It’s no secret that ISU coach Fred Hoiberg has instilled a mountain of confidence in every one of his players. It’s also no secret it’s paid off at crucial times in Iowa State’s postseason run.

In spots where it would only be natural to be alarmed and tighten up, the Cyclones have been as loose as their calm and collected head coach.

“It’s just that confidence that he instills in us,” said senior forward Melvin Ejim. “Throughout the tournament, we knew it was going to be tough, and when we lost Georges we knew it was going to be even tougher. If it came down to the end of the game, we knew we had guys, we had toughness, we had people that we thought could secure the deal and we did that.”

Ejim was referring to the hole Iowa State had to dig itself out of late against North Carolina in San Antonio.

With 4:23 remaining in the game, Iowa State trailed 76-68 and with the team on its heels, it needed an answer and quick. Then, just as he had done on numerous occasions throughout the season, the Cyclones found an answer from Naz Long.

Long hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to five and three minutes later hit a step-back in transition to tie the game at 81-all.

So, how has Hoiberg helped the sophomore find his shot and confidence that went missing mid-season?

“I think we catch coach Hoiberg’s vibes,” Long said. “He’s a very calm guy; everybody in Iowa knows him for that. He’s very cool, calm and collected. He’s never really nervous. In clutch situations he’s always calm.”

Dustin Hogue, who averages 14 points and nearly eight rebounds per game in the postseason this year, said late in the game against the Tar Heels, it was a Hoiberg timeout that settled the team once the outcome looked bleak.

“Him talking to us and him having the confidence that he does, that humbles us,” Hogue said. “Being down eight [points] late in that game to North Carolina, some of our guys started to panic and that’s [a] natural instinct that any guy’s going to have. Coach Hoiberg told us let’s get stops and that calm demeanor that he has brings a certain confidence to us to know that we’re going to be OK as long as we execute.”

In the final five minutes of the five postseason games including the Big 12 Championship and the two wins in the NCAA tournament, the Cyclones are scorching hot. In those last five minutes, Iowa State has hit 24-of-28 shots from the field and 8-of-9 3-pointers, which includes hitting their last three triples in a row against the Tar Heels.

Hoiberg gives all the credit to his squad, of course.

“When you play a grind of a schedule like the Big 12 Conference, you’re going to be prepared for anything,” Hoiberg said. “Then North Carolina, with that speed and size, for our guys to battle the way they did and continue to fight all the way to the final horn, it tells you everything you need to know about our group.

“There’s no fear with this group with whoever you’re playing. Whether it’s a high school group or if you’re playing the Lakers, they’re going to go out there and fight.”