Iowa State Preview Capsule
Iowa State Preview Capsule
By The Associated Press=
Iowa State
Last season: 23-12, lost in the Sweet 16.
Nickname: Cyclones.
Coach: Steve Prohm.
Conference: Big 12.
Who's gone: F Georges Niang, F/C Jameel McKay, F Abdel Nader.
Who's back: G Monte Morris. Senior guard is the Big 12's preseason player of the year and arguably the nation's top point guard; G Naz Mitrou-Long. Redshirted to heal ailing hips in 2015-16. He's healthy and primed for an All-Big 12 type season; G Matt Thomas. Senior came into his own filling in for Mitrou-Long last year.
Who's new: G Donovan Jackson. Junior college star signed as insurance if Morris went to NBA. Shot 49.5 percent on 3s a year ago; C Darrell Bowie. Senior graduate transfer who averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds at Northern Illinois last season before a shoulder injury set him back.
The Skinny: Niang might have been the best player in school history. But if everything breaks right, the Cyclones might be even better in 2016-17. Iowa State has one of the most talented and experienced backcourts in the country and a frontcourt with hopefully enough bodies to hang in the Big 12.
