The Cyclones got manhandled by the seventh-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers this past Tuesday, 85-72. It was their worst loss of the season, and they are now just 8-8 after opening their campaign with five straight wins.
Saturday afternoon, we can probably expect more of the same. Iowa State has lost all four of their previous matchups versus ranked teams, and one of them was against Kansas (76-72).
Nevertheless, expect the Cyclones’ speedy four-guard combo of Monte Morris (16 PPG), Nazareth Mitrou-Long (15 PPG), Deonte Burton (13.5 PPG), and Matt Thomas (12.2 PPG) to be aggressive right from the get go. They are powering the team to net 80.4 PPG (40th overall). Everyone should be in for another exciting encounter with savvy guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham.
Morris individually had some success in their recent meeting with the Jayhawks. In that close defeat just over two weeks ago, he produced a great stat line of 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, along with a 60-percent shooting.
Iowa State is 4-5 on the road this season (5-4 ATS).
Last week’s embarrassing 16-point loss to the Mountaineers must have fired up the Jayhawks pretty good. Since that defeat, they consecutively knocked out two powerhouse teams – then-number four Kentucky (now eighth), 79-73, and current number two Baylor, 73-68.
Projected NBA lottery pick Josh Jackson is the guy that has stepped up the most in the pair of contests, as he is putting up 21.5 points and 10 rebounds per game on 56.7-percent shooting in that span. He should be able to continue producing such stats on Saturday.
Jackson’s athleticism and scoring ability seems to also mesh really well alongside Frank Mason (19.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.2 APG), who’s one of the most all-around PGs in the nation, and sharpshooter Devonte Graham (13.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.5 threes per game).
The trio’s production is what you’d expect from a team’s “big three.” Along with lifting Kansas to rank 16th in the country in scoring (83.8 PPG) and sixth in offensive efficiency, either one of the triumvirate is also leading the team in points, assists, steals, and threes – Jackson is second in rebounds and blocks.
The Jayhawks are 14-1 at home this season (6-9 ATS).
