Iowa State Basketball: Three Takeaways From the Iowa State Cyclones win over Colorado
Steve Prohm started his Iowa State Cyclones coaching tenure off right with a win over the Colorado Buffaloes.
The Buffaloes were up 25-22 late in the first half but Iowa State closed out that stanza with an 8-0 run to take a 30-25 lead into the locker room for halftime.
The Cyclones were able to extend their lead to as much as 14 points in the second half and they were able to fend off a furious Colorado rally that cut the lead down to as close as four in the final 30 seconds.
More from Iowa State Cyclones
- Iowa State Basketball will have 4-star center JT Rock for 2023-24 season
- Pittsburgh vs Iowa State: 2023 NCAA Tournament game preview, TV schedule
- Kansas at Iowa State: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
- Iowa State Basketball: Loss of Jeremiah Williams leaves clear hole at PG
- Iowa State Basketball: Cyclones quietly putting together top 2023 class
Georges Niang showed why he is a First-Team All-American finishing with 17 points and four rebounds. Nazareth Mitrou-Long hit 5 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 4 from deep to get his 13 points, and Jameel McKay held down the painted area finishing with eight points and a team high 10 boards.
Colorado was a solid challenge for the Cyclones to open up with. The Buffaloes made it tough on Iowa State led by George King’s 14 point and six rebound effort and Josh Scott logged a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Here are ultimately the things that stuck out the most after watching the Iowa State Cyclones grab a 68-62 win from the Colorado Buffaloes.
If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It – Steve Prohm is not a dummy. He understands that with inheriting a veteran squad that has already established a winning culture there is no sense in reinventing the wheel.
He kept in a lot of the offense that was installed by Fred Hoiberg which was smart because there is no need to make these players look uncomfortable and unsure.
You had to love the fact that even George Niang was able to pull it off the glass, and settle the floor down when it appeared that the team was getting out of sorts.
It is good that Steve Prohm is able to trust his players to like this and is not taking their game understanding for granted.
Some coaches would have come into this situation and started making extreme changes for no reason.
Coach Prohm understands, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”. If anything just manage it.
Monte Morris is Dead Serious! – Monte Morris made his presence felt early and often against the Colorado Buffaloes.
The 6-foot-2 point guard was simply too quick and was blowing by anyone who was in front of him.
Live Feed
FanSided
He scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half to go along with five rebounds and four assists and three steals.
Morris looks like he is working his way into becoming a top point guard in the land. There is nothing like having a stat-stuffer as a floor general, and that is what the junior point guard displayed to open up the season.
Abdel Nader Is Going to be a Glue Guy – Abdel Nader is a 6-foot-6 senior forward with wingspan to spare.
What stuck out about him in this game is that he played solid defense and fit in immediately on the frontline with Georges Niang and Jameel McKay.
Nader finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds in the contest, but the way that he solidified Iowa State’s defense on the back line with Niang and McKay is what stuck out.
As the season goes on, Nader’s contribution is going to become more and more important.
He could be a difference maker going forward.