Peterson: Bluster aside, Morris says Cyclones must send message
AMES, Ia. — Monte Morris will be booed, probably from the moment the point guard from Michigan walks onto the Carver-Hawkeye Arena floor Thursday night.
He made Iowa State’s game-winning shot against the Hawkeyes with nine seconds to play last season, and he’s pretty sure Iowa fans remember it.
He’s fairly certain they’ll recall what former teammate Georges Niang did, too, the last time Cy and Hawk hooked up in Iowa City — the kiss he blew to the student section just seconds before Iowa State’s 90-75 victory in 2014.
“We want to go in there and make a statement — set the tone and send a message both to Iowa and the country,” Morris said before Tuesday’s practice. “We’re trying to go out there and beat them badly."
Non-ball actions and words shouldn’t overshadow the 7 p.m. game. But they will, because this basketball rivalry is intense.
“It hypes the whole thing up,” Morris said. “It makes people come and watch, and it and makes it electrifying.
“The game would be boring if both teams weren’t talking.”
Iowa State has beaten Iowa three times in a row. No current Cyclone has played in a loss to the Hawkeyes.
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“It’s been a Cyclone state, and we want to continue that,” said Naz Mitrou-Long, who was on the team, yet didn’t see the floor, the last time Iowa beat Iowa State back in 2012. “This game is a big-time deal.”
Hype aside, it’s a “big-time deal” how Iowa State tries to defend Peter Jok, the Hawkeyes’ 24-point scoring machine.
“Peter is my guy,” Morris said of his pal, the West Des Moines Valley graduate who hung 42 in a loss against Memphis. “We show love all the time. He’s a heck of a player. He can score the ball. I’ve got a bunch of respect for him. He’s a great offensive player. He makes tough shots. He makes open shots.”
For the Cyclones, it’s also about playing on the floor of an opponent for the first time. It’s about post players continuing their maturation, about guards finally having a moment in which all three have good games at the same time. And it’s about defense.
“They’re averaging 87 points a game and they’ve played a good schedule,” coach Steve Prohm said. “They’ve played Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Virginia, (and) Memphis.
“Those four schools are all really good. (Iowa) can score, so our defense is going to have to travel over there.”
Iowa also has played Omaha, losing 98-89 against a Mavericks team Iowa State beat 91-47 two nights later.
“It doesn’t matter what Omaha did to them,” Morris said. “Iowa is going to play good. This is their Super Bowl. It’s our Super Bowl. It’s Iowa-Iowa State.”
Hang on — if this is the Cyclones’ Super Bowl, then what is Iowa State-Kansas? Anyhow ...
“Just handle business,” Long said. “Get the win, and whatever is necessary to do that. Whether it’s ugly or whether it’s pretty doesn’t matter.”
There will be some ugliness. There will be smack. There might even be a peck.
“I don’t think Georges planned that kiss,” Long said.
Niang was a lightning rod, with the ability to back it up.
“I have to carry the trash talking load since he left,” Morris said. “The kiss — I thought it was big time for a big-time player to do that. That just sparked a rivalry.”
What if there’s a smooching situation around 9 p.m. Thursday?
“I have a surprise up my sleeve,” Morris said. “It’s better than a kiss.”
And leave it to Niang, now playing for Fort Wayne in the NBA’s Developmental League, to get the long-distance final word:
“Georges texted me,” Prohm said this week. “He said, 'Stay in Iowa City if you don’t win on Thursday.'”
Randy Peterson, senior sports reporter, has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at RandyPete.