Iowa Hawkeyes to Face Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames

As the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to face off against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting showdown on December 7th. The Hawkeyes are coming into this game with a mixed bag of performances, but there's reason to believe they could pull off an impressive performance against their state rivals.

In their last outing on December 5th against the Purdue Boilermakers, IOWA struggled defensively, allowing 87 points and failing to contain the Boilermakers' paint presence which resulted in a staggering 50 points in the paint. With only three blocks and five steals, defense was clearly an issue for IOWA as they lost by a significant margin.

However, looking back at their November 30th game where IOWA scored an astounding 103 points against North Florida Ospreys shows that when they're on form offensively, they can be unstoppable. Their field goal percentage was an impressive 59 percent and even more notable was their three-point shooting at 57 percent accuracy. This offensive prowess coupled with a solid defensive effort of six blocks and nine steals led them to a comfortable victory.

The key for IOWA will be consistency; if they can replicate the high-energy offense and tighten up defensively as seen in previous games like their November 24th win over Seton Hall Pirates where they shot over half from both field goals and two-point range while maintaining good ball movement with twenty assists, then fans could witness quite the spectacle.

The Cyclones should not be underestimated though; any team playing in front of its home crowd is bound to have an extra edge. It will be crucial for IOWA's players to maintain composure amidst what is sure to be a raucous atmosphere.

All eyes will be on how well IOWA can execute defensively while maintaining their offensive efficiency come game day. The upcoming battle is not just about state bragging rights but also about setting the tone for future matchups this season.

Fans eager not to miss this intense matchup should mark their calendars for December 7th at James H. Hilton Coliseum where tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 PM local time (7:30 PM Eastern Time). The game will also be broadcast nationally on ESPNU channel number two hundred eight.