UNI vs. ISU - thoughts/predictions?

[NENick]

I follow UNI nearly as much as ISU. Sorry, I really don't find their style or pace boring or ugly. Not nearly as much fun as a Cyclone run, but nothing wrong with it, just different. They'll never have the athletes to play fast, but they're good and well-coached (obvious). Pickford has a lot of the attention, along with Koch and Carlson, but guard play will be really important (ISU advantage). The way McCloud plays will be critical for UNI.

That said, I like the resilience shown by the Cyclones. They can win in a variety of ways. Can rebound with UNI. I'll go with 70-64 ISU.

 

[awd4cy]

UNI 68
Iowa State 57

Our half court offense is really going to struggle and don’t think we get in transition much.

 

[dirtyninety]

Prohm burger--77
Jake Steak-- 74

 

[clonedlion]

I think this is a coaching mis match. Jacobsen has been established. You know what you get from him and his teams. This is also a talented UNI team. I have watch them play and they will play to their strength and make ISU slow it down. Prohm was supposed to bring a defensive mindset, but so far has shown his teams can execute his offensive system down the stretch, when trying to slow it down. Instead they have continued to play a faster game. Something UNI won't do.
ISU has yet to play anyone of note. Iowa is a bad basketball team and they had it close through out. UNI is fundamentally sound and efficient.
UNI controls every part of this game and wins it by 7-9 points.

 

[SeventhSon]

UNI plagued by turnovers and inability to score. ISU does just enough.

65-59 ISU

 

[CySmurf]

Best team we've faced to this point. I think the fact UNI has been tested several times already this season bodes well for them in this one. A learning moment for us. UNI 77 - ISU 68

 

[Blandboy]

Jackson finds his shot...ISU by 5

 

[cyclones500]

What is KenPom predicting?

I don't track KenPom much. Massey has it ISU 67-64, which seems in range to me, maybe plus-minus a few either way. But Massey isn't super-reliable this early in the season, either.

 

[cyclones500]

I penciled this as loss in preseason, I'll stick with it and hope I'm wrong. UNI by 5. Neutral floor, UNI may be further ahead of its curve so far, I think ISU is still building its rhythm. A month from now I could see it more like 5 in ISU's favor.

 

[allfourcy]

I think this is a coaching mis match. Jacobsen has been established. You know what you get from him and his teams. This is also a talented UNI team. I have watch them play and they will play to their strength and make ISU slow it down. Prohm was supposed to bring a defensive mindset, but so far has shown his teams can execute his offensive system down the stretch, when trying to slow it down. Instead they have continued to play a faster game. Something UNI won't do.
ISU has yet to play anyone of note. Iowa is a bad basketball team and they had it close through out. UNI is fundamentally sound and efficient.
UNI controls every part of this game and wins it by 7-9 points.

Jacobsen has had our number a lot regardless who was our coach. Not going to lie, I don't like this game, never have. Seems like its always a big time struggle, even when we've had real good experienced teams. Hate to agree with your prediction, but I think we'll have to hear after the weekend how UNI is the best team in the state. But at least it doesn't usually indicate what success follows for the rest of the season.

 

[BryceC]

My Panther PTSD is flaring up. I can't pick ISU over them.

 

[UNIPantherFan]

Considering Jacobson is 5-1 against us and this isn't one of our better teams you shouldn't be that surprised.

Edit
The chart I was looking at was prior to the Big 4.
It looks like he is 6-2.

Jacobsen has had our number a lot regardless who was our coach. Not going to lie, I don't like this game, never have. Seems like its always a big time struggle, even when we've had real good experienced teams. Hate to agree with your prediction, but I think we'll have to hear after the weekend how UNI is the best team in the state. But at least it doesn't usually indicate what success follows for the rest of the season.

As has been noted, Jake is 6-2 all-time vs. ISU. Those two losses were also in overtime.

 

[SerenityNow]

This will tell us a lot about ISU and how they've come since the Missouri game, since UNI is the best team we will have played by far. I'm going to say Jackson is the x factor. If he is on, ISU wins. If not, we lose.

 

[UNIPantherFan]

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little surprised with the responses so far with so many people picking UNI. I honestly believe the game will come down to the wire with the final margin being 5 points or less either way. Really surprised by those of you picking UNI by double digits as I just don't see that happening with our style of play.

UNI has beaten four Top 100 RPI/KenPom teams so far and here are the margins of victory:
UT-Arlington (RPI 67/KenPom 90) - won at home by 4
SMU (RPI 72/KenPom 23) - won on neutral court by 3
NC State (RPI 80/KenPom 75) - won on neutral court by 4
UNLV (RPI 98/KenPom 73) - won in OT at home by 9

ISU is 40 in RPI/63 in KenPom (as of this morning) - comparable to some of these teams. UNI could certainly win, but I don't see them running away with it.

 

[Dandy]

Hold on. Let me get this straight.

Are there really a lot of Cyclone Fanatics picking UNI? Are they that good?

 

[ruxCYtable]

Unfortunately, I'd have to say UNI by 8. Despite seven game streak and improvement, I just don't think we're very good yet.

 

[tazclone]

The low score predictions are interesting considering iSu scored 79 points the last time and 91 points the time before that. I get that UNI has held us below 70 four out of the seven times but all but one of those years were McDermott teams.

I see this game in the lower 70s which is lower scoring for iSu but not terribly low. Lard gets two quick fouls on him and Koch has a good night. UNI wins 74-71.

 

[tazclone]

Pickford is 3 of 23 from 3 pt land his last 5 games...yikes.

 

[tazclone]

UNI 68
Iowa State 57

Our half court offense is really going to struggle and don’t think we get in transition much.

I don't understand this. iSu has scored less than 60 points against a Ben Jacobson coached team only twice. The first two years Greg McDermott was at iSu.

 

[cyclonedave25]

Pickford is 3 of 23 from 3 pt land his last 5 games...yikes.

He’ll go 6/10 this weekend, not kidding.
ISU always seems to help slumping shooters.