The red-hot Iowa State Cyclones will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown in a Big 12 basketball battle.
TV Schedule: Friday, Mar. 3, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arena: WVU Coliseum
Prediction: Iowa State 77 West Virginia 74
If there is one Power 5 school that flew under the radar in February, that school was the Iowa State Cyclones.
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They began the year ranked in the top 25 but suffered three losses in four games (Gonzaga, Cincinnati and Iowa) and dropped off the national stage heading into Big 12 play.
The Cyclones didn’t have a notable win through the first few weeks of conference play and then dropped a road game to a shaky Vanderbilt team in the Big 12-SEC Challenge. After a home loss to West Virginia, the season turned around in dramatic fashion for Steve Prohm and company.
They snapped the longest home winning streak in college hoops when they knocked off Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse and despite a loss at Texas in the following game, they have won their last six outings to take sole possession of second place in the Big 12 standings.
Suddenly, the Cyclones look like a dangerous contender to make the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend. With Monte Morris riding high, Naz Mitrou-Long, Matt Thomas and Deonte Burton playing solid basketball as the sidekicks and Solomon Young inserted into the starting lineup, Iowa State is suddenly living up to their preseason expectations.
But before they enter the postseason, they have to travel to Morgantown’s WVU Coliseum, one of the toughest venues in the Big 12.
The Mountaineers are sitting in a tie for third place in the Big 12 with a 20-9 overall record and a 12-5 record in league play. They have won three of their last five (losing to Baylor and Kansas on the road), but have some questionable losses in conference play this season (Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech).
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With five seniors on their roster, the Coliseum is going to be emotional and electric. However, Morris is one of the best point guards in the country in terms of securing the basketball. Will West Virginia’s full court all-out pressure rattle him? I think not. Iowa State will even the season series at one.