The stage is set at Carver Hawkeye Arena for the Cy-Hawk Series game on Friday at 7:00 and no team in the B1G is hotter than the Iowa Hawkeyes after their big win in Chapel Hill against then 12th ranked North Carolina last Wednesday. Iowa State is also coming off of a big win against number 18 Arkansas last Thursday in the Hilton Coliseum. It is Iowa State’s first true road game and it’s not going to be an easy one. The Hawkeyes got the 400th win at Carver on Tuesday against Alcorn State and they will be riding the high of that achievement. The Cyclones are 13th in the nation in points per game (83.6) and 21st in field goal percentage (49.4%). On the other hand the Hawkeyes are 15th in points allowed per game (54.9) and are 27th in blocked shots per game (5.8).

One key factor could be Gabriel Olaseni coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. The 6’10” Senior from London could win the B1G 6th man of the year award this season. So far he is averaging 8.8 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game and is a big force inside as he’s averaging 2.5 blocks per game. Along with dominating of the bench Olaseni has something to really play for. Olasenis father [Benson Olaseni] past away on the morning of Wednesday, November 26th and the Iowa State game is the last game before the funeral on Saturday in London. Benson had been sick for a fairly short time and it was somewhat unexpected that he died. Olaseni decided on his own that he would play that Wednesday against Northern Illinois and played well scoring 10 points with five rebounds and blocked four shots. Last Wednesday he scored seven points and had five rebounds.

George Niang is the player to watch out for on the Iowa State squad. The Junior is already having a great season averaging 18 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game and is one of the best players in the Big 12. After losing Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane, Niang has stepped up and has led the Cyclones to a 6-1 record with their only loss coming against Maryland (9-1) in St. Louis. Iowa State is predicted to be in the top three of the Big 12 and could easily win it.

Personally I believe in the saying “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships” and Iowa has the better defense by far and has home court advantage as well. I believe that the Hawks win close, Iowa 65 Iowa State 61.