#12 Texas (18-4, 5-2) looks to make it three in a row and two straight on the road as they travel to Ames to tangle with Iowa State (13-10, 3-5). Game will be televised on ABC (regionally) at 2:30 pm.
To be honest, there is only one thing that scares me about this game and that is the traveling that Texas has done over the last four days. The Horns probably left Norman late on Wednesday night, spent Thursday in Austin, and then traveled to Ames on Friday. Thankfully, this is an afternoon tip and not a morning one, but something about this one feels like an 11 am football kickoff. I hope I'm wrong because Texas has a tremendous advantage in talent and, on paper, shouldn't struggle in this one. But I won't be surprised if Texas comes out a little slow and flat.
Keys to the Game:
(1) Get Damion James and Connor Atchley involved early. I know that Texas can take care of business against lesser teams when the guards do the majority of the scoring. However, for this team to be elite, they will need a more balancing offensive attack.
(2) Keep the crowd out of the game. Clone Chronicles has already let us know that weather may keep some of the Cyclone faithful at home. Hilton Coliseum is still a difficult place to play. All time, Texas is just 2-5 in Ames. If Texas can get start quickly, then the Horns should roll, just like Kansas and A&M did earlier this year.
(3) Play up-tempo. Iowa State would like nothing more than a slow, half-court game. While the Horns are far from the Phoenix Suns, their offense is more effectve when they can get easy looks in transition and score off turnovers. The quicker the pace, the more the game will favor the Horns.
Vegas has the Horns as six point favorites and Pomeroy is predicting a 70-62 Texas win. I think that is about right. Texas probably start slowly, again, but gets it together in the second half.
Statesman.com on Horns' Slow Starts
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