Christian Royston, Sports Editor
No. 10 Kansas State 72, No. 2 Iowa State 68
When it comes to predicting the outcome of these games, it is really hard to paint myself as a villain and take a step back to look at the game from an unbiased perspective, but someone has got to do it.
For me, it really is as simple as siding with the team that is hotter and hungrier. Kansas State wanted to win the regular season finale more than Iowa State. The Wildcats wanted to win their first tournament matchup against Texas. Now, they want to keep their NCAA Tournament dreams alive by taking down Iowa State yet again.
I really do want to think that the Cyclones can come back from whatever slump they are in, especially with how much they seem to want revenge against Kansas State. However, since the Houston game, they have not looked like their old selves. The Cyclones are tired, battered and bruised, and a slightly longer rest than normal will not make too much of a difference.
On the other hand, Kansas State has all the momentum on its side. Given the fan turnout against Texas, Iowa State will struggle to call the T-Mobile Center Hilton South with the sheer number of Kansas State fans ready to push their team to the next day.
Iowa State’s lack of offensive presence paired with Kansas State’s pressure and defensive intensity could cause the Wildcats to stick in the game through the full 40 minutes. I see Iowa State falling in the final minutes after Kansas State comes back from another game to keep its Cinderella story alive.
Logan Shanks, Assistant Sports Editor
No. 2 Iowa State 70, No. 10 Kansas State 65
I know that Kansas State just beat Iowa State, pretty handily, less than a week ago. I’m a firm believer in T.J. Otzelberger and his staff, and I do not think this team would lose to the same team twice in one week.
The Cyclones know what they have to do: get back to what has worked for them offensively and stay fast defensively. They failed to execute on the few turnovers they did force in their last matchup and that was due to taking poor shots.
Now, this is going to be a close one. Both teams have shown they can go on runs but also have head-sinking scoring droughts. There will be times when Iowa State goes on a 10-0 run and the same for Kansas State, but it will come down to who answers back the best and makes the sharpest midgame adjustments.
This is something the Cyclones have thrived on recently. In their four close wins prior to the team’s loss against the Wildcats, the Cyclones have made defensive adjustments which have played a huge role in winning games late.
Atmosphere-wise, I am expecting a true neutral site as both fanbases should show out and T-Mobile Center will be rocking. This is going to be a good one, but I expect Iowa State to know where it is at this point in the season and know that the team cannot go into the NCAA Tournament with two straight losses and an offense that relies too heavily off its defense.
