For a team that is holding a very mediocre 11-10 overall record and is currently last in conference play at 1-7, Missouri has been an interesting team this season.

The Tigers have had serious ups and downs over the last month, and have been the most erratic team in the Big 12 thus far.

Missouri lost by an average of 15.5 ppg in back-to-back games against Big 12 doormats Kansas State and Colorado, and followed that by beating then-No. 10 Baylor by eight—all in a span of two weeks.

Just three days prior to beating Baylor, Missouri took then-No. 13 Oklahoma to the wire, losing by a single point in the game’s final seconds.

“Offensively they run a lot of stuff,” said coach Bill Fennelly. “But they have been kind of like us—a little inconsistent. But when they get it going and they get energized they’re playing with a positive, nothing to lose attitude. If they get hot and play the way they want to play, they’ll be good.”

For the second straight weekend, the Big 12 scheduling committee opted for another Sunday afternoon game for the Cyclones in lieu of the traditional Saturday matchup. This follows last weekend’s road game at Kansas State.

“We kind of have a rhythm now after having a Sunday game last weekend too,” said senior Alison Lacey. “We’ll get the day off tomorrow then have an extra day to travel, so we’re getting settled in after doing it against K-State.”

Last Sunday’s matchup wasn’t kind to the Cyclones, as they were upended by the conference’s 9th place Wildcats 73-67 on the road in Manhattan.

While the extra day over the weekend may give Iowa State some much-needed rest, it will, however, force them to be on the road while the rest of the nation is enjoying Super Bowl Sunday.

“After what I saw tonight (against Texas Tech), I think our team needs an extra day off,” Fennelly said. “Then we get a couple more days off with no weekday game next week. I’d rather be with my family like everybody else on Super Bowl Sunday, but it is what it is and ultimately that day off is probably going to help us.”

This second weekend road match in a row will give Iowa State another chance to take the first game in the home-away series with a North opponent. A win on the road would propel the Cyclones to an early advantage in the series before Missouri pays a visit to Ames in two weeks.

“When you play Northern Division teams on the road first, it’s a chance to steal a game and come home with a better chance to sweep,” Fennelly said. “It always makes it easier on us when we can get the first one.”

Wins away from Hilton Coliseum haven’t eluded the Cyclones by any means this season, as they boast a 5-3 road record which includes a big win at then-No. 20 Texas and a resume-boosting nonconference win over Minnesota.

The Cyclones took both games against Missouri in decisive fashion last season, and hope that the tough challenges they have experienced on the road this season will contribute to another strong showing on Sunday.

“We’ve played well on the road this year,” Lacey said. “It’s always great to steal a game on someone else’s home court, but it’s not easy going anywhere and getting a win in this conference. But if we stay fundamental and stick to coach’s scouting report we’ll be just fine.”

Tip-off at the Hearnes Center in Colombia is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest.