In at the moment’s age of school basketball, it will be troublesome to discover a sport with as a lot familiarity in totally different groups as Sunday’s matchup between No. 11 Iowa State and No. 17 Oklahoma.
When the 2 groups sq. off in Norman (2:00 p.m. ESPN2), Ashley Joens will line up on the identical courtroom as her sister, Aubrey, as opponents after she transferred from Iowa State in the low season.
“None,” Joens stated when requested how a lot trash speak she anticipated from her sister. “We’re both going to go out and we’re both going to play. After the game, maybe… It should be fun. It’s just another game – we’re going to go out there and compete.”
Meanwhile, Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly will face off towards Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk, a former coach at Drake, for the twelfth time in their head teaching careers
In 11 conferences, Fennelly’s squads are 8-3, they usually’ve confronted off not less than as soon as each season since Baranczyk’s first 12 months at Drake in 2012.
“They’re going to play the way they play,” Fennelly stated. “Transition defense is going to be emphasized. What we try to tell them is, ‘let’s try to guard the front of their jerseys and not the back.’”
Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation, averaging 89.0 factors per sport offensively.
The type of play is designed to create extra shot makes an attempt with extra possessions, thus the transition protection focus from Fennelly and his employees.
“Obviously, their style is a little unique,” Fennelly stated. “Every coach wants to play with pace. Their pace is on steroids compared to most. The other thing is they are very, very skilled and very, very old. It’s the commitment to their pace and they just keep doing it. If they miss, they just keep shooting it.”
Defensively, although, Oklahoma is ranked No. 331 in the nation, lifeless final in the Big 12 and properly under the nationwide common giving up 74.2 factors per sport.
That quantity is a bit deceiving of simply how good the Sooners are, although.
“It’s not something that they’re going to say is the best defensive team in the country, but the defense improves because their offense puts so much pressure on you,” Fennelly stated. You must hold scoring. They’re sensible, they gamble. They’re going to play some man they usually’re going to play some zone, however once more the stress they’ve on offense goes to assist them on protection.”
Beyond transition protection, Iowa State will attempt to restrict its turnovers.
The Cyclones are averaging 18.0 turnovers per sport so far in Big 12 motion and Fennelly is aware of his staff must take higher care of the ball on the massive stage.
“We’ve just got to be really smart,” Fennelly stated. “We’ve got to take better care of the ball then we have the last two games.”
That goes together with a two-game stretch the place the Cyclones’ 3-point taking pictures has been subpar.
Only time will inform, but when the execution is there, Iowa State could have a 3-0 begin to the Big 12 season.
“We’re gonna have to make some shots,” Fennelly stated. “We’re gonna see some zone and 10-52 ain’t gonna reduce it. We’re gonna get some appears to be like and hopefully have an evening the place we make a pair.
“Hopefully the guys left some good karma for us.”
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