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NCAA Tournament 2019: Buy or sell Iowa State, Villanova, Buffalo and Maryland?

By Nick Hemming

LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: The Maryland Terrapins bench celebrates a score against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: The Maryland Terrapins bench celebrates a score against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 14: Lindell Wigginton #5, Marial Shayok #3, Cameron Lard #2, and Nick Weiler-Babb #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones react from the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Sprint Center on March 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 14: Lindell Wigginton #5, Marial Shayok #3, Cameron Lard #2, and Nick Weiler-Babb #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones react from the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Sprint Center on March 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Iowa State Cyclones | 23-11 (9-9 in Big 12)

First Round Opponent: #11 Ohio State (Friday, 3/22 @ 9:50 PM)

Head coach Steve Prohm has his Iowa State Cyclones peaking for tourney time, entering March Madness as the #6 seed in the Midwest region after convincingly dominating the Big 12 conference tournament.

All signs surely seem to point to the Cyclones making a run, at least on paper. Four players are averaging double-digit scoring averages per game, with senior guard Marial Shayok leading the way (18.6 PPG). As a unit, Iowa State leads the Big 12 in scoring offense, averaging 77.4 PPG, and they are also efficient from the foul line, leading the Big 12 in free throw percentage (73.2%).

For whatever reason, however, I’ve just got a bad feeling about the Cyclones’ chances. In fact, I feel like the Big 12 as a whole is going to have a tough tournament outing this year. While Ohio State is by no means an intimidating foe, they have enough potential to give the Cyclones a run for their money.

dark. Next. Lower seed who can make a run in NCAA Tournament

This will be the shootout nobody expected, and I think that the Buckeyes just barely find a way to upset the Cyclones on Friday night.

Verdict: Sell (Reluctantly)

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