Iowa travels to face rival Iowa State

DES MOINES - This could have been the year the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry meant more than just bragging rights.

The Hawkeyes were supposed to be better in 2011-12, with an established core bolstered by added depth. The Cyclones brought in four Division I transfers, led by Big 12 preseason Newcomer of the Year Royce White, and figured to have enough talent in place to improve on last season's 3-13 finish in the league.

So far, neither team has proven much of anything.

Iowa (5-4) is floundering. The Hawkeyes fell apart in an ugly 80-60 loss at Northern Iowa on Tuesday night, its fourth defeat in six games. Iowa State (6-3) has been uneven at best, dropping games to instate rivals Drake and Northern Iowa.

The Hawkeyes and Cyclones renew their annual series Friday night in Ames, and it's still a big deal to the two programs.

"When they see the crowd, the energy in the building, they'll understand the magnitude of this game," said Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, who played against Iowa four times and coached the Cyclones to a 75-72 win in Iowa City in 2010. "There is something different about it. There's something special about the atmosphere."

Iowa's biggest issue so far has been the play of point guard Bryce Cartwright and forward Melsahn Basabe.

Cartwright sat out Tuesday's loss to the Panthers with a sore hamstring and didn't practice Wednesday. Cartwright probably won't start against the Cyclones, and it's doubtful he'll see any meaningful minutes against the Cyclones.

Basabe went through a recent four-game stretch where he scored just eight points, which has allowed defenses to focus on senior Matt Gatens. He leads the Hawkeyes with 13.8 points per game, but he's been held under 10 in the last three games.

"He's getting mugged. That's the bottom line. Teams are keying on him," coach Fran McCaffery said. "He's got to get some help, too. Some other guys have to step up and score."

The Cyclones lack a true point guard and, as expected because of all their new pieces, are having trouble finding a rotation that works.

It looks as though Iowa State will put the ball in the hands of Chris Allen instead of Scott Christopherson, a dangerous spot-up shooter who seemed somewhat miscast as a point guard.

Allen has typically played shooting guard as well, but he's a veteran who could best help the Cyclones get into a consistent flow on offense. Allen looked sharp in that role in Tuesday's 84-59 win over Prairie View A&M, with 16 points and seven assists against just one turnover.

Iowa State may have also found an inside combination that works in White, who's averaging 14.8 points and 9.9 rebounds, and Percy Gibson. A freshman, Gibson played a season-high 27 minutes the win over Prairie View A&M and responded with 15 points and seven rebounds.

"Iowa beat us up on the board last year, and it's something that we're really going to have to focus on if we want to have a chance," Hoiberg said. "They both have really good instincts on the glass, and those two guys have really developed a bond and a closeness where they know where each other are at all times."

With wins over the Cyclones and the Hawkeyes, it sure looks as though Northern Iowa is once again the best team in the state.

But the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry still resonates within the state as the biggest game of the non-conference season.

"It's as good a rivalry as you're going to have for two teams that aren't in the same conference," McCaffery said. "It gives something for people to talk about."