Iowa State’s Jameel McKay will return from suspension against Texas

AMES — Iowa State will regain its 6-foot-9 presence around the rim after a two-game absence.

Cyclones coach Steve Prohm confirmed after Friday's practice senior Jameel McKay will return to the court Saturday against Texas, effectively ending his suspension. McKay missed the last two games — a win at Oklahoma State and a loss at Texas Tech — and didn't travel to either game.

'We obviously need him,' Prohm said. 'You just look at the Tech game and having a rim protector is huge and another guy that can get rebounds at a high level.'

McKay is averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, but was suspended indefinitely stemming from a practice related incident late last week. His ability to run the floor from rim to rim and be a defensive presence inside was a missed asset against the Red Raiders, despite that game going to overtime.

Junior point guard Monte Morris feels the last week has been a positive for McKay and helped him be more willing to embrace his role. Morris said he tried to stay in McKay's ear throughout the week and make sure he was ready when he finally returned.

'Just stay positive and stay even keeled with this game,' Morris said. 'Don't be in peaks and valleys sometimes. Coach preaches that to everybody, but I just tell him to stay positive and smile, man. It's basketball and you're going to have your days. He's ready to do that and I think he's going to have a big impact.'

Despite McKay's return, Prohm said junior Deonte Burton will start against Texas and whether McKay will start again at some point will be evaluated on a game-to-game basis.

'I don't want this to just help Jameel for these next four weeks,' Prohm said. 'I want it to help Jameel for when he leaves here so he's successful and can play for 10 or 12 years.'

McKay is returning to the No. 15 Cyclones (17-7, 6-5) lineup at an opportune time, with the No. 25 Longhorns (16-8, 7-4) up next. Texas is 7-2 in its last nine games — starting with a three-point overtime win against Iowa State — with its only losses coming on the road to Oklahoma and Kansas.

Although the first matchup between Iowa State and Texas ended up scoring in the 90s, the Longhorns lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (65.2 ppg), field goal percentage defense (40.2) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.4). Texas has familiar pieces in Isaiah Taylor and Javan Felix in the backcourt, but have started to align themselves with first-year coach Shaka Smart's philosophy.

'They look tough,' Morris said. 'They match up better with some teams than we do and we match up better with them than some other teams they play. I feel like we match up differently when we have the ball than other teams do. Georges is a big matchup problem for them and our shooters as well.'

Senior Prince Ibeh has also emerged recently and has averaged 9.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in the last five games. The return of McKay will help Iowa State combat Texas' size inside, but Deonte Burton and Georges Niang will also likely be called upon to keep Ibeh off the glass.

'He just looks more comfortable out there making plays and I bet you he probably feels Shaka Smart trusts him more than he ever has before,' Niang said of Ibeh. 'He doesn't have to worry about somebody coming in and taking his minutes off the bench.'

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