While the Cyclones dropped to just 1-3 in Big 12 Conference play, many around the country started to speculate not just about Iowa State’s chances to win the Big 12, but even their first year head coach’s job security.
Such is the pressure cooker of college basketball. One week and two big wins later, ISU looks to have righted the ship despite having ground to make up in the conference standings. Of course, of those two wins, last night’s was unquestionably the most important.
After going into Manhattan and knocking off Kansas State, Georges Niang and company had to prove that they were ready to compete at the elite levels we all thought them capable of just a month ago. They did just that, controlling much of their match-up with No. 1 Oklahoma in Ames, before winning 82-77–thanks in large part to the brilliance of Niang, Monte Morris’ cold-blooded step back jumper in the final minute, and a brilliant play call by Steve Prohm in the final seconds to draw a technical on OU.
We can’t get too overboard on ISU, as they’re still just 3-3 and sit in sixth place in the standings. Plus, two of their next three games come against Kansas in Ames and on the road against Texas A&M…all before hosting West Virginia on February 2. Oh, so you want to coach in the Big 12, eh? That’s life, though, and if Iowa State is going to regain the stature that they enjoyed to start the season, they’ll need to prove they can win at least two of those games.
