CyHawk Basketball 2017: Previewing the annual rivalry game

It’s the annual CyHawk basketball matchup today. We are breaking down the matchups in the big in-state rivalry game that will happen in Ames this season.

This week’s games include the annual CyHawk basketball game between Iowa and Iowa State. Last season’s game saw the Hawkeyes upset the more experienced and talented Cyclones. That victory broke a three-game losing streak for the boys from Iowa City. This season shifts the action back to Hilton Coliseum in Ames and features two squads going in very different directions at this stage.

Iowa has faltered badly in recent weeks. The Hawkeyes have lost five of their past six largely due to inconsistency on both ends of the floor. Their offense is bogged down with too many bodies in the rotation and too much positional overlap; using 11 or 12 guys does not allow for any one group to get into rhythm. Nine of those players also stand at least 6’7″, which would be great if any save Jack Nunge was much of a threat from deep. The sheer number of big men is causing too many issues with spacing and ball movement. The team also appears disinterested on defense, which again is related to how many guys see the floor in any given game. Major adjustments need to happen for this squad to rebound going forward.

On the other side, we see a surging Iowa State program. The Cyclones have won five straight after dropping their opening two games. The move from Donovan Jackson to Nick Weiler-Babb at point has produced big time and allowed some of ISU’s athletic talent to flourish on the wings. Their depth could be tested, however. Swing-man Zoran Talley is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot and wing Jakolby Long is still recovering from a concussion. That would drop Iowa State’s available bodies to just eight. Careful play will be needed to avoid giving too much defensive ground via foul trouble. Otherwise, the Cyclones are easily the hotter team in what should be a fascinating and unpredictable game.