The No. 2 Ohio St. Buckeyes will try to reach their fourth-straight Sweet 16 when they face the No. 10 Iowa St. Cyclones on Sunday as part of the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in Dayton, Ohio. The Cyclones haven't reached the Sweet 16 since 1997.
2013 NCAA basketball tournament: Game time, TV schedule for Ohio State vs. Iowa State
Can Iowa State shoot itself into an upset? Or will Ohio State lock down the Cyclone offense?
USA TODAY Sports
If Iowa State pulls off the upset, it will likely be because of their hot shooting. The Cyclones are one of the best shooting teams in the country, finishing 19th in the nation in effective field goal percentage. Tyrus McGee is the biggest outside threat, as he has knocked down 46 percent of his three-pointers on the year. Melvin Ejim complements McGee on the inside, particularly with excellent offensive rebounding. Will Clyburn will be the focal point, and he is a versatile scorer who can beat a team in a variety of ways.
Ohio State brings with it the second-most efficient defense in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes held conference opponents to just 0.95 points per possession and all opponents to a 45 effective field goal percentage. Aaron Craft provides tough man-to-man defense on the perimeter, while Sam Thompson, Evan Ravenel, and Amir Williams take turns protecting the rim.
Deshaun Thomas leads the Buckeye offense, taking nearly one third of the shots while he is on the floor. He hits on 34 percent from three, 50 percent from two, and rarely turns the ball over. Thomas turns the ball over on just 9.8 percent of his possessions, eighth lowest int he country.
The Buckeyes are heavy favorites, but Iowa State’s ability to shoot from the outside is a wild card. Ohio State will be able to limit the Cyclones on the inside. A flurry of threes will be Iowa State’s best shot at advancing.
Game time, TV: 12:15 p.m., ET, CBS
Location: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
More in College Basketball:
See More:
