Published Mar 22, 2016
Sweet 16 Recruiting Flashback: Virginia vs. Iowa State
Krysten Peek and Eric Bossi
Rivals.com Basketball

Other Sweet 16 recruiting flashbacks: Miami-Villanova | Oklahoma-Texas A&M | Maryland-Kansas | Duke-Oregon | Wisconsin-Notre Dame | Gonzaga-Syracuse | Indiana-North Carolina

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THE MATCHUP

Friday’s Sweet 16 games will tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET in the Midwest Region as No. 4 Iowa State challenges No. 1 Virginia from the United Center in Chicago. The United Center just so happens to be the home floor of former Cyclones, and current Chicago Bulls, coach Fred Hoiberg. The Cavaliers' Tony Bennett has some familiarity with the building having played five career games in the United Center as a member of the Charlotte Hornets.

THE KEYS

In boxing, they say that styles make fights and that analogy works for Iowa State and Virginia. The Cyclones want an uptempo game built around the unique playmaking and scoring of forward Georges Niang while the Cavs are going to want to dictate a lower possession game by playing in-your-shorts defense and controlling the ball on offense. In senior guard Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia has arguably the best two-way player left in the tournament. A big plus for Iowa State is that their point guard Monte Morris is known for his ability to take care of the ball.

HOW THEY WERE BUILT

Eric Bossi on Iowa State: Coaching his first season in Ames, Steve Prohm inherited the vast majority of his team from Hoiberg so he’s not yet had a chance to really build how he wants. However, and much to his credit, Prohm as a coach has taken on the identity of his team rather than forcing his team to take on his identity. From the versatile Niang, to floor stretchers like sophomore Matt Thomas and interior athletes like senior forward Jameel McKay and tough man Deonte Burton, Iowa State was built for speed and to place some athletes around skilled players who try to make the game high scoring and fast paced.

Bossi on Virginia: Perhaps no coach in America has been as dedicated to recruiting to his specific style of play as Tony Bennett. It hasn’t always meant that the Cavaliers have landed the biggest-name players, but they have been successful. He gets guys who are skilled, tough and value possessing the ball. However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t landed talented players. Eight players on the current roster are former Rivals150 recruits and a ninth – former five-star prospect Austin Nichols – is sitting out this season after transferring from Memphis.

Virginia                                                          Iowa State
                          STARTERS                                  STARTERS

Malcolm Brogdon – Senior, 6-5, 215


4-star SG from 2011 class (ranked 104th nationally). Averaged 25.7 points, 12.9 rebounds in high school.


2015-16 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 47.1 FG%, 40.2 3PT%, 89.0 FT%, 2.9 APG

Monte Morris - Junior, 6-3, 175


4-star PG from 2013 class (ranked 96 nationally). Morris led his high school team in scoring, assists and steals in each of the his four seasons.


2015-16 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 48.9 FG%, 36.9 3PT%, 74.5 FT%, 6.9 APG, 1.8 SPG

London Perrantes – Junior, 6-2, 192


3-star PG from 2013 class. Finished career as Crespi Carmelite High School as all-time leading scorer and career assist leader.


2015-16 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 43.7 FG%, 47.9 3PT%, 80.3 FT%, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG

Matt Thomas - Junior, 6-4, 197


4-star SG from 2013 class (ranked 54th nationally). Averaged 28.3 points and 9.7 rebounds as a senior in high school.


2015-16 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 43.9 FG%, 43.3 3PT%, 89.7 FT%, 1.7 APG

Devon Hall – Sophomore, 6-5, 209


3-star PG from 2013 class (ranked 122 nationally). His brother, Mark, is a linebacker on the Virginia football team.


2015-16 Stats: 4.4 PPG, 38.2 FG%, 33.9 3PT%, 77.4 FT%, 1.8 APG

Georges Niang - Senior, 6-8, 230


4-star PF from 2012 class (ranked 69 nationally). Holds his high school record for most points scored – 2,372.


2015-16 Stats: 20.2 PPG, 54.6 FG%, 39.0 3PT%, 81.3 FT%, 6.2 RPG, 3.3 APG

Anthony Gill - Senior, 6-8, 230


3-star PF from 2011 class (ranked 144th nationally). Was high school teammates with former Virginia player Akil Mitchell.


2015-16 Stats: 13.6 PPG, 56.7 FG%, 74.5 FT%, 6.2 RPG

Abdel Nader - Senior, 6-6, 225


3-star PF from the 2011 class. Transferred to Iowa State from Northern Illinois. Was born in Alexandria, Egypt.


2015-16 Stats: 13.2 PPG, 48.2 FG%, 74.0 FT%, 5.0 RPG

Isaiah Wilkins – Sophomore, 6-7, 230


4-star PF from 2014 class (ranked 101 nationally). Stepfather is NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins.


2015-16 Stats: 4.6 PPG, 52.0 FG%, 62.2 FT%, 4.1 RPG

Jameel McKay - Senior, 6-9, 225


4-star SF from 2013 class. Transferred from Marquette.


2015-16 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 60.2 FG%, 53.5 FT%, 9.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Marial Shayok – Sophomore, 6-5, 213


3-star SF from 2014 class. Only Cavalier freshman to appear in all 34 games in 2014-15.


2015-16 Stats: 4.4 PPG, 49.6 FG%, 55.6 FT%, 1.8 RPG

Deonte Burton - Junior, 6-4, 250


4-star SF from 2013 class (ranked 52 nationally). Transferred from Marquette. Played high school ball at the same school as Diante Garrett (Milwaukee Vincent High School).


2015-16 Stats: 9.6 PPG, 52.5 FG%, 45.9 3PT%, 62.3 FT%, 4.0 RPG

Mike Tobey – Senior, 7-0, 260


4-star center from 2012 class (ranked 76th nationally). Named ACC Sixth Man of the Year by the ACC coaches in 2014-2015.


2015-16 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 59.6 FG%, 61.7 FT%, 4.3 RPG

Hallice Cooke - Sophomore, 6-3, 190


3-star SG from 2013 class. Transferred from Oregon State. Played at St. Anthony High School for legendary coach Bob Hurley.


2015-16 Stats: 2.7 PPG, 40.3 FG%, 36.5 3PT%, 63.6 FT%