“The first and only loss of the season at Hilton Coliseum comes to Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears.”
It’s a phrase read in Newspapers and online publications all over Iowa that has now held true for two years straight. The Cyclones were beat 94-89 Saturday Afternoon at Hilton Coliseum and in a loss that clearly stings for Cyclone Nation.
Iowa State was ahead for most of the afternoon and had multiple double digit leads that were floundered thanks to Baylor’s hot shooting in the second half.
Cyclones Basketball Sputters against Baylor
The Bears scored 60 in the latter half of the game, shooting 18-23 from the free throw line and 5-8 from downtown. This goes back to Steve Prohm trying to change the habits of ISU players to improving their defense, and it has not gone too well.
Iowa State gave up the most points since last season’s trip to Norman in what was perhaps their worst game of the season.
The defense was terrible and so was the atmosphere in Hilton at times during the game. Baylor knocked down a few shots and the crowd went quiet. Scott Drew called yet another timeout and the crowd went quiet. That quieter atmosphere was due to Iowa State’s students still being on winter break and student ticket packages not including the Baylor game.
However, neither of those issues are the biggest reason Iowa State lost that game.
We take a look at the bench. A total of 20 minutes combined between the two players who came off the bench in Hallice Cooke and Deonte Burton. A total of five points scored between the two.
That’s the recipe for a loss, especially in the Big 12. So far we have heard doubters say they were concerned with Iowa State’s depth; even though we have not really seen the depth they have.
There is absolutely no way someone should expect the starting five to run with Baylor the whole game, it is already a tough matchup with the bigs that Baylor has. Burton and Cooke could have helped with that, but did not really get the chance.
Cooke played 13 minutes, right around his average, and drilled a three pointer with a hand in his face. But the sophomore only got the chance to shoot two shots on the day.
Burton was on the floor for seven minutes, ten minutes less than usual, he picked up a rebound and a bucket down low. He did not look like he could get into a groove. The one time he did look comfortable, he played 20 minutes and had 19 points, almost helping Niang and the Cyclones to a big, big win.
Overall, each starter played 33 minutes or more.
What? It would be crazy to think that is going to win a Big 12 Championship.
The starters can not do it all, and neither can Georges Niang. Niang has been nothing short of god-like this year, now averaging 19.2 points per game.
The All-American has contributed 22 points or more in four of the past six games for ISU, day in and day out being the best player on the floor for the Cyclones.
All in all, things have got to change, dramatically, otherwise Cyclone fans can kiss their dreams of winning a Big 12 Regular Season Championship over.
