Sitting at his locker and sliding off his shoes after Iowa State had just lost to Connecticut in the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden, freshman Monte Morris couldn’t help but long for Ames.

It wasn’t because he didn’t love the bright lights of New York City and the stage The Garden had to offer — he actually welcomed those with open arms.

He simply longed for the Sukup Basketball Complex where the team practiced.

“I’m ready to work; that’s all I’m thinking about,” Morris said. “Getting in the gym. Whatever I can do to get this program back to where we were at, I’m going to do.”

After two quiet games to close the regular season, Morris said coach Fred Hoiberg encouraged him to be more aggressive in finding his shots, and he did that.

In the NCAA tournament, Morris elevated his game to a level ISU fans hadn’t seen all year. In the three games, the freshman averaged 13.3 points per game, shot more than 50 percent from the field, made all eight of his free throws and hit 6-of-7 triples, with three big ones to help spur the comeback against North Carolina in the third round.

With two All-Americans on the team, DeAndre Kane and Melvin Ejim, and a facilitator, Georges Niang, there was no need for Morris to hunt his shot. Instead, he dished assists, leading the country in assist-to-turnover ratio with 4.78.

“I’m capable; I can score the ball,” Morris said. “I just didn’t display it as much this year because we had weapons. You’ve got two All-Americans and Georges who was nearly an All-American.

“I’m just waiting my turn; I can’t wait to show the nation what I can do.”

Morris’ spike in play helps encourage fans for next year’s team, which will lack both Kane and Ejim. But without the pair of seniors, the Cyclones lose 42 percent of its scoring, 39 percent of its rebounding and 43 percent of its nation-leading assist per game mark.

Returning from the starting lineup are Dustin Hogue, Niang and Morris. Off the bench, Naz Long returns along with Matt Thomas, who will have a full offseason to progress, and many can point to the transformation Long made in a year’s time.

As he has done every year he’s been at Iowa State, Hoiberg is bringing in transfers. Former Indian Hills forward Jameel McKay and former Northern Illinois forward Abdel Nader sat out this season and will be factors next year.

At Indian Hills, McKay was named an National Junior College Athletic Association First-Team All-American, averaging 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Nader played on a much less successful team, but led the team in scoring at 13.1 points and had 5.6 rebounds per game. 

On top of these two transfers, Clayton Custer joins as a freshman next year and was recently named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. Hoiberg also has two scholarships remaining for next season. 

In the postseason, Hogue posted career-high numbers. Over the span of time, Hogue averaged 21 points per game and made 70.6 percent of his bucket from the field, highlighted by a 34-point outburst on 15-of-19 shooting in a losing fight against the Huskies.

Even with Hogue’s record night in front of his friends and family who traveled from Yonkers, N.Y., in the locker room he was already talking about what he needed to do to get better.

“The goal is already next year,” Hogue said. “What do I have to do to get better now? There’s never any time to take time off. The next team is out there working, and the team is only to be as good as the players are.

“As of right now, all I can do right now is start working for next year and elevate my game.”

Morris, Hogue, Long and Thomas each said after the game that it was hard to not have “what if” thoughts about Niang’s broken foot, wondering how high they could have climbed with their facilitator out on the floor.

Even Niang said that since the injury, he’s laid awake at night wondering what could have been. But just as he had done all season, communicating and rallying his troops, Niang made a promise.

“This is just motivation,” Niang said, pointing at his boot. “I can promise you this team is going to come back 10 times stronger next year, and you guys have a lot to look forward to.

“That’s a promise.”