 45.3% from the field and 37.2% from 3 point range. The Cyclones make 72.5% of their free throws. Iowa St averages 38.9 rebounds per game and give up 31.4 per game. The Cyclones are #23 in rebounding nationally. Iowa St opponents are shooting 42.5% from the field and 31.7% from 3 point range. The Cyclones average 16 assists, 7 steals, 3 blocks, and 13 turnovers per game.
Forward Will Clyburn averages 14.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Tyrus McGee averages 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Georges Niang averages 11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Forward Melvin Ejim averages 10.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal. Guard Korie Lucious averages 10 points, 5.6 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 1 steal a game. Chris Babb averages 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Percy Gibson, Anthony Booker, and Naz Long make up the rest of the rotation. Gibson leads the team in blocks with 0.7 per game.
Oklahoma State is 5-0 ATS in road games, and 1-5 against teams with winning records. The Cowboys are 5-1-1 ATS in the last 7 in this series. The road team is 3-1-1 ATS in the series recently.
Iowa State is 5-1 ATS in home games, and against teams with winning road records, 10-4 after a straight up loss, 13-6 after failing to cover, and 37-18-2 in Big 12 games. The favorite is 8-2-1 ATS in this series recently. The over is 11-5-1 in the last 17 in the series.
Iowa St is almost unbeatable at home. Even in the Kansas loss, they had a lead late, when the refs called a controversial foul against the Cyclones, that many thought should have an offensive foul against the Jayhawks. Oklhaoma St’s last loss was also to Kansas. The Cowboys are red hot, but I think Iowa St pulls out a gritty home win.
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