ISU in, Drake, UNI play out of conference

The Iowa State Cyclones are on the road in the Big-12 to play 21st ranked Kansas and the Cyclones conference road losing streak is now 22-games. Kansas is 16-6 on the season under first-year coach Bill Self but for many K-U fans that record is disappointing.I-S-U coach Wayne Morgan says a change in leadership requires both coaches and players to adapt, no matter what program is involved.Kansas has won 24 straight Big-12 home games dating back to a February of 2001 loss to Iowa State.UNI and Drake step out of conference play this weekend to take part in the Bracket Busters, a series of games matching teams from the so-called mid major conferences and is designed to give those teams some national television exposure. The Panthers will be on the road to play Wisconsin-Green Bay. UNI coach Greg McDermott says while the series is most beneficial for teams who may need at large consideration all the teams get something out of it. He says you get a quality opponent who will return for a home game in a year.Drake will be on the road at Akron and Bulldog coach Tom Davis says even though the Bulldogs are not out to impress the NCAA selection committee the players are still excited to be part of it. Davis says the top teams in the conference are going to get more TV exposure and it’ll be most meaningful to them.Davis does not consider a non conference game in the midst of a conference race a distraction.He says if it were a close hunt for the championship, it might be a distraction. But he says players don’t often look that far ahead and are just excited to play.Drake is 10-12