Can Iowa Stay with Iowa State Tonight?

Iowa State's perfect record is tested tonight by the Iowa Hawkeyes. Fran McCaffery is just 1-4 against the Cyclones. Can he get win number two tonight?

Iowa makes the trek to Hilton Coliseum in Ames for tonight's game and what they'll find is a loaded basketball team. The Cyclones are ranked second in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll and fourth in the Associated Press. Their schedule to this point hasn't included any ranked opponents, but that doesn't make what they've done any less impressive. Iowa State has had only one game decided by less than 10 points... their opener against Colorado. The Cyclones have five different players that average at least 12.5 points per game. No other Top 25 team can make that claim. The four senior starters (Niang, Nader, Mitrou-Long, and McKay) combine for 60 points per game.

On the Iowa side... the Hawks had four tests in a row in games with Dayton, Notre Dame, Wichita State, and Florida State. They lost the first two and won the first two before two blowouts in the past week. Both Notre Dame and Wichita State were ranked at the time the two teams met. Iowa  will also be looking to their seniors tonight especially in the Hilton Coliseum environment, one of the toughest in hoops. Iowa also features four senior starters (Gesell, Clemmons, Uthoff, and Woodbury). Their combined average pales compared to Iowa State's fantastic four, at 43.4 points per game. Still, very solid. Will Iowa's experience help it enough on the road? Iowa will be playing its fourth game in nine days tonight but if they lose, place no blame on that... Iowa State is an excellent basketball team.

Steve Prohm looks to become the first Iowa State coach to ever start his career 8-0. Even though I'm a Hawkeye fan, I'll be surprised if that doesn't happen. I also won't be surprised it the outcome isn't decided until the final minute. It usually isn't. Tip-off is tonight at 6:31 on ESPN2.