ISU’s Niang enjoys Iowa rivalry

AMES — Georges Niang feels like he's never bitten off more than he can chew when it comes to egging on the rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State.

There was his 'Cyclone State' comment two years ago after Iowa State won the first ranked meeting between the schools in more than 20 years. Last season his blown kiss toward the student section in Carver-Hawkeye Arena put a cap on a 15-point blowout of the Hawkeyes.

Second-ranked Iowa State brings high expectations and an unblemished record into its game against on Iowa Thursday. But for Niang, getting a third career win against the Hawkeyes (7-2) is a necessary step in reaching the places he wants to take the Cyclones (7-0).

'That would be huge because if I only went 2-2 with Iowa, then what's the point of playing?' Niang said with a grin. 'So obviously the goal is to go 3-1. We want to beat them, continue our hot streak and keep on improving every day.'

Niang has one of the more colorful relationships in the Cy-Hawk rivalry even when he was recruited out of The Tilton School by both programs. He ultimately committed to play for the Cyclones as a consensus top-100 recruited and promptly used social media to jump-start some back-and-forth with his new rival.

A picture hit the Twitter-sphere last December of Niang sipping a cup of coffee next to a blown-up picture of his reverse layup against Aaron White and Jarrod Uthoff. It's in his nature to rib his hecklers on social media and it's unlikely Niang will change as he hopes to give Iowa State its seventh straight home win against Iowa.

Niang, however, has opted to leave social media for the entire season, so he'll leave the rivalry jabs on the Internet to the fans. Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm has heard a brief history on Niang's relationship with the cross-state school, but hasn't asked him to tone it down or stop fueling any fires.

'I'm the new guy in this rivalry so I'll just follow their lead,' Prohm said. 'Those guys will be ready, but Iowa will be ready, too. That's what makes it fun. But Georges, he knows how to handle those situations with the media and bring a lot of good attention.'

The preseason All-American draws Uthoff as his assignment Thursday and although their games vary in style, they come in with similar clout on their own teams. Niang averages 18.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds while Uthoff is at 18.2 points per game and 6.4 boards. Both are coming off career-high scoring outputs.

Adam Woobury and Jameel McKay are the matchup down low while Mike Gesell and Monte Morris will go toe-to-toe on the perimeter along with Peter Jok and Naz Mitrou-Long. The X-Factor could come with Iowa State's Abdel Nader, who averages 14.6 points per game and 5.7 rebounds.

Nader had 19 points and shot 60 percent — 4-of-6 from beyond the 3-point arc — last year off the bench against the Hawkeyes, but was hard pressed to find many similarities about the two teams this season. Niang recognized the motion offenses Iowa and Iowa State try to run, but noted the difference in approach to executing it.

'They really have a rhyme or reason for everything they do and everything is precise. I feel like with us, we're sort of free flowing,' Niang said. 'Our coach isn't really getting on us to get in a certain position like Fran McCaffery would be with some of their guys. I think we're somewhat similar in some places, but some others I think we're completely different.'

Prohm slowed practice down this week to help his players recover for a stretch of three games in six days. Morris took an elbow to the hip in the win against Buffalo and Mitrou-Long still is progressing after off-season hip surgeries. But both will be in the lineup Thursday (6:30, ESPN2).

After losing in Iowa City as a freshman, Niang has saved some of his most memorable performances against his in-state rival. For as much as he pokes and prods opposing fans, he knows a win isn't going to be handed to the Cyclones.

'I expect them to come in,' Niang said, 'and try to make it a bloodbath.'

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com