Monte Morris tabbed as Big 12 Player of the Week
Senior Monte Morris drives towards the basketball during a game against #9 Baylor, Saturday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum. After being tied at halftime, the Cyclones pulled off the upset, winning 72-69, and improved to 19-9 overall (11-5 in conference).
February 27, 2017
While Iowa State keeps on rolling — winning its fifth straight game Saturday — so does its star point guard Monte Morris.
Morris earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors after the Cyclones beat Texas Tech on Monday and then-No. 9 Baylor on Saturday, the conference announced Monday. It’s his second such honor of the season after he grabbed the accolade in late November.
Morris averaged 20 points and 6.5 assists over the two games. And in his 79 minutes of playing time, Morris committed only two turnovers. In the 72-69 win against Baylor on Saturday, Morris had 17 points, seven assists and no turnovers.
Morris’ staggering assist-to-turnover ratio has been well-chronicled, and last week’s impressive performance raised it even higher to 6.04, which leads the nation by more than 1.5.
Morris also is just one steal away from breaking Iowa State’s all-time steals record. He is currently at 211, which ties Jeff Hornacek. He has been stuck at that number for the past three games.
Morris’ accolade is the fourth Big 12 Player of the Week award for the Cyclones this season. Morris, guard Naz Mitrou-Long and forward Deonte Burton were the previous winners.
Iowa State is entering its final week of week of the regular season. The Cyclones will play Oklahoma State on Tuesday night — the last home game of the season — and West Virginia on Saturday.
The team jumped inside the AP Top-25 on Monday for the first time in almost two months, checking in at No. 24. Kansas ascended to the No. 1 spot in the nation and West Virginia slotted in at No. 10. Baylor fell to No. 11 to round out the Big 12 in the rankings.
