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Sometimes you want to make a quick pit stop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot-winning image, here are quick thoughts and the lean on Iowa State vs. Kansas.
No. 3 Iowa State (17-4, 7-3) at No. 11 Kansas (15-6, 6-4)
Date: Monday, February 3
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Each year, nearly every analyst regurgitates the same common college basketball belief: The game is ruled by parity, parity and more parity.
Typically, it’s not an overused statement. With Auburn and Duke possibly the lone exceptions, the hoops junior circuit is steeped in unpredictability. Just look at what transpired over the latest wild weekend.
Seven teams ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll — most of them considerable betting favorites — were upended. That’s only a snippet of the chaos.
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans' latest NCAA Tournament projections ]
And you thought the blockbuster trade involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis was the only sporting development that altered the earth’s axis over the weekend.
Iowa State and Kansas were two of the unfortunate victims. The former inexplicably dropped a home game to Kansas State. The latter was bounced by a hungry Baylor team in Waco.
Suffice it to say, both schools are looking to break out of their midseason funks.
The pick — Iowa State +3 (-110, DraftKings)
T.J. Otzelberger’s Cyclones are trying to recover their defensive identity. Over their past four games, they are an uncharacteristic No. 233 in eFG% defense.
As for the Jayhawks, they’re simply trying to silence doubters — this imbecile admittedly one of them — who genuinely believe they’re more vulnerable than a paper bag in a major hurricane.
Since Jan. 1, Kansas is a laudable No. 8 in eFG% defense, but at No. 161 in eFG% offense, it has displayed sketchy shooting accuracy. Beguiled by questionable guard play, Rock Chalk will be lucky to survive the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Hunter Dickinson is in an advantageous position. The space eater’s rim protection and conversions around the tin will be challenging for an Iowa State club that’s No. 167 in 2-point percentage D in its last nine games.
Despite that mismatch, the Aces from Ames feature a backcourt capable of running circles around KU. Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert are quite the handful. If they attack downhill, attract whistles to get Dickinson into foul trouble and plunge occasional 3-point daggers (36.4 3PT% since Jan. 1), victory will be achieved — even without Milan Momcilovic (hand).
Bottom line: Kansas’s guards could get eaten alive. The Cyclones have forced an opponent turnover on 22.2% of possessions, and the Jayhawks are No. 190 in turnover percentage offense over the last 30 days.
It may not be backed by the Hilton Coliseum magic, but the visiting team — 4-2 on the road this season — waves a wand in the Phog.
Season record: 18-15, +2.72 units