Look, UConn is a very good team who happens to be peaking at the wrong time for Iowa State. I could see a close game either way and I could see a blow out either way. It's an 8/9 game. Anything could happen.
But give Iowa State a tiny bit of credit. Iowa State is 4-5 against the Sargarin top 25 this year. You are 1-6.
It's not like this will be Iowa State's first good team they've played. They went toe to toe with Kansas and Missouri twice. They beat Baylor.
Will Royce be successful on Thursday? Who knows? But he has been successful all year long.
I'm not worried about Royce as much as you want. Royce is a very good player, and maybe one day will be great. However, he isn't ISU's biggest threat to UConn.
The four guys standing around the 3 point line are much scarier.
I would defend Royce one-on-one all night and stay on the shooters all night. If this means Royce puts up 30+ I'm OK with that, as long as UConn sticks with the three point shooters. Royce dunking in traffic, as long as it's not an "and-one" is much better than having ISU make an open 3 pointer.
I have enough faith that Drummond/Roscoe/Oriakhi will at least bother Royce's forays into the paint.
Even on the dribble hand-off, I would rather give up the occassional free dunk to Royce than an open three for your shooter.