Iowa State Men’s Basketball Preview: We’re Talking Mississippi State

SB Nation

Last Time Out

Iowa State easily handled Grambling State 102-62 at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones shot 55% from the field and 38% from 3. Joshua Jefferson led the way with 20 points on 8-10 shooting with 8 rebounds. 5 other

players finished in double figures, including the freshman Killyan Toure and Jamarion Batemon. Both had 11 points. Tamin Lipsey had 10 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals. It was an all around strong effort in a “buy game”. One thing to keep an eye on is free throw shooting. Iowa State shot 18-29 from the line. They can generate fouls and get to the line, but they’ll need to make more of them as the opponents get better.

About Mississippi State

The Bulldogs won 21 games last year and made the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight year under coach Chris Jans. This year’s team will feature an almost completely different cast of players, but Jans has a reputation of deliberate tempo and strong defense. I have no doubt this team will be any different. In their only game this season, they beat North Alabama 86-62, but only led by 1 point at halftime before pulling away. Josh Hubbard led the way with 27 points. Expect a physical game with an emphasis on chasing offensive rebounds. I would say they are kind of a diet version of Houston with the way they crash the boards.

Player to Watch

Mississippi State begins and ends with Josh Hubbard. He is a 6’0” junior guard that has been the Bulldogs’ leading scorer since the minute he stepped on campus. Last year, he averaged 19 points per game, and this year he looks poised to top that. He’s not terribly efficient with his shots, but he is a high volume shooter. He’ll just keep putting up 3 pointers until they go in. Against North Alabama he had 8 assists, but that is a real outlier compared to his career averages. The good news for Iowa State is that we have guards that should be able to bother him on defense.

Pick 3

1 – Tamin and Toure each have 3+ steals

2 – Joshua Jefferson has a double-double

3 – Hubbard shoots under 40% from the field

Prediction

This should be the perfect early season test for Iowa State. Mississippi State is a quality opponent that will really stress our ability to generate offense and secure defensive rebounds. This will be a huge test for Iowa State’s front court. Joshua Jefferson and Blake Buchanan will have to be on top of their game in this one and stay out of foul trouble. If Hubbard is going to be the primary ball handler, I really like having Lipsey and Toure to throw at him and make him uncomfortable. Beyond that, it’s just going to come down to making shots. Milan Momcilovic has to shoot with confidence and be ready to fire away. I say we make just enough 3s to leave Sioux Falls with a W.

Iowa State: 70

Mississippi State: 67