This is Georges Niang’s last season in the NCAA and it would be nice for him if the Iowa State Cyclones avoid another embarrassing first round defeat in the tournament. It was just last year when the Cyclones were quickly thrown out of the tourney with a loss to the UAB Blazers. Will the Cyclones take care of the Iona Gaels? Or will Iona show Iowa State the door right away?
For more March Madness previews, you can check out our breakdown of Utah vs. Fresno State and Dayton vs. Syracuse.
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March Madness No. 4 Iowa State vs No. 13 Iona Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago
When: Thursday, March 17, 2:00 PM ET
Line: Iowa State Cyclones (-7.5) vs. Iona Gaels (+7.5); total: 166.5– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State’s offense features lots of ball and player movement. The Cyclones make 16.8 APG and 21.6 percent of their two-point jumpers have come off assists. They can’t also be left alone beyond the arc as they are knocking down 8.3 threes per game on 38% shooting.
Georges Niang is unquestionably the leader of Iowa State with the senior having gone through a lot as part of the Cyclones’ program. Niang tops the team with 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Aside from Niang, the Cyclones have six players averaging at least 10.0 PPG, which goes to show how deep this squad is.
The problem for Iowa State, though, is a defense that looks very vulnerable. The Cyclones are letting opponents score 75.0 PPG. Iowa State is the type of team that can’t get the job done on defense so it really have to get its offense going to avoid getting upset by Iona.
The Cyclones have a noticeable size advantage in the backcourt for this game with the Gaels having two guards standing below six feet.
Iowa State is 3-1 ATS in its last four games.
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Betting on the Iona Gaels
Expect a heavy dose of A.J. English for the Gaels this coming Thursday. Because if Iona is going to take down Iowa State, the Gaels need their top scorer to explode.
English can score with the best of them, as the senior guard is averaging 22.4 points per game and had seven outings in which he scored at least 31 points. Up againt ISU’s porous defense, English can get hot early and just be in the zone the rest of the way.
There’s more to Iona than English, though. The Gaels managed to rank 26th in points (79.6 PPG) because of an excellent supporting cast. That group includes Jordan Washington (13.8 PPG), Deyshonee Much (13.1 PPG), and Isaiah Williams (13.1 PPG).
The Gaels are among the best three-point shooting teams in the nation, making 10.0 threes per game on 37.2% shooting. Expect English and company to take plenty of threes against Iowa State’s defense that allows 23.1 three-point attempts per contest.
Iona is 3-1 ATS in its last four games as an underdog.
Writer’s Prediction
Iona (+7.5) wins, 81-79.
