When Iowa State travels to Baylor on Wednesday night, the game will feature one school’s most heralded player against the other’s most prolific athlete.

Marcus Fizer, ISU’s first McDonald’s All-American, is coming off his third Big 12 rookie of the week honors, while Baylor’s Brian Skinner is fresh off breaking the school’s all-time rebounding record Saturday against Texas.

Skinner, a 6-10 senior center, also ranks fifth all-time on the Bears’ scoring list and tops the charts in career-blocked shots.

Fizer, a 6-8 freshman forward, averaged 20 points in the Cyclones’ two contests last week and is ISU’s leading scorer on the season.

But ISU Coach Tim Floyd is seeing more out of his phenom than just offensive production.

“Marcus’ biggest improvement has been on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively he’s been there from day one,” Floyd said in his Monday teleconference.

He added that Fizer has also improved his passing game while maintaining his consistency as a rebounder throughout the season.

Floyd skirted around the question of whether Fizer should be voted the conference’s freshman of the year, though he didn’t completely dodge the issue.

“In terms of his importance to our team, he’s been very, very valuable,” Floyd said. “Would I trade Marcus for anyone else in our league? No.”

Floyd is also impressed with how his young talent has dealt with early success.

“He’s been very humble and a good teammate,” he said.

After starting out 5-0 in conference play, the Bears (12-12 overall) currently sit at 7-7 in the Big 12.

Most of Baylor’s downturn has boiled down to defense. Six of its last nine opponents have shot at least 50 percent from the field.

But Floyd said that when Baylor defends well, the team is tough to beat.

“This is a team that has made the hay on the defensive end of the floor,” he said.

If the defense makes the hay, Skinner is the one driving the combine. Baylor Coach Harry Miller said, “He means everything to us. Without him, I don’t know where we’d be at this point.”

He added that Skinner has been able to put up amazing numbers (18.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game) despite getting double and triple-teamed more than any other player in the conference.

Floyd said there is more to Baylor than just Skinner. The backcourt tandem of Roddrick Miller and Patrick Hunter combine for 25 points per game, and are joined by solid frontline players Leon Morris and Gabe Ramirez.

Baylor’s experience has helped the team be tough in close ballgames this year, winning six of eight contests decided by less than six points.

“This is a veteran group,” Floyd said. “We know that we’re going to have our hands full.”

ISU defeated Baylor 61-52 last season in Hilton, but lost 91-72 in 1990, which was the team’s last trip to Waco.