Cyclones vs Huskies Pick – NCAA Tournament
The Cyclones has made it to the second weekend of the tournament but not without casualty as F Georges Niang, their third leading scorer is out indefinitely. This happened in their first game and it was impressive the way they regrouped to beat North Carolina. [ad-4468020]
#3 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #7 Connecticut Huskies
Friday March 28
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
7:27PM
Moneyline: Iowa State -125, Connecticut +105
Spread: Iowa State -1.5
Total: 146
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Iowa State
Iowa State is a small team made smaller by the injury. Fortunately, for this round at least they will not have to worry too much about getting beaten up inside as that is not UConn’s game.
With Niang out the pressure is on seniors Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane.
The duo is very capable of leading them to more victories but odds are someone else has to emerge. This team is going to be looking outside for one of their shooters to get hot but I think freshman forward Dustin Hogue might be the key.
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The springy forward leads the team in rebounds and could be a monster on the offensive glass, even more than he already was. He is efficient when he gets the ball too at 55% shooting.
I know Iowa State is the lower seed but I thought they would be the underdog in this one.
Losing Niang is tough but also they are travelling quite a ways to play a foe that is really comfortable in this particular neutral site. The pace of this game should be fantastic with lots of perimeter action. I think they will probably fall just a little short.
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Connecticut
The Huskies are looking a lot like the team that won a championship a few seasons back against Butler.
They are guard oriented again and have a gutsy playmaker who just has a taste for the moment. That team had a much stronger inside presence to play defense and rebound but for this one at least they are unlikely to be exposed.
I don’t know if this will be the best game to watch but it might be the most fun.
That gutsy playmaker is of course Shabazz Napier. He does everything for the Huskies and best of all is fantastic when it matters most.
As good as he is I am pleased to see DeAndre Daniels playing well. For the first time all season he has put up 6 double-digit scoring games in a row and he gives Napier the chance to take at least a few possessions off.
Ryan Boatright can also be a tough guard but he is not a great shooter.
Connecticut is super familiar with MSG and I think that will be a factor. Their fans travel well and they know the routine of getting it done in NYC.
Since I think this game is pretty even I think that can be enough to push them over the finish line.
The number is essentially a pick’em and I say Go Huskies
Spread prediction: Connecticut +1.5
Total prediction: Over
Score prediction: Connecticut 85 – Iowa State 81
