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Pregame Shootaround: No. 18 Iowa State hosts No. 20 Arkansas

Bobby Portis, Jeylani Dublin, A.J. English

Bobby Portis (AP Photo)

AP

Game of the Night: No. 20 Arkansas at No. 18 Iowa State, 9:00 p.m.

You like scoring? You like fast-paced basketball? You like two talented teams getting up-and-down in front of a rocking environment at Hilton Coliseum? If you do, than tune in tonight for the Razorbacks and the Cyclones. Arkansas presses as much as any team in the country, while Iowa State loves to spread the floor and create mismatches where they can.

Bobby Portis and Georges Niang are two of the best front court players in the country, but the most intriguing matchup will be seeing turnover-averse Monte’ Morris go up against the Mike Anderson press.

Mid-Major Matchup of the Night: Green Bay at Georgia State, 7:00 p.m.

This is as good as it gets at this level. The Phoenix are led by one of the best point guards in the country in Keifer Sykes, and he will be going up against one of the nation’s best back court, regardless of level. R.J. Hunter is a pro, and Ryan Harrow and Kevin Ware are high-major players. This will be almost as exciting as when they square off in Atlanta later this month.

Five Things to Watch for:

1. LSU at No. 16 West Virginia, 7:00 p.m.: The Mountaineers have been terrific thus far this season, as Bob Huggins has embraced this new pressing philosophy. LSU? It’s been the exact opposite for them, as the Tigers have been a massive disappointment. It’s hard to see a team with erratic guard play going into Morgantown and handling WVU.

2. San Diego at No. 13 San Diego State, 11:00 p.m.: A little crosstown rivalry action? I don’t think that the Toreros really have a shot tonight, but they do have Johnny Dee and Christopher Anderson.

3. TCU at Ole Miss, 9:00 p.m.: So ... do you have a feel for either of these teams yet? Ole Miss lost at home in their season-opener, but they’ve been shooting better from three since then and have wins over Cincinnati and Creighton. And TCU? Well, they’re 7-0 on the season. Gauge game?

4. Baylor at Vanderbilt, 7:00 p.m.: This is another game where I’m still not quite sure what we have with either team. The Bears are talented, as always, but Vanderbilt may have the best NBA prospect on the floor in Damian Jones.

5. Seattle U. at UC Santa Barbara, 10:05 p.m.: Two of the best mid-major players in the country square off as Seattle guard Isiah Umipig tries to outscore big man Alan Williams.

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