KANSAS CITY, Missouri — After No. 4 Iowa State’s (21-10, 12-6 Big 12) game against No. 5 Oklahoma State (20-12, 9-9 Big 12) on Thursday afternoon at the Sprint Center, all cameras and recorders were trained on coach Steve Prohm.

His star point guard, Monté Morris, had just finished an assist shy of a triple-double in the team’s 92-83 win to move into the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship.

But earlier this week, Morris was left off the Bob Cousy Award finalist watchlist, given to the nation’s best point guard. Iowa State fans and national media members responded with dismay.

And on Wednesday, Prohm had promised to let those fans know how he felt, just at a later date. 

Thursday was the time.

“It’s not about the five they picked. It’s about how Monte is not on there,” Prohm said during a lengthy response. “This team is top 25. We finished second place in arguable the first or second hardest league in the country — in the country. He’s the nation’s all-time assist-to-turnover ratio leader. Ever. Like of all-time. He’s the No. 1 guy. He’s the all-time leader at Iowa State.

“His character is off the charts. He represents the university the right away. I’m disappointed because he would’ve been an unbelievable represented of the award.”

Morris has been quiet on his absence from the list, instead saying that he wants his statistics to do the talking. He has done that in recent games, nearing a triple-double Thursday and last Tuesday — both against Oklahoma State. 

“I’m not a big talker about myself,” Morris said. “That’s for other people to do. They talk when I didn’t make the list, so I just have to play with a chip on my shoulder, and I’m definitely on a mission.” 

Point guard Donovan Jackson, Morris’ roommate, wasn’t silent. 

“That’s crazy,” Jackson said. “To me, I think that’s just so disrespectful because he’s going to be a legend here at Iowa State and stuff like that. I thought it was really disrespectful.” 

Guard Naz Mitrou-Long said he and Morris laughed about the snub in the training room earlier this week. 

“It’s funny when people say they want a point guard that [doesn’t turn the ball over], and then you have one that’s arguably, in my opinion, the best point guard in the country and he’s not on the list of the top five,” Mitrou-Long said. “It’s a laughable situation.”

Morris is averaging 16.2 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. But more impressively, his assist-to-turnover ratio of 6.17 leads the nation. He is on track to snap the all-time career assist-to-turnover rate. 

“Let’s re-vote again,” Prohm said. “I mean, it’s ridiculous. He shouldn’t [talk about it]. He should play because he’s got more things down the road. He needs to handle himself with humility, class and compete the right way every day. And I need to fight for him.”