2012 Big 12 Tournament – Quarterfinals
#6 Texas Longhorns vs #3 Iowa St Cyclones
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Missouri
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 9:30 pm Eastern, TV: YES, Altitude, MASN, ESPN Full Court, Big 12 Network
Opening Line: Texas -1
Current Line: Iowa St -1
Opening Total: 139
Current Total: 138 1/2
Opening Money Line: Texas -115 / Iowa St -105
Current Money Line: Iowa St -115 / Texas -105
Most experts think the 19-12 Texas Longhorns need at least one more win to secure an at large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Longhorns were 9-9 in Big 12 play, and they take on the #3 seed 22-9 Iowa St. The Cyclones tied with Baylor for third place in the conference with a 12-6 record. Iowa St had the tiebreaker.
Texas lost at Kansas 73-63 to close out the regular season Saturday. The loss snapped a two game winning streak for Texas. Iowa St has won 4 of their last 5 games including an 80-72 win at home against Baylor Saturday. The win clinched the 3 seed in the tournament for the Cyclones.
Texas leads the series against Iowa St 14-9. The two teams split the regular season series, with each team claiming a close victory at home. Iowa St won in Ames 77-71 January 4 to open Big 12 play, while Texas won January 24 62-55.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. The Longhorns have wins over Bradley, Rhode Island, UCLA, Temple, Rice, Oklahoma St, Texas A&M twice, Texas Tech twice, Kansas st, and Oklahoma twice. Texas has losses to Oregon St, NC State, North Carolina, Missouri twice, Kansas twice, Baylor twice, Kansas st, and Oklahoma St.
Iowa St is coached by Fred Hoiberg. The Cyclones are projected by most experts to earn an at large bid to the NCAA tournament whether they win the Big 12 tournament or not. Iowa St has wins over Providence, Rice, Iowa, Central Michigan, Texas A&M twice, Oklahoma St, Texas tech twice, Kansas, Kansas St twice, Missouri and Oklahoma twice. The Cyclones have losses to Drake, Northern Iowa, Michigan, Missouri twice, Kansas, Baylor and Oklahoma St.
Texas is outscoring opponents 73-66 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 44% from the field, and 32.9% from 3 point range. Texas makes 73.3% of their free throws. The Longhorns average 36 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +3. Texas averages 12.6 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 3.7 blocks, and 7 steals a game. Texas opponents are shooting 41% from the field and 35.1% from 3 point range. The Longhorns force 13.9 turnovers a game.
Texas guard J’Covan Brown averages 20 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Brown makes 37.5% from 3 point range, and is in the top 20 nationally in scoring. He leads the Longhorns in scoring and steals. Sheldon McClellan averages 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1 steal a game. Myck Kabongo averages 9.8 points, 3 rebounds, 5.3 assists to lead the team, and 1.2 steals a game. Julien Lewis averages 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1 steal a game. Clint Chapman averages 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game to lead the Longhorns in both categories. He also scores 7.2 points a game. Jonathan Holmes averages 7.1 points, and 4.9 rebounds a game. Forward Alexis Wangmene is questionable with a wrist injury.
Iowa St is outscoring opponents 74-67 this season. The Cyclones are shooting 45% from the field, including 38.2% from 3-point range. Iowa St makes 67.7% of their free throws. The Cyclones average 36.6 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4.7. ISU averages 14.6 assists and 12.5 turnovers a game. The Cyclones average 5.8 steals and 3.2 blocks a game. Iowa St opponents are shooting 43.8% from the field, including 30% from 3-point range. The Cyclones force 12.1 turnovers a game.
Royce White leads the Cyclones in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks, and steals averaging 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1 block a game. Scott Christopherson averages 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He is shooting 45.5% from 3 point range. Chris Allen averages 12 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game. Allen shoots 38.7% from 3 point range. Melvin Ejim averages 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Chris Babb averages 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Babb makes 33.9% from 3 point range. Tyrus McGee averages 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. He is shooting 40.8% from 3 point range.
Iowa St is 18-8-1 ATS and the total is 13-14 this season. Texas is 9-16-1 ATS and the total is 13-13 this season. Iowa St has covered 5 of the last 6 against Texas, and 10 of the last 13 in the series have gone over. The Longhorns are 4-9-1 ATS in Thursday games, 2-5-1 after a cover, 1-4 overall, and in Big 12 games, 0-4-1 after a straight up loss, and 0-5 in neutral site games. The Cyclones are 4-0 ATS after a cover, 7-1-1 after a straight up win, 4-1 in neutral site games, 20-6-1 in Big 12 games, 22-8-1 overall, and 35-17 against teams with winning records.
Texas opened as a 1 point favorite, but the line has rightfully moved to Iowa St -1. The Cyclones are one of the hottest teams in the country ATS and Texas has struggled to cover consistently. Iowa St is a very dangerous team and could be a nice dark horse pick to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Take Iowa St to win.
As Championship week heats up, our college basketball handicappers are red hot as well. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season
