Iowa State at Oklahoma
Tip: 8:00 PM (Central)
Location: Llyod Noble Center (Norman, OK)
TV: ESPN2
Series History
Oklahoma leads the overall series against Iowa State, 116-87, and has a 65-23 advantage when playing in Norman. The Sooners have won five of the last six games between the two schools in games played in Norman.
Needing To Stay Hot
Forward Brady Manek shot 7-of-10 (4-of-6 from 3-point range) in an 18-point performance against West Virginia. Although Manek’s efforts game in a losing effort, it goes without saying the Sooners need him to stay hot in order for them to have a chance to upset the 17th ranked Cyclones.
Plus Side = Good, Minus Side = Bad
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that rebounding gives you an advantage in the game of basketball. In Oklahoma’s three conference wins they’ve been on the plus side in rebounding. In the three losses, you guessed it, they’ve been minus.
In 15 wins this season, Oklahoma is winning the rebounding margin by an average of 5.3 boards.
The 70/30 Factor
The Sooners are 9-1 when limiting opponents to under 70 points. They are also 14-1 when scoring at least 30 points in the first half.
No Easy Looks
Oklahoma’s opponents are shooting 39.6 percent from the field, which is the second lowest opponent field goal percentage in the conference and 18th nationally.
All By Himself
Senior Christian James is the only guard in the Big 12 averaging at least 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. He currently ranks fifth in the conference in scoring.
Team Leaders
James paces the Sooners (15-6, 3-6) both in scoring and rebounding, with 16 points per game and seven boards. Brady Manek is the only other player in double figures with an average of 11.4 points per game.
Freshman point guard Jamal Bieniemy continues to lead the team in assists, with an average of 3.1 per game.
On the season Oklahoma is scoring an average of 72.6 points per game while opponents are scoring an average of 67.6 points per game.
Scouting The Cyclones
Iowa State (17-5, 6-3) is led in scoring by Marial Shayok’s 19.2 points per game. He’s one of four Cyclone players averaging in double figures. Talen Horton Tucker (12.5 PPG), Lindell Wigginton (12.4), and Michael Jacobson (12.1 PPG) round out ISU’s scoring leaders.
Jacobson also leads the team in rebounding with an average of six boards per game.
On the season the Cyclones are scoring 79 points per game and their opponents are averaging just 65.3 points per game.