The college basketball showdown between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday promises to be a game of contrasting styles, as the teams look to assert their dominance in the state of Iowa. While the Hawkeyes thrive on a high-tempo, high-scoring offense, the Cyclones have built their success around a stifling defense under coach TJ Otzelberger.

Iowa State's defensive prowess has been on full display this season, as they currently rank fifth in the country in points allowed per possession. Their ability to force turnovers has been a key factor in their success, with the Cyclones ranking third in the nation in turnovers forced per offensive play. This defensive intensity has carried over from last season when they ranked 15th in points allowed per possession.

The challenge for Iowa State lies in containing the Iowa Hawkeyes' offense, which is currently 20th in the nation in points scored per possession. However, Iowa's offensive numbers take a dip when playing on the road. Dating back to last season, the Hawkeyes have averaged 20.4 points per 100 possessions fewer in away games compared to their performances at home.

In addition to their road struggles, Iowa also faces a dip in outside shooting percentage. The team is making 39.2% of their 3-point attempts at home this season, compared to just 31.1% away from home. Last season, Iowa ranked 351st in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage on the road, making just 28.1% of their attempts.

The Hawkeyes' reliance on inside scoring also plays into the hands of the Iowa State defense, which ranks seventh in the country in opponent 2-point shooting percentage at 40.5%. With Iowa taking 70.6% of their field goal attempts from inside the arc, their struggles on the road may only be magnified.

Furthermore, Iowa's tempo takes a hit in away games, averaging nearly seven fewer possessions per game compared to their home games. On the other hand, Iowa State's defensive performance also shows significant differences between home and away games. The Cyclones allow just 65.2 points per 100 possessions at home, compared to 100 points per 100 possessions on the road.

The intra-state rivalry between these two teams is set to be a defensive showdown. The Iowa Hawkeyes' offensive firepower will be put to the test against the Iowa State Cyclones' stingy defense, especially considering their struggles on the road. With both teams showcasing impressive defensive capabilities at home, the game is expected to be lower scoring than anticipated.

In summary, the clash between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones will be a battle of contrasting styles. While Iowa relies on an uptempo offense, Iowa State's defense-oriented approach has proven successful under coach TJ Otzelberger. With the Hawkeyes struggling on the road and the Cyclones showcasing a strong defense at home, Thursday's game is likely to be a defensive battle.