AMES, Iowa — Monte Morris awakened Monday to word he’d been named a Cousy Award finalist. Georges Niang woke up to a sore left foot and a throbbing thigh.
No. 13 Iowa State’s dynamic duo may be in different stages of health but expect both halves to be ready Tuesday night when No. 14 West Virginia visits Hilton Coliseum.
The versatile Niang limped through the second half of Saturday’s 72-62 loss at Texas A&M after sustaining a left thigh bruise. Coach Steve Prohm said the 6-8 forward already was coping with a flare-up of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
“It’s nothing that’s going to slow me down or make me change anything I’m doing,” Niang said Monday.
If any player can contribute with a bad leg it’s the infamously court-bound Niang, who flourishes on skill and savvy more than athleticism. He has been credited with only seven dunks in 124 career games, and teammates suspect even that meager total has been inflated.
The Cyclones (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) have won three straight and five of six in the series, though it’s the Mountaineers (17-4, 6-2) who are tied for the conference lead.
Niang’s deft passing will complement the exceptional point guard Morris in breaking West Virginia’s full-court pressure. Almost unfathomably, Morris has averaged 7.25 assists per game against WVU and only 0.5 turnovers.
He brought an equally strong analogy game for describing the Mountaineers’ defense.
“They’re a pack of dogs ready to eat,” Morris said. “They’re going to try to beat us up a little, but the rough fouls they do—that’s just how they play. You can’t get mad at them, that’s just what they know.”
Nina, keeping with the canine theme when asked about Press Virginia, said: “Have you ever been chased by a couple of wild pit bulls?”
Of course, WVU will be missing one of its most dogged defenders with Jonathan Holton sitting out the second of what is believed to be a three-game suspension. His absence became conspicuous during an 88-71 dusting at Florida. By sufficiently handling the press, the Gators flowed to the rhythm of 60-percent 3-point shooting—the highest mark allowed by West Virginia in 70 games.
Bob Huggins wasn’t biting on the possibility of playing more conservative defense unit Holton returns.
“I don’t think we can change anything. We just have to put someone else in (Holton’s) spot,” Huggins said. “We can’t make, at this point in time, wholesale changes with only two days of prep for every game.”
Tipoff: 9 p.m. Eastern at Hilton Coliseum in Ames (ESPN)
RPIs: Iowa State 11, West Virginia 14
Scouting the Cyclones: Iowa State led at Texas A&M in the final 5 minutes before panicking. “We settled for too many 3s,” Prohm said. “I should’ve put them in better position to get paint touches, get post feeds, put pressure on the basket.” The first-year coach said he “was sick” about missing out on a substantial road victory. “It doesn’t hurt you (from RPI standpoint), but you could’ve hit a home run.” … Niang (19.0 points) is the Big 12’s second-leading scorer behind the unapproachable Buddy Hield, while Morris (15.1 points, 6.9 assists) plays a league-high 37.1 minutes per game. … Abdel Nader (12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds) scored 17.5 per game against WVU last season, more than three times his junior average. … Springy forward Jameel McKay (12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds) blocked 10 shots during two wins over WVU last season. … The Cyclones commit only 14.9 fouls per game, fewest in the nation, partially because of a soft approach to defense. … Despite blizzard conditions, expect the same energetic environment at Hilton, where Iowa State fans snapped up a school-record 12,173 season tickets.
WVU trends: The Mountaineers are whistled for 24.2 fouls per game, third-most in the Division I. … Though sixth man Jaysean Paige (13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds) scored 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting at Florida, he was limited to 17 minutes by foul trouble. He likely needs to play effectively for 25-plus tonight for his team to stand a chance. … Guards Jevon Carter (10.9 points, 3.1 assists) and Daxter Miles (10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds) are in a five-game slump where their combined shooting is 19-of-74 for 25 percent. “They make them in practice. Generally when you make them in practice, you can make them in the game, although that hasn’t happened as much as we would like it to this year.” … Devin Williams (13.0 points, 8.4 rebounds) has been quiet in two previous trips to Hilton, averaging six points and four boards. … If it remains close late, be aware that Huggins has only one player averaging more than 27 minutes per game, whereas Iowa State has five players averaging more than 30.
Line: Iowa State -5
Prediction: Iowa State 86-74