I'm scared...

[mred]

ISU plays at Drake tomorrow night. Both teams are ranked for the first time in the series history. ISU has lost two straight @ Drake ('97, '99) and the way ISU is playing I'm afraid it'll become three. The team is not looking very good right now, and injuries have taken their toll (Coach Fennelly said that Cofield, Bremer, and Paustian could not have played in a game this weekend, but fortunately there was no game to be played). As far as I know, all injured players should be back tomorrow, but I'm not certain.

Regardless, my gut feeling is that ISU has less than a 50% chance in this game. Fortunately, ISU has a lot of experience in close games so far.

[CyFanRick]

I agree with you MRED. ISU and Drake have been trading wins the last few years with the home team on top. Drake looks to be pretty tough right now and ISU doesn't look like the team from last year. It should be a good game to watch, but as much as I love ISU, I think the advantage is with Drake.

[swok34]

Given that the game is at Drake, I agree it will probably be a close one.

[dem]

Let me add my concerns to those of the other Iowa State fans. This has all the makings of a VERY tough game for ISU, and it will be a real test for this team full of newcomers. ISU crushed Drake last year in Ames and you can be sure that the newspaper clippings about that game have been posted in the Drake locker room. It is sure to be a near sell-out, and the very enthusiastic Drake fans create a great home court advantage. Iowa State will have to come out with ferocious determination, or they will be in danger of getting splattered.

[ChipperF1]

Can't wait to check out the E. Wayne Cooley Bowl at Knapp Center
Hmm...tough to make a pick here....

Iowa's best teams. Iowa's best centers.....dang who to take....who to take http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[mred]

From last year's game (I guarantee there won't be a repeat):
---------------------------
The No. 7-ranked Cyclones bolted to a 17-0 lead in the first 2:52 and beat Drake 88-58 Wednesday night, the most lopsided victory over their in-state rival since winning the first game of the series 95-29 in 1975.

"In all my years of coaching, I don't know if I've ever had a team start 17-0," Fennelly said. "My son, Billy, got here late, the clock said 18:30 and we were up 10-0 and he told his mom they must have stopped the game because the scoreboard wasn't working."