Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Hunter (11) lays up the ball around Missouri Tigers’ forward Trevon Brazile (23) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Ames, Iowa.
I said in last week’s column that Iowa State faced its first “gut check” moment of the season coming off last Saturday’s loss to TCU.
Here we are a week later, and the Cyclones indicated they have the stomach necessary to forge through the rugged Big 12 season.
Wednesday’s win on the road against Oklahoma State has the potential to be a season-altering one. Entering the game sitting at 2-5 in conference play, a win was desperately needed.
As he has throughout the year, Izaiah Brockington rose to the occasion and carried the Cyclones to a win. Sporting arguably the best mid-range game in college basketball, he buried a bevy of big shots down the stretch.
Tyrese Hunter was as impressive putting up 18 points and four assists. The standout freshmen guard found different ways to put pressure on the Oklahoma State defense with his speed and quickness in the crucial moments of the second half.
Refusing to lose, they demonstrated the will this team has all season.
I left this week’s games with one thought as they get ready for another tough week of Big 12 play.
This team needs these two guys to fully embrace being its leaders on offense.
What separates good leaders from great ones is their willingness to shoulder that burden when they are struggling to make shots. Michael Jordan was great at this. Newly (maybe) retired Tom Brady is another athlete that comes to mind as someone who despite how poorly he played throughout the game when it was on the line, those two owned the moment.
This team does not need either player to be Michael Jordan.
It is a balanced team that plays together, but this team needs leadership on the offensive end of the floor, particularly in the face of adversity.
In my view, it must come from Hunter and Brockington. When they are attacking, Gabe Kalscheur, Tre Jackson, and Caleb Grill find easier looks from the perimeter. George Conditt, Robert Jones, Tristan Enaruna, and Aljaz Kunc settle into their respective roles with more ease when those two remain aggressive attacking the rim regardless of the short-term result.
This has been and will remain to be a team that predicates itself on defense and toughness. It is important they do not lose sight of their identity.
However, what can make this team dangerous in the last month of the season is Tyrese and Izaiah taking it over on offense as relentless attackers.
That has happened at various times throughout the season when their shots have been falling, but for this team to go where they want to come March, continuing to attack even when their shots are not falling early in games will be required.
