If you're a fan of high-level, "teeth-gritting" basketball, cancel your plans tonight, because Houston vs Iowa State is exactly what you're looking for. The Big 12 title race is reaching a boiling point as the No. 2 Cougars head into the absolute furnace that is Hilton Coliseum to take on the No. 6 Cyclones. This isn't just any matchup between two top-ten teams, it's a clash of similar programs that pride themselves on making life miserable for their opponents.
The past week has been up and down for Iowa State fans. The men's hoops team beat top-ranked Purdue on Saturday and replaced the Boilermakers as a 1-seed as a result. But longtime football coach Matt Campbell also left for Penn State, and the university faces a hefty fine from the Big 12 for the Cyclones declining to play in a bowl game.