Kansas State Wildcats (15-8, 3-5) AT Iowa State Cyclones (14-9, 1-7)
Hilton Coliseum — Ames, Iowa
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 — 12:47 PM CST
Big 12 Network | ESPN Full Court | ESPN3.com
This is such a tricky game. Iowa State is the worst team in the conference, simply because of its lack of depth, and K-State is riding a four-game winning streak in Hilton Coliseum. So, easy win, right?
Not so fast, my friend. These Wildcats can't afford to chalk up any road victory, not even one in the one-time land of Hilton Magic.
Such risk is validated by the three BIG 12 OUTLOOK predictive systems, all of which anticipate a narrow Cyclone victory.
Which will it be? Will the Cats enter their bye week with some momentum, as well as a chance to win in Boulder and get back to .500 in Big 12 play? Or will they drop their fifth straight conference road game and put their tournament hopes on life support. We'll know in less than three hours...
You can read my preview of Iowa State here or chat with Cyclone fans at Clone Chronicles.
Predictions:
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BracketCat: Kansas State 71, Iowa State 70
GAMER: Iowa State 73, Kansas State 71
Pomeroy: Iowa State 72, Kansas State 71
Sagarin: Iowa State 72, Kansas State 71
From the K-State Sports Information Department:
Kansas State (15-8, 3-5 Big 12) will renew one of the oldest rivalries in the Big 12 today when the Wildcats travel to Ames, Iowa, to play Iowa State (14-9, 1-7 Big 12) at Hilton Coliseum at 12:30 p.m.
The Wildcats and Cyclones have met 210 times, dating back to 1909, and have played at least twice a year since 1918.
The teams will play for the 94th time in Ames today, with K-State winning each of the last four meetings at Hilton Coliseum, dating back to 2007.
It is the longest winning streak in the series on the road since the Wildcats won six straight in Ames from 1972-77.
The squad had won eight in a row in the series until the Cyclones knocked the Cats off 85-82 in overtime at Bramlage Coliseum to spoil Senior Day last season.
The 49 wins are the most on an opponent’s home court, while it is the only home court upon which the Wildcats hold a winning record.
The contest will be broadcast regionally on the Big 12 Network, with Chad McKee (play-by-play) and Rich Zvosec (analyst) on the call.
Locally, the game will be available on KSHB-TV in Kansas City, KSAS-TV in Wichita, and KSNT-TV in the Manhattan and Topeka areas.
It also will be available nationally on ESPN Full Court, as well as on the Internet at ESPN3.com.
The Wildcats will look to continue their winning ways in the month of February when they head to Ames with a nine-game winning streak in the month, dating back to a 77-72 victory over Nebraska at home on Feb. 28, 2009.
The nine-game streak is the longest in the month since the team won 10 straight from 1976-77 to 1977-78.
The current nine-game winning streak, including a perfect 7-0 mark in 2009-10, which was the first unbeaten February since the 1976-77 squad went a perfect 8-0.
The recent success in the month is in contrast to the team's performance in January, in which the Wildcats just wrapped up a 3-5 mark — its first losing mark in the month since going 2-6 in 2003-04.