Luckily for the Hilton Coliseum crowd, the Iowa State and Texas men’s basketball teams will be wearing different colored uniforms. Otherwise the teams just might be too similar.

Like ISU, Texas is loaded with young talent, has struggled this season and remains optimistic.

The Cyclones head into tonight’s 8 p.m. game at 9-10 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12. The Longhorns are 8-10 and share the same conference record.

Despite Texas’ under .500 record, ISU’s Associate Head Coach Sam Weaver is impressed with the club’s talent.

“Texas is an outstanding young basketball team, he said. “I think their future really, really looks bright.”

“They’re really coming together. They’ve had some tough games, like we’ve had, but now they’re really coming together. They’ve got their full contingent back,” Weaver said.

Part of their contingent is the presence of two freshmen big men, Luke Axtell and Chris Mihm, who are both averaging double-figures.

Mihm’s 7-foot frame will provide the toughest test for the ISU defense.

He has scored a total of 44 points in his last two outings.

“We just have to get out and defend him,” Weaver said. “We’ll study some tapes and try to come up with something that will work on him. I’m sure they’ll try to do the same thing against [Marcus] Fizer.”

ISU is also led by a rookie in Fizer, who is averaging 15.1 points per contest.

But according to Weaver, Fizer is a freshman by class only.

“That label was dropped probably in the third ball game when the young man really showed how competitive he can be and how well he could score,” he said. “We expect him night in and night out to play well.

“He kind of eliminated that label himself with his work ethic and ability to score inside.”

Despite the tough times in conference play, both coaches remain positive about turning their seasons around.

Texas Coach Tom Penders said, “We haven’t given up on this team yet. We’re sitting on a keg of dynamite with all of these great young players, and the worst thing I can do is get down on them.”

Weaver said, “I think our guys are beginning to get a full understanding of how we have to play to win ball games. Now we’ve just got to make it happen.”