Weiler-Babb and Brase both out vs. Texas Tech

Nov 16, 2017; Conway, SC, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Hans Brase (30) looks to pass the ball while defended by Appalachian State Mountaineers forward Griffin Kinney (5) during the first half of the game at The HTC Center. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State’s bench will be short against on Wednesday when the Cyclones visit No. 7 Texas Tech. Nick Weiler-Babb will miss his third game in a row due to knee tendonitis while Hans Brase will also miss the game with a knee issue.

Brase, who entered the season coming off two knee surgeries in his time at Princeton, has missed five games already this season, including three when he was recovering from a sprained ankle suffered in practice.

“Just the knees. You can tell by really watching him,” Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm said about the graduate transfer forward. “Hans came by this morning and met with me. You hate it for him because he’s tried to do every single possible thing. I think the ankle set him back a little bit because if you go back to some of those games in South Carolina or the Iowa game, I thought he really did some good things for us. Coming back from the ankle injury kind of set him back in some games we could’ve used him.”

Prohm said Brase will “just need some time” before returning to the court. In the instance of Weiler-Babb, the junior point guard will miss Wednesday’s game, but there is potential he could return for Saturday’s home game against Oklahoma.

If not Saturday, Prohm is hoping to have his team’s floor general back in time for the Cyclones’ home matchup with Kansas on Feb. 13.

“I would hope he’s back for Kansas would be my thought process,” Prohm said. “Just from the last feedback I was given, it’s still hurting, still needs some time. (Monday), he’ll start his first day back on the floor to just do some light shooting. Could be Saturday, but I would plan on Kansas would be my best guess.”

Missing both players will leave the Cyclones with 10 players available in practice, including sit-out transfers Marial Shayok and Michael Jacobson. With all the injuries Iowa State has battled this season, that’s something Prohm is getting used to.

“I always text (athletic trainer) Vic (Miller),” Prohm said. “It’s one of those years I text him and say, ‘Hey, how many guys I got today?'”