The last time Iowa State traveled into Allen Fieldhouse, the team escaped with an overtime win. Can they take down Kansas again on the road?
TV schedule: Tuesday, Jan. 9, 9:00 p.m. ET. ESPN2
Arena: Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Big 12 conference is going to be a dogfight night in and night out. No team knows this more than Kansas 12-3 (2-1), who already gets everyone’s shot since the team has their consecutive regular season title streak. They had a shootout win at Texas, were blasted by Texas Tech at home, and survived another high-scoring game on the road, this time at TCU.
Devonte’ Graham had an unbelievable night in that last game, scoring a game-high 28 points and making all eight of his free throws in the final two minutes. Svi Mykhailiuk had 20 points and six assists, and reserve forward Mitch Lightfoot had arguably his best game in a Jayhawks uniform, with nine points, seven boards, and, most importantly, six blocks.
The one concern with this Kansas team is on defense. In the first three conference games, Bill Self’s team has given up at least 84 points and, with a short rotation, fatigue concerns may be coming into play for them down the road.
Their hope is an easy game against the only team without a league win in Iowa State 9-5 (0-3), who lost both games in overtime last week. Senior guard Donovan Jackson had a career-high 30 points in his last time out but received little help from his teammates.
In the past few years, no team may have been a bigger thorn in the Jayhawk’s side than the Cyclones, who went to Kansas and won 92-89 in overtime behind 29 points from Deonte Burton and 25 from Monte Morris last season. But all the Cyclones in that recent era are gone, and Steve Prohm is starting anew. The opening of Big 12 play has shown the growing pains, as well as the potential.
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For Kansas to successfully defend the team’s regular-season title, this is a must-win game against the worst team in the league. But this is a scrappy Iowa State team that won’t go away quietly. The first 30 minutes will be within single-digits before the Jayhawks pull away.
Prediction: Kansas 88 – Iowa State 71