Iowa State Cyclones
Big 12 (21-11, 10-8)
Many thought it would be Iowa State, not Oklahoma, that would give Kansas a run for their money as the best team in the Big 12. The Cyclones looked like they could be that team early in the year, picking up nonconference wins over Colorado and Iowa, but the grind of the Big 12 took its toll on Iowa State and even the Hilton Magic was not as magical as usual.
Big Wins: 12/10 Iowa (83-82), 1/18 Oklahoma (82-77), 1/25 Kansas (85-72)
Bad Losses: 12/19 vs Northern Iowa (79-81), 1/9 Baylor (89-94), 2/10 at Texas Tech (82-85)
Coach: Steve Prohm
Why They Can Surprise:
There is certainly not a lack of talent on this team. And it all starts with Georges Niang, a versatile 6-8 forward who can do it all. During his senior season he is averaging 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Niang can stretch the defense with his outside shooting and dominate in the paint as well. Jameel McKay is a great shot blocker and a beast on the boards, but he can score too. Abdel Nader rounds out the group of double digit scoring forwards. With all of that interior talent, Iowa State is one of the best shooting teams in the country in terms of overall field-goal percentage. Point guard Monte Morris shoots almost 49 percent from the floor too and he is the guy that puts everybody else in a great position to score, dishing out and impressive 6.9 assists per game with just 1.6 turnovers. Even with all of those assists, Morris can go off in the scoring department too and averages 13.9 points per game.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Cyclones are certainly tough on the glass, but they seem to lack a general toughness on both ends of the floor. They rarely commit fouls, which is a great thing, especially since the overall depth is lacking, but they allow the opposition to shoot pretty well from the floor as a result. And this group will settle for jump shots a bit too much as well. When the team shoots as well as they do from the floor, that is not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes the Cyclones just need to attack the basket and get to the charity stripe, especially on those rare occasions when the team is missing a few shots in a row. There are only a handful of teams in the country that have taken fewer free-throws than Iowa State and players like Matt Thomas, who is a very good free-throw shooter, need to be more aggressive getting to the basket.
Probable Starters:
Monte Morris, Junior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 spg
Matt Thomas, Junior, Guard, 10.7 ppg, 1.6 apg, 4.5 rpg
Abdel Nader, Senior, Forward, 13.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Georges Niang, Senior, Forward, 19.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.3 apg
Jameel McKay, Senior, Forward, 11.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Deonte Burton, Junior, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Hallice Cooke, Sophomore, Guard, 2.8 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 82.0 (15th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 74.8 (249, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 50.3 (2, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.5 (178, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.2 (70, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.9 (39, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.8 (134, 5)
Rebound Margin: -0.3 (207, 7)
Assists Per Game: 16.6 (20, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.4 (54, 2)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2015 NCAA Second Round loss to UAB
2014 NCAA Second Round win over North Carolina Central
2014 NCAA Third Round win over North Carolina
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Connecticut
2013 NCAA Second Round win over Notre Dame
2013 NCAA Third Round loss to Ohio State
2012 NCAA Second Round win over Connecticut
2012 NCAA Third Round loss to Kentucky
2005 NCAA Round of 64 win over Minnesota
2005 NCAA Round of 32 loss to North Carolina
2004 NIT First Round win over Georgia
2004 NIT Second Round win over Florida State
2004 NIT Quarterfinal win over Marquette
2004 NIT Semifinal loss to Rutgers
2003 NIT Opening Round win over Wichita State
2003 NIT First Round loss to Iowa
2001 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Hampton
2000 NCAA Round of 64 win over Central Connecticut State
2000 NCAA Round of 32 win over Auburn
2000 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over UCLA
2000 NCAA Regional Final loss to Michigan State
*all team stats through 3/6
