Open Game Day Thread: No. 1 Texas at Iowa State

Game #16 No. 1 Texas Longhorns (15-0, 1-0) at Iowa State Cyclones (11-4, 0-0)

7:00 pm * Hilton Coliseum (14,356) * Ames, Iowa

TV: Big 12 Network (tv affiliates) or ESPN Full Court * Radio: KVET (98.1 FM)

Ken Pomeroy Ratings: Texas #3; Iowa St. #81

Pomeroy Prediction: Texas 83-72

Previews --

Longhorn Road Trip
TexasSports.com

Austin American Statesman on Damion James

ESPN.com

Quick Keys to Winning on the Road:

1) Make Free Throws: Nothing is going to come easily in the Big XII this season, especially away from home. Texas is one of the more efficient offensive teams in the country, but they won't be able to win on the road without picking up the freebies.

2) Use Timeouts Wisely: This means you Coach Barnes. Rick has been criticized some in the past for not calling timeouts to squash opponents' runs. I haven't seen this in recent years, though. Exepect Barnes call timesouts to calm down his freshmen and to keep the crowd out of the game, as much as that is possible.

3) Limit Turnovers: So far this season, this hasn't really been a problem. Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason have done excellent jobs protecting the ball and Avery Bradley has been solid as well. If turnovers have been a problem for anyone, they have been for J'Covan Brown. But even Brown goes from two assists and four turnovers to five assists and no turnovers the next game. Barnes also has the luxury this season of depth at the guard positions. Whoever is making sure Texas doesn't throw away possessions will get the minutes in crunch time.

4) Make Shots: This one seems silly but it is a definite key. Teams that have trouble scoring are more susceptible to big runs, and consequently, the road crowd gets excited. With Dexter PIttman and Damion James, Texas should never struggle for where to go for points. Feed the bigs and the 'Horns shouldn't go more than a couple of possessions without getting something.

Hook 'em.