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PROHMBALL XXXV: Iowa State vs. Virginia NCAA Tournament Game Thread

All that stands between the Cyclones and their first Elite Eight since 2000 is the 1-seed in the Midwest Region: the Virginia Cavaliers.

By Kevin Fitzpatrick
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Game Info

The Opponent: Virginia Cavaliers (28-7)

Tip: Friday, 6:10 p.m. CDT - United Center - Chicago, Illinois

TV/Webcast: CBS / March Madness On Demand (Kevin Harlan - PxP, Reggie Miller - Color, Dan Bonner - Reporter, Lewis Johnson - Reporter)

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network (John Walters - PxP, Eric Heft - Color)

Virginia SB Nation Site: Streaking the Lawn

Getting Up to Speed

Iowa State Downs UALR to Qualify for Sweet Sixteen - Another monster game from Georges Niang pushed ISU past the Trojans and into their second Sweet Sixteen in three years.

We're Talking Virginia - KenPom has UVa ranked as the #1 team in the country.

The Sweet Sixteen Troll - Read the post about Virginia that got everyone riled up!

Iowa State Preview - Streaking the Lawn says that if the Cavaliers can make their 3-pointers, they're likely to win tonight.

Iowa St.-Virginia Preview - You've heard about it all week... ISU's offense vs. UVa's defense is what to watch.

Prediction

The game tonight is going to be a whole different animal than what the Cyclones took on in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia is a much more talented team than Iona and UALR, and they're a team that doesn't make many self-inflicted mistakes. For ISU to make the Elite Eight, they're going to have to play some of their best basketball all season long on both ends of the floor.

Personally, I see the key to tonight's game actually being on the end of the floor that fewer people are talking about - when Iowa State is on defense. The Cyclones have done a nice job stepping up the intensity and effort on defense in the last two games, and they'll need to force Virginia to take tough shots. Also paramount for a win are continuing to keep teams off the offensive boards and limiting turnovers. The fewer possessions the Cavaliers get, the better.

This could be one of the best games of the Sweet Sixteen if both teams play to their potential. I hope Iowa State comes out on top and we get the pleasure of watching at least one more game with Georges Niang, Abdel Nader and Jameel McKay in Cyclone uniforms.

Virginia 74 - Iowa State 70

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