Iowa State looks for defensive, rebounding improvements during end-of-season push

AMES — The last three regular season games aren't just any old games for the Iowa State men's basketball team.

Each is practice for building toward something bigger.

No. 17 Iowa State has its share — and probably more — of close losses on the road in Big 12 play, but as anybody in the locker room would tell you, that's not a coincidence. The offensive numbers are there for the Cyclones to have a few more wins, but everybody knows where the improvement has to be made.

'What we have to do is finish halves better and rebound better,' said Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm. 'If we can do that and put all that together, I think everybody knows this team has a chance to be really special and do some really special things.'

The Cyclones (19-9, 8-7) are the No. 3 adjusted offensive team on kenpom.com at 121.0, but are No. 134 (101.6) in adjusted defense and have struggled against teams with size. They are last in the conference in offensive rebounds and sixth in total rebounds.

Iowa State has shown flashes of what it can be defensively, but with three regular season games left before the Big 12 tournament, there are only a few more chances to put words into action. Junior Monte Morris said the change comes with the mind-set, which will be put to the test Saturday against Kansas State in a 5 p.m. tipoff.

'Just being accountable and going out there with the mind-set that my man's not scoring,' Morris said. 'I think that will definitely help and knowing we've all got your back if you were to get beat. I think everybody plays their best defense when we're engaged and talking. I feel like we give up points when we're not talking.'

After giving up 85, 100 and 97 points in its last three road losses — two of which went to overtime — Iowa State will see a Wildcats (15-13, 4-11) team with a weakness on offense.

Since beating then-No. 1 Oklahoma at home, Kansas State has lost four of its last five games and has dipped its adjusted offensive rating down to No. 131 (105.8). The Wildcats get double-figure scoring from Justin Edwards and Wesley Iwundu and are the second-best offensive rebounding team in the Big 12, but are the eighth-best field goal percentage squad in the conference.

Execution down the stretch always has been Iowa State's goal, but getting stops against a team that gets second-chance opportunities, it becomes even more critical.

'We've got to be able to stop some people,' said senior Georges Niang. 'I know we have limited guys and stuff like that, but we've really got to dig down and get some stops down the stretch.'

With senior night against Oklahoma State and a road finale at Kansas separating Iowa State from the postseason, everything has been building to the next few weeks. Even with five losses in the last eight games, the Cyclones are confident anybody can catch fire at any time.

'You look at Texas Tech for example,' Morris said. 'Them boys are rolling and I think they're in the tournament now by (Joe) Lunardi's bracket. I saw that and that's one team you could say went from cold to hot and some teams went from hot to cold. I feel like we're just trying to stay in the middle of that.'

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