CHICAGO — ISU forward Georges Niang has put in the work.

He’s watched game film. He’s put up countless shots and spent numerous hours in the gym throughout the season.

He’s ready. Any nerves the veteran may have left seem to have disappeared.

“This is like a test,” Niang said. “I’m not really nervous for it because I’ve put in so many hours of studying. I’ve put in the work. I’ve put in all the time in here.”

No. 4 Iowa State (23-11) will take on No. 1 Virginia (28-7) on Friday night in the Sweet 16 at the United Center in Chicago, looking for its second ever trip to the Elite Eight.

“It’s great,” said ISU coach Steve Prohm on making it to the Sweet 16. “You soak it all in, but keep focused at the task at hand. You look at Sweet 16 appearances, and you realize how special it is getting here. But I want a lot more for this team.”

Virginia, which has been ranked in the top-10 nationally for the past seven weeks, is perhaps best known for its defense. The Cavaliers allow an average of just 57 points per game, the sixth best mark in the country, and haven’t allowed a team to eclipse the 70-point mark since February.

Virginia holds good teams to low numbers, too. Against No. 12 Miami back in February, the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to a mere 61 points. Against No. 11 Louisville in early March, the Cardinals only put up 46 total points.

Even in the ACC Championship game, in which the Cavilers fell to North Carolina, the Tar Heels only put up 61 points.

That, Niang said, could make it difficult for the Cyclones to attack the rim like they are used to doing.

“We get a lot of easy buckets at the rim, and I think that’s what their pack line is really trying to take away, so obviously we’re going to have to find some ways of moving them around to open up those easy lanes for us to get to the rim,” Niang said. “Obviously, we’re going to have to make some shots from the outside. So I think the biggest thing is trying to get them moving [and] get in uncomfortable positions on the defensive end so we can get easy lines to the basket.”

Even though the strong Virginia defense may require a different strategy to break it, guard Matt Thomas said it wouldn’t change their overall game plan.

“[We need to] just play our game,” Thomas said. “We’re not going to change what we do. We’re confident that we can score on them just like any other team in the country.”

It’s not just the defense, though, that looms ahead for the Cyclones. Virginia’s offense, which has been overlooked and underrated all season, is averaging nearly 71 points per game, the most ever under coach Tony Bennett.

The Cavaliers will take things slower on offense, too, similar to Little Rock — which the Cyclones took on in the second round of the tournament. It’s their patience, Niang said, that makes them even more difficult to stop.

“They’re so unique, so talented,” Niang said. “There’s obviously some similarities in some of the team’s that we’ve played, but they just do a great job of turning down good shots for really great shots and really making you work for 30 seconds every time down, which is a key to their success.”

Even though Virginia is the top seed in the Midwest region, Prohm said he doesn’t believe either team will have an easier time slowing down the other.

“As the things that they’re going to have to make sure they do a good job being very, very locked in on … we’re going to have to do that on our end. We’re just going to have to guard different actions,” Prohm said. “There’s a lot to think about, but I don’t want to get over complicated. We’re playing really well right now. We have to play extremely hard, extremely smart.”

So come game time, the college basketball world will be watching to see whether it’s Virginia’s stellar defense or Iowa State’s high-powered offense that wins Friday’s battle.

That, Niang said, is what will make this matchup fun.

“Something’s got to give,” Niang said. “Someone is going to beat someone, and I think it’s going to be a great game. They have a great group of players over there; a great coach. We have a great group of players and a great coach. The exciting part is something has to break. Something has to shake, and pieces have to fall into place.

“It’s a mystery. You’re going to have to watch to find out what’s going to happen.”