Following the returns of Lindell Wigginton and Solomon Young from injury, Iowa State could hardly have asked for a better (or worse) time for a break.

In fact, the Cyclones will not have played in 11 days by the time they take the court against Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wednesday night. 

Iowa State will start conference play with its full complement of players available for only the second game all season. Wigginton and Young are still working their ways back to full fitness from early-season injuries, but no one from the Cyclones’ contributors is expected to be unavailable against the Cowboys.

Coach Steve Prohm thinks Wigginton is ready to handle his expected 30-minute workload. 

“I think he’s getting slowly back into shape,” Prohm said. “Just trying to get him more game conditioning.” 

The return of Wigginton to his prior production could actually present more opportunities for senior guard Marial Shayok. The Big 12’s leading scorer has seen his looks become more difficult as the season has gone on, with opposing defenses honing in on the Virginia transfer and limiting clean chances. 

Shayok is welcoming the return of a scorer of Wigginton’s pedigree.

“There’s definitely going to be more freedom and open looks for me and for everyone else,” Shayok said. “Just because Lindell gets into the paint with so much ease and effectiveness.”

However, the starting lineup is unlikely to change on Wednesday, meaning that freshman guard Tyrese Haliburton will keep his place in the starting five ahead of the Cyclones’ star sophomore. Haliburton has averaged 8.0 points per game on 54.5 percent shooting and 41.9 percent shooting from 3-point range, 4.5 rebounds and 4.33 assists per contest in Wigginton’s stead.

For the most part this season, Prohm has been reluctant to throw in returning players for big minutes right off the bat. Wigginton might be an exception due to his importance to Iowa State’s success, but it remains unclear when he will reassume his spot as a Cyclone starter.

The Cyclones’ opponent, Oklahoma State, was projected to finish last in the Big 12 this season after the loss of multiple key contributors to graduation. Second-year head coach Mike Boynton’s squad is young and inexperienced, and the Cowboys have gone 6-6 in their tough non-conference schedule, which included games against Memphis, defending national champs Villanova, LSU, Minnesota, No. 19 Houston and No. 24 Nebraska. 

The Cowboys like to play a trapping defense and will present the Cyclones with multiple defensive looks.

Wigginton said the Cyclones have to deal with the Cowboys’ creative schemes and get the best looks they can on offense.

“They got a weird defensive gameplan, and it’s really effective,” Wigginton said. “We just got to take care of the ball and not let them get out in transition on our turnovers.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Oklahoma State likes to push the pace, but the Cowboys are scoring 71.3 points per game. Where the team has made its most hay on offense is from behind the arc, as the Cowboys are shooting 39.4 percent as a team from 3-point range.

Prohm said the Cyclones’ defense had “slipped” in the last few non-conference games, especially in transition, and the Cyclones will have to be at their best to keep Oklahoma State’s fast break and 3-point opportunities to a minimum.

On paper, Iowa State holds an advantage heading into Gallagher-Iba Arena. But the Big 12 is anything but predictable (apart from Kansas).