Iowa State's Monte Morris closing in on assist record

AMES — Monte Morris will be aware.

Not many players keep track of numbers during the game quite like Iowa State's senior point guard, but that's just how his mind has always worked. And when he dishes out his third assist on the road at Vanderbilt (3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2), he'll be atop the record books.

The long wait for Morris to top former ISU and NBA guard Jeff Hornacek as the all-time assists leader for the Cyclones (13-6, 5-3) is almost over. The lone regret is that it won't happen at home.

'I wanted it to happen here, but I'm not going to point shave and wait until Tuesday to make it happen,' Morris said with a smile. 'It would have been good to do it in Hilton (Coliseum), but everything happens for a reason and hopefully it'll be Saturday night that I do it.'

When Morris, who has a 4.54 assist-to-turnover ratio for his career, collects his third assist he'll have 666 to his name. He already joins Hornacek as the only players in school history to have 1,000 points, 600 assists and 200 steals in their careers.

Former ISU forward and current Indiana Pacers player Georges Niang was the recipient of 135 Morris assists, with current teammates Naz Mitrou-Long and Matt Thomas next in line. They aren't quite as conscious of the numbers as the game is flowing, but there will be plenty of time for reflection and appreciation after the fact.

'Without him there's no us and I'm sure he would say the same thing vice versa,' Mitrou-Long said. 'I was kind of hoping it would be in Hilton, but for him to get it on the road like I know he will makes it even better if it's in a win. It's a credit to Monte, man. Best point guard I've played with in my life.'

Part of the reason Morris will pick his 666th assist up, presumably, on the road is because of the unique timing of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge against the Commodores (9-11, 3-5). Last season Iowa State lost on the road to Texas A&M in January. It beat Arkansas and Auburn in Ames the two years before that, although those games fell in December.

The timing of the SEC/Big 12 matchup, which features Kansas at Kentucky in prime time, is done to showcase both leagues with all 10 games on the same day. The placement of the challenge takes away a team's ability for some 'R-and-R' — rest and recruiting.

'When you kind of get around the older guys, just understanding the rest and how you have to treat your team right now (is important),' said Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm. 'We're halfway through the league. When you're home and home, night in and night out with every single team in your league, that's a bear.'

Vanderbilt has lost two SEC games by three points or less and fell to No. 4 Kentucky at home by six. First-year coach Bryce Drew utilizes a similar zone defense to his brother, Scott, the head coach at Baylor, and has a No. 62 RPI rating. Memorial Gym also showcases a raised court with both benches located on the baselines as opposed to the sidelines.

'I see it on TV as well with the bench structure as far as the audience and all that,' Mitrou-Long said. 'I've heard their rims are real friendly, it's a great atmosphere when it gets packed so I'm really looking forward to getting out there.'

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