Low boil for this Hawkeyes-Cyclones basketball game?

Maybe this is totally wrong, but I'll suggest it anyway.

It seems like the anticipation and buildup for Thursday's Iowa-Iowa State men's basketball game is less than their meetings of the last few years, at least in my part of the state.

Is it because Iowa's football season was extended a week into December and people of the Hawkeye ilk haven't transitioned to roundball? Maybe.

Is it because the Hawkeyes have lost twice and aren't in the national basketball mind-set, while Iowa State has cruised to a 7-0 start and is second in the coaches' poll, and fourth Associated Press' rankings? Maybe.

Is it because this game is on a Thursday night instead of the Friday it has been played on for a long time? Doubtful.

But there's no question things will be as ramped up as always inside Hilton Coliseum. And it has no reason not to be an interesting game.

Senior forwards Jarrod Uthoff of Iowa and Georges Niang of Iowa State have been terrific in their last four games. During that time, Uthoff is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots. In Niang's last four games, his averages are 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Both teams have veteran point guards in Mike Gesell and Monte Morris. Iowa's Gesell averages 6.9 assists. ISU's Morris averages 7.3.

Hawkeye guard Peter Jok averages 12.9 points. Cyclone guard Naz Mitrou-Long averages 12.9 points.

The two teams have senior centers — Jaleel McKay of Iowa State and Adam Woodbury of Iowa — who have skills that could give each other trouble.

It has no bearing on this game, but former Hawkeye Devyn Marble and ex-Iowa State player Melvin Ejim are teammates on the Erie BayHawks of the NBA D-League. Entering their game Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors' D-League affiliate in Mississauga, Ontario, Marble is averaging 15.7 points, Ejim 15.3.

Coincidentally, Mitrou-Long is from Mississauga.

Anyway, this Iowa-ISU game may not have been hyped as much as others in recent years. But I have expectations that it will be highly entertaining. So there.