Kansas State, Oklahoma State & Iowa State Game Previews

Northern Arizona at Iowa State (Friday, 7 P.M.)  The Cyclones look to get the Fred Hoiberg era off with a victory. Hoiberg has a group of newcomers and it will be interesting to see who can help contribute alongside returnees Scott Christopherson and Diante Garrett. Look out for Darion "Jake" Anderson, a transfer who only has this season of eligibility left. One issue to keep an eye on with Iowa State is they only has 10 players eligible this season and will be down to 9 in this contest with DeMarcus Phillips out with a broken bone in his hand.  For Northern Arizona, keep an eye on Cameron Jones who was a unanimous first team All-Big Sky player a year ago. The Lumberjacks are an experienced team who should start five seniors in this contest.

James Madison at Kansas State (ESPNU, Friday, 7 P.M.) The #3 ranked Wildcats get their first chance in the 2010-2011 season to try and justify their lofty preseason status in the polls. This represents the first chance for Frank Martin to see how the team replaces Denis Clemente and if Jacob Pullen can keep up his scoring output while moving over to being the primary ballhandler.  It will be important for K-State to try and shut down Denzel Bowles of James Madison, he averaged 20.8 points and 9.2 rebounds last year for the Dukes.

Houston Baptist at Oklahoma State (Saturday, 3:30 P.M.) This game was moved to an earlier start time on Saturday due to the fact the Oklahoma State Cowboys football game against the Texas Longhorns will be at 7 P.M. on ABC.  The Cowboys are coming off of a 102-38 drubbing of NAIA Campbellsville (Ky.) last Friday, a contest in which 8 different OSU players scored at least nine points or more. Will be interesting to see if coach Travis Ford plays Matt Pilgrim in this one with Pilgrim's latest run-in with problems, this one caused by his recent twitter flap.